Managing your Mood with Migraines: 4 Simple Surefire Tips for Happiness

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Migraines correlate with many mood disorders like depression and anxiety. So, how do you find true happiness if chronic pain is part of your life? Here are 4 tips that are scientifically proven to increase your happiness and overall sense of wellbeing, even if you suffer from chronic migraine headaches.

Managing your Mood with Migraines: 4 Simple Surefire Tips for Happiness

1) Give yourself some TLC. The way you treat your body affects your mood, as well. When you take good care of your body, you increase happiness, energy, and responsiveness to migraine therapies. Eat a healthy diet of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lots of water. Include at least 20-30 minutes per day Managing your Mood with Migraines: 4 Simple Surefire Tips for Happinessof light exercise. Learn how to breathe deeply and keep your back straight.  Allow yourself plenty of nighttime sleep. Supplement with beneficial vitamins, minerals, and herbs.

2) Keep on the sunny side! The power of positive thinking has been the focus of many studies on chronic pain such as migraines. Researchers found that pain sufferers who remain optimistic about their condition and try to stay in a good mood, despite physical pain, are most likely to respond well to pain treatment and find lasting relief.
3) Be your own best migraine advocate. Repeat to yourself: “I am bigger than my disease.  Migraines don’t own me. I can learn how to manage my life around migraine disorder. The right treatment for me is out there- I just need to find it.” By telling yourself that you are powerful and capable, you increase your chances of fulfilling your self-prophecy. On the other hand, saying things like, “I can’t deal with this migraine” is self-defeating and a sure path to depression.

Managing your Mood with Migraines: 4 Simple Surefire Tips for Happiness

4) It’s okay to be wrong (even if you’re not). You’re going to get plenty of well-meaning advice from people about how to cure migraines. Everybody knows somebody who’s related to someone else who cured his or her migraines just by quitting chocolate. Take it in stride, and resist the urge to set the record straight next time somebody asks why you let your “really bad headaches” keep you at home so often.  A person can only handle so many uphill battles in life, and this one is just not worth the sweat off your brow.

Managing your Mood with Migraines: 4 Simple Surefire Tips for Happiness

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