Stress, Diet, and searching for Triggers
During my recent reading of Migraine Art: The Migraine Experience from Within, I was struck by a note that was sent in along with an entry to a migraine art competition. It certainly brings up some interesting questions:
I have suffered with migraines since my early teens, and I am now seventy. The only time that I have been free from them was during my three years as a prisoner of war with the Japanese. The stress there was often at the breaking point, so I cannot think that this was a contributory factor. I therefore reached the opinion that it must be the richer foods that caused them, as my own diet then was two small bowls of rice per day plus water.
From Migraine Art, quoting from Cephalalgia
Whether you agree with the writer’s conclusions or not, it brings up some interesting questions. Many people simply assume that stress brings on their attacks, and yet there is quite a debate about the role that stress plays in migraine.
For some, migraine attacks seem to decrease under stress. For others, they assume stress is a trigger for years, only to discover finally that eliminating something from their diet made all the difference.
I think one of the key things to remember is that we need to look beyond stress for triggers. Whether or not stress is a factor, it seems likely that it’s not the only factor. You may be able to find a solution that you weren’t even looking for.
1 December 2009 @ 1:05 pm
Not sure if most westerners could live on rice and water but that’s one way to eliminate food triggers! Had a friend that found out that dried beans (had bean soup almost weekly for years) were the cause of his never ending migraines! He was hospitalized for a period and did not have his normal diet. Who would have thought of beans?
9 December 2009 @ 8:11 am
Yes, some beans can be particularly bad, such as lima, fava, soy and lentil. As always, it seems to depend somewhat on the person!
6 January 2010 @ 9:35 am
Stress is clearly a trigger for me, but not any kind of stress.
Basically having something pending and not doing it triggers a headache. Sometimes it might even be something that I should say to someone.
Also eating a lot triggers a headache. Having popcorn starts it too several times, but this is probably related to the fact that I eat too much of it!
14 September 2013 @ 4:24 pm
Good points, James! In addition, a lifetime of just rice and water wouldn’t sustain a person nutritionally. Too bad we have to eat. LOL
14 September 2013 @ 4:38 pm
I too have had migraines since my teens – I am now 65. Tried and tried to find triggers – never did. For the past 2 years I didn’t have any migraines – they just stopped. A month ago I flew to Texas and guess what – they are now back with a vengeance. Looked that up and saw that flying can be a trigger but why am I getting them now that I’m home? The bliss I enjoyed for those 2 years just makes it worse to have them back again.