MIND OVER
IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE CONCEPT : When you ’ re in pain , it ’ s important to pay attention to what your body is telling you so you can help it fix the problem . But as any migraineur knows , that ’ s easier said than done . When all you can focus on is the throbbing , aching and everything else that comes with a migraine attack , you ’ re probably not thinking about how the rest of your body is working . You might not notice that your fingertips are cold or that your breathing has gone shallow . And even if you do notice these phenomena , you might not think they have anything to do with the awful feeling going on in your head .
But , as it turns out , it ’ s all connected — and focusing on relieving some of the physiological symptoms of migraine can go a long way toward easing your pain . A system called biofeedback , which involves tracking the body ’ s functions and using visualization and stress-relief techniques to manage them , is gaining fans in the migraine community .
Biofeedback may not consistently halt a migraine , but it can be useful in helping reduce headache intensity and duration , says Morris Levin , MD , professor of neurology and psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School and the co-director of Dartmouth ’ s Headache Center . The idea has been percolating for decades , as physicians and specialists in emotional and behavioral health have worked together to learn about the connections between thoughts and feelings and the tangible issues they create in our bodies .
The bottom line , he says , is that the way the body handles stress — whether it ’ s just the daily grind or a particularly difficult event — can spark a harmful chain reaction .
“ I think there ’ s something about the way humans respond to stress ,” Dr . Levin says . “ The fast heart rate , higher blood pressure , tighter muscles , cold hands and feet — the whole situation we get into in the fight-or-flight response causes all sorts of physical problems , like headaches .”
LEARNING AND LISTENING
Biofeedback is actually more of a learning process than a treatment . It ’ s taught by a variety of professionals , including psychologists , physicians and physical therapists , and can be a good fit for many people , according to Dr . Levin . Experts say even children and teens can benefit from learning about the connection between their body and their pain .
“[ Good candidates are ] patients who have not done well with other treatments ; patients who don ’ t like taking medications or don ’ t want to try more invasive surgical options ; or patients who say to their physician , ‘ I feel like this is all stress , and if I could just relax , I ’ d feel better ,’” he says .
The experience usually begins in the same way — with an appointment at a clinic where patients get an up-close look at how their body is working . Thermometers , monitors and other sensors provide relevant physiological information , such as skin temperature , heart rate and muscle tension .
Derek Schwartz , PhD , a California-based psychologist and biofeedback expert , says this is a valuable experience for patients , who are often out of touch with their body ’ s responses and the internal factors that may contribute to their migraines .
“ With biofeedback , patients can see this information displayed on a computer
36 HEAD WISE | Volume 1 , Issue 2 • 2011