Headache sufferers who respond well to over-the-counter medication hardly ever visit their doctor. However, take note if your headache:
- occurs daily
- is present as soon as you wake up in the morning
- persists for most of the day
- has been a constant problem for months
It may be time for you to see your doctor.
This type of continuous headache for which no specific reason can be found is typical in patients who are suffering from depression. While the stigma of depression has largely lessened in the last two decades, many people still find it difficult to admit that they are not able to cope. Consequently, they feel that the "real" symptoms of the headache are more acceptable than feeling depressed or low.
While doctors are taught that a depressed person will show all the classic symptoms of moving slowly, looking sad, speaking slowly in a flat voice and showing little interest in things, this is not always the case. It is a known fact that many people harbor feelings of shame for being depressed. Thus, even though they are aware that they need medical help, they often put on a happy front and downplay their suffering when describing how they feel during their consultation with a doctor.
Along with the presence of prolonged headaches, other clues are the following:
- Not enough or too much sleep
- Waking up too early
- Overeating or loss of appetite
- Excessive smoking and drinking
- Diminished leisure pursuits that were previously enjoyed
- Diminished sexual desire and activity
Depressed people usually complain of a tension-type headache, which is mostly caused by muscle contraction. Sometimes without even realizing it, these people are often tense, making the muscles of their neck, jaw and scalp tighten up. When this kind of muscle contraction continues for any length of time, tiny blood vessels in the affected areas may break, affecting the blood flow and resulting in severe headache and pain.
People with depression usually develop bodily symptoms, and the doctor should realize that while the headache is a symptom of depression, the pain associated with the headache is very real. Headaches due to depression are often described as a tight, vice-like band of pressure around the head. When the patient claims that they have been having these headaches for months or even years, a careful history should be taken, as depression headaches have a distinct pattern, frequently occurring in the early hours of the morning or evening.
For most of these cases, pain medication rarely works, so the recommended treatment should be aimed at the depression itself, which is the main cause of the headaches. For this, antidepressants can be very beneficial, and positive results have also been shown by biofeedback.
One downside of this is that chronic pain sufferers who have the same headache symptoms can often develop depression as a result of paying too much attention to the physical side of the problem, with little priority given to the patient's emotional aspect.
While these headaches can be sufficiently treated, it is also a two-way process, which will require time, co-operation and complete honesty on the patient's part.
For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.
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