Tension Headaches ? Relief without Medication

There are many different types of headaches that people suffer from. Migraines, cluster headaches and tension headaches are the leading kinds. If you have a tension headache there are certain things that you can do to relieve it without the use of medication. Tension headaches get their name from the tension that you may have in the neck. They also get their name from the fact that many headaches come about due to the stress you feel. In order to get a tension headache to go away you are going to have to learn to relax.

Relaxation
People are losing the ability to relax. We all have the stuff needed to relax but we have lost touch with it. This is mainly due to us being bombarded by responsibilities that we cannot let go of. You can relax. You may have to work at it at first but you can let go at least for a while. You should try taking a nice peaceful walk. Enjoy the scenery and let your worries slide away. Maybe you have a favorite program you like to watch on the TV. Go ahead and sit on the couch and enjoy your program. Don’t worry about what has to be done while you watch your show. There is always time to do your activities later. Try listening to your favorite music. If you have a favorite cd put it on and relax to the music. Don’t think about anything else for the duration of that cd. Eventually you will get to the point where you will find it easier to let go of your stress.

Breathing
We all breathe automatically but you can also control your breathing. Yoga is a good one to teach you proper breathing techniques that can reduce tension in your life. If you are suffering from a tension headache, try sitting quietly and taking in deep even breaths. Let the breath out slowly and evenly. If you want close your eyes and just think about your breathing. You may be pleasantly surprised at how it will help with the pain you are experiencing in your head and neck. The more you practice your breathing the quicker you will feel relief.

Don’t Stress
This is a tough one since we all have so much to stress about in our lives. You can prevent a tension headache from starting if you learn not to stress over things. Instead of trying to do everything in one day, spread it out. Pick the things that must be done today and do them. Put the less important activities on a waiting list. There is no reason they can’t wait a day. If you choose the three most important things to do in a day and let the others wait you will feel less stress. If you have time left over for more after you do the three go ahead and do them. Remember to leave time for you to just unwind. I highly recommend taking time for a relaxing evening stroll every day.