Sensory Issues and Migraine Triggers

 I have talked a bit about my history of headaches and migraines. One of the main things that causes my migraines is sensory issues. When I realized I was on autism spectrum, I started learning more and more about myself and learning that certain things seem related to my autism spectrum including migraines. I have been able to trace most of my migraines to these triggers :

Sensory Issues- I am super sensitive to lights, smells and sounds. Some smells, bright lights and certain types of sounds or very loud noises can set off my headaches and migraines in a vicious cycle of pain and other symptoms. Sometimes certain stimuli will not really bother me on a small scale, but the longer I am in the area or experiencing the sensations the worse it gets. Obviously, this can make long stints in public places difficult. It is so much easier to control the issues in my home environment. I wear my theraspecs glasses all the time to help with lights and sometimes I wear ear plugs or earbuds to help with noises. 

Weather- Speaking of ear plugs, on airplanes or other times when I expect a pressure change I will wear special ear plugs. These are the ones I use and I love them.

Stress and Anxiety- Stress and Anxiety can also lead to headaches and migraines. For me doing certain repetitive quick motions like typing fast can eventually lead to a headache or migraine. I need regular breaks and time to stop and rest with certain activities or it seems like it activates my stress in the body. I use Reiki (I teach this universal energy healing technique so reach out if you are interested), yoga, deep breathing and other self care to help with anxiety and stress. I tend to need a lot of down time and a good amount of alone time. My self care is extremely important.

Sleep- I really need to sleep 7 to 9 hours depending on the night. I have a lot of weird dreams or sometimes wake up in a sweat during the night. If I don't get enough good sleep it can cause me to wake up with a headache. If you have trouble sleeping, I recommend this tea. This is one of my favorite tea brands and the valerian root in the tea is extra relaxing. It really helps relieve anxiety and help you blissfully drift off to sleep.

Dehydration- It is super important to stay hydrated when you deal with chronic headaches or migraines. This is my favorite alkaline water. Tastes great and is super hydrating. I also use the Soda Stream to make sparkling flavored water at home. This is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets along with my Bodum electric teakettle . Perfect for heating water for your valerian or other teas. Numi makes a lot of my favorite teas as well, including this jasmine green tea. It is so delicious and green tea is so good for us.

Overexertion- With headaches and migraines, I find that doing too much exercise or activity at once can trigger one. The most important advice I have is to listen to your body and head. If you start to feel achy or light headed take a break or sit down for a minute. Also , remember to take your ice roller and water with you when you go out on walks, hikes or outdoor activities. 

I hope thinking about my triggers helps you contemplate on what yours may be and take action to reduce them. Self care is so important when we are living with a chronic pain disorder. We have to take care of our bodies so that it can take care of us as well. Thank you again for reading my blog and reach out if you have questions or commentary.