When I was younger, my mom would sometimes lay in bed in the middle of the day, lights off, eyes covered, in pure silence, but she wasn’t taking a nap. “Your mom is having a migraine, try not to bother her,” my dad would reiterate at least a few times a month. I didn’t really understand how a ‘headache’ could mean my mom couldn’t go about her day. I’ve had a headache before, I would think, they are annoying but not so bad. It wasn’t until I began experiencing migraines for myself that I realized how strong my mother was and how debilitating migraines can be. Whether you get normal headaches or migraines, there are a multitude of things you can help to alleviate some of the pain that you may not know of. Below I will name a few things I do when I get them to help relieve some of the pressure.
1. Ice your head
This is one most people don’t think of because it’s not like you bumped your head. However I find this to be one of the most soothing and pain easing things I can do when I get a migraine. Just fill a bag with a few ice cubes or grab an ice pack and hold it on there for a few minutes at a time.
2. Incorporate Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is known for helping with headaches and while I can’t confirm or deny this, when I incorporate it with other things to help alleviate the migraine, I believe it helps. I usually put some in an oil diffuser or simply put it on a tissue or washcloth and keep it close by so that I can smell it.
3. Drink some caffeine
Caffeine is one of the ingredients in many over the counter headache/migraine medications and so if hesitant to take any medication, drinking some caffeine is a great option and can help. Whether you like coffee or tea, try having a cup and see how you feel after.
4. Eliminate Light and Play calming sounds
While these two options may go without saying as this is what many people think of when they think of a migraine, it should still be included. Spending just a little time laying down with the lights off can speed up the process. Playing some quiet calming sounds like rain or ocean sounds can also be soothing.
5. Take medication
This can be a great first step before all the others when you feel a migraine coming on. Some are less keen on taking medication which in that case you can try all the other things first. I usually do a mix of all five of these suggestions and the migraine passes much quicker than it would if I did nothing.
I truly hope the bare minimum of people have to experience migraines but if you are one of them, I hope this article helps you in some way and that you can use this tips in the future!