The Archives of Neuropsychiatry

A study published this year in the journal the Archives of Neuropsychiatry is raising questions about the relationship between migraine, anxiety, and depression.

Here at Headache and Migraine News we’ve talked often about migraine and depression, because the two have been linked by research over and over. And it’s not a matter of “I’m depressed because my head hurts”. It’s a much more complex relationship.

But what about anxiety? First of all, what’s the difference between depression and anxiety?

Well, sometimes you may experience both at the same time, but there is a general difference between the two. You can think of depression more as feelings of sadness and hopelessness – and you’re certain that you’ll still feel the same tomorrow. It’s a little more fatalistic than anxiety – some people are so depressed that they feel that the only way out is suicide – again, because they’re convinced that nothing will change. Depression can sap your energy, and make you lethargic.

Anxiety is more often characterized by a feeling of tension, fear, and worry. Things might get better – but what if they get worse? What can I do – but what if that doesn’t work? Anxiety may show itself physically more than depression – increased heart rate, sweating, muscle tension.

So what did this new study tell us? The authors confirm that there is a link between all three – migraine, depression, and anxiety. But in the people that they studied, there was a stronger connection between migraine and anxiety. Why?

Well, that wasn’t the purpose of this study. But we do know that anxiety can be a sign of the first stages of an illness. It’s not just connected to migraine, but also conditions such as heart disease (also strongly linked to migraine) and diabetes. It can be the result of the medication you’re taking, or withdrawal from medications you were taking. The same goes for non-medical drug use.

Obviously it can also be related to mental illness, or even poor mental habits. (More on anxiety from the Mayo Clinic.)

If depression is interfering with your life, you do need to see a doctor. It’s the same with anxiety. Do you find that you’re having trouble getting your daily work done because of fear and worry? Are you constantly avoiding things that other people don’t seem to avoid? Are you noticing bad or even dangerous habits in your life, that you turn to to try to avoid anxiety? Are you experiencing physical symptoms? Suicidal thoughts?

All these are good reasons to see a doctor right away – especially if these symptoms and experiences are new to you.

And by the way – researchers noticed that this was a significant problem for women and men – sometimes men think that men don’t have these kinds of problems – this article is for you too.

Another tip that comes from this study is to make sure you have good social support. This may not be easy for you, and may have to come in small steps. But the researchers did notice that people who felt they had better social support were much less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.

That may not be much of a surprise, but it’s a good reminder, because it gives you a goal to work toward. Find reasons to be in a group, to make friends, to call up a family member. It is all the more important that we be intentional about these things in the days when COVID-19 has changed how we interact with others. Don’t let a virus keep you from intentionally letting other people into your lives, and from intentionally helping others personally. It really does make a huge difference.

What small step could you take this week?

Study here: Effects of Perceived Social Support, Depression and Anxiety Levels on Migraine