Stress / Question
Published: May 31, 2007
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I get SUPER bad tension headaches, my family says it’s because I’m "stressed", which I know I am. But is there something to do about it because I get really mean when I have bad tension headaches and I push my friends away when I don’t mean to. I've tried sleeping on my side, or back, just different ways so maybe the pain in my neck and head would stop, it helped when I slept on my side, but the headaches just keep coming back. Is there something I should do?
Signed: Tension Headaches Related To Stress
Dear Tension Headaches Related To Stress,
Headaches can certainly be related to emotional issues, such as stress. However, there can be various underlying medical issues related to headaches as well. TeenHealthFX recommends that if these headaches occur frequently and are very intense, that you meet with your primary care physician to rule out any possible medical issues.
If, after meeting with a medical professional, you learn that the headaches are related to feeling stressed out, FX then recommends that rather than just focusing on how to treat the headache symptoms, that you find a way to better deal with the underlying issue of stress. To learn what your triggers for feeling stressed out are, and how to better deal with them, FX suggests that you speak to your parents, a school counselor, therapist or other trusted adult. You can also read various questions under the Stress Category of Emotional Health, such as “Stressed Out” and “I.M. Stressed.”
If you live in northern
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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