Category: Easy
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Creating a (mental) happy place
When I was a child, I used to suffer from insomnia. I would lie in bed and overanalyze what had happened that day… agonize over whether I could have handled things differently… imagine alternative tomorrows… catastrophize a bit. I’m not a huge fan of the concept of a ‘migraine personality’…
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Chair Yoga for migraines
One of the first posts I ever made on The Mindful Migraine Blog was about Yin Yoga. My neurologist recommended I do a few lessons as a form of mindful movement to help reverse my chronic pain. I mentioned at the time that I felt “no victory” getting out of…
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Humming the pain away
The vagus nerve runs from your brain, behind your ears and down to your stomach. It helps your nervous system move between ‘fight and flight’ mode and ‘rest and digest’. In an attempt to reduce chronic pain, anxiety, or even just give yourself a lift on those days when you’re…
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Power poses for pain
I tend to avoid ‘bang-crash’ movies, but the other night I was feeling good, so I watched the first half of Marvel “Avengers”. Suddenly something occurred to me. Other than the Mark Ruffalo character (who has the potential to turn into the Hulk if he gets aggravated), everyone else in…
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Acupressure for migraines
Acupressure works by applying pressure to specific points (acupoints) on the body in order to stimulate energy flow and release tension. Decades ago, someone told me that pressing the webby flesh between your thumb and pointer finger for 60 seconds was enough to reduce stress and anxiety. I wasn’t convinced,…
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Free-writing for migraines
In 1924 André Breton published his Surrealist Manifesto in which he encouraged artists to use ‘automatic’ or ‘free’ writing, where “the first draft is your last”. You set your clock for, let’s say two minutes, and then you write, without stopping or overthinking, and definitely no editing. Here’s my two…
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‘Feeling your face’
One of the strategies that I have developed that has helped me significantly is ‘feeling my face’. Wherever you are right now, (whether it’s lying down, sitting, or standing), loosely holds your hands together in front of you. Now, with your hands staying together – feel your face. Using nothing…
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Better breathing for migraines
A major part of mindfulness is breathing. It sounds a little suspect when you first hear about it – ‘breathing? I do that all the time already!’ What becomes apparent when you do a bit of research, however, is how badly migraineurs tend to breathe. I know that I tend…
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Aromatherapy for migraines
One of my greatest joys, and biggest triggers, is aroma (smells). I can specifically remember occasions where I have been in a movie theatre or an airplane and the smell of someone’s perfume has become increasingly upsetting, until… migraine… usually the more dramatic version complete with nausea and vomiting. On…
The Mindful Migraine 