Decreasing Headaches

After looking at numerous research studies, the U.S. Headache Consortium (which includes 7 medical societies) has given relaxation therapy, cognitive stress management approaches, and specific biofeedback treatments a Grade A efficacy rating in treating migraine headaches!

This 4 session group program meets once a week, providing an introduction to current information on the proven, drug-free strategies most helpful in decreasing, better understanding, and managing stress-related tension headaches and migraine headaches.

YOU WILL LEARN :

• the most common causes for awakening with a headache
• headache trigger combinations - and the ones to really watch for
• the 4 triggers that account for two-thirds of all migraines
• the specific types of stressors that prompt headaches
• 2 ways that breathing can cause headaches
• the "3 mini-days" approach to headaches
• to eat or not to eat?
• practical strategies to try as a headache is coming on
• stages in the migraine's neurovascular process where you can intervene
• skeletal muscle and smooth muscle self-regulation techniques
• 4 techniques to relax your eyes
• how to release tension in neck, shoulder and back muscles
• see what a psychophysiological profile (using sensitive biofeedback monitors) can tell you about the brain/body connection and headaches
• practice with 2 types of biofeedback helpful in decreasing or aborting headaches
• techniques that decrease head pain
• developing a personal pain management action plan

The Decreasing Headaches program includes ideas from the Menninger Clinic, the University of South Carolina Medical School's Headache Program, the New England Institute for Behavioral Medicine's headache program, the St. Louis University School of Medicine's headache clinic and chronic pain clinics. This educational program is meant to be a basic introduction to headache management with the primary goal of developing a comprehensive personal headache and pain management plan. Daily practice of techniques is very strongly recommended. Participants are encouraged to follow-up by self-monitoring, working toward further behavioural change / improved self-care, developing their skills, and/or seeking further resources.

This program is experiential, which makes it hard for you to get the full sense of its possibilities from simply reading a program description.  Perhaps it would help to know what past participants have said... read more...

After this program, some participants may benefit from enrolling in the 12 session Relaxation and Stress Management Skills Training program to further develop and strengthen skills in physical and mental relaxation.

Some people choose to have a combination of a group program and private training sessions. For example, you may have one or more private sessions to get started on some strategies right away while waiting for the next group program to start. Some individuals progress further with some private training after a group program, tailoring the ideas to their specific situation.

Learn more and register: http://www.selfregulationskills.ca/programs/decreasing-headaches/