Why Do Migraines Happen? Exploring the Causes with Heather McKean

In this episode of The Mind Change Podcast's Emotional Drivers series, Heather delves into migraines and their emotional triggers.

Drawing from her personal experience, Heather shares her early encounter with migraines and how medication briefly relieved their intensity but not their frequency. She found solace in dark rooms, battling head pain and stomach discomfort. Later, through her Mind Change journey, Heather realized severe migraines had unknowingly become her coping mechanism.

Heather highlights migraines' emotional dimensions, often learned from family behaviors. She zeroes in on a common trigger: struggles with setting personal boundaries. Prone to migraines, individuals might find it tough to decline, leading to overwhelming responsibilities and a perpetual fear of disappointing others.

Childhood experiences link deeply to migraine triggers. Yearning for acceptance, especially from primary caregivers like mothers, can drive perfectionism and people-pleasing. The quest to ease caregiver burden may lead to excessive responsibility and emotional boundary crossings. It's important to note that as children, we need love; it is a primal, foundational, and even a physical necessity for us. Earning it shouldn't be our concern.

Migraines act as a secondary gain—an alert for respite when boundaries and saying no prove elusive. These headaches provide a mandatory pause from unending duties. Addressing core emotional drivers, like the desire for affection or overwhelming responsibility, is key.

These frequent severe headaches may signal a need to distance oneself from thoughts and protect boundaries, practice self-care, and reevaluate thought patterns. Techniques like nature breaks, solitude, focused breathing, and tuning into feelings refocus the mind. Embrace these strategies for a necessary break, sidestepping migraines.

Furthermore, Heather delves into the concept of our triune beings, where our gut, heart, and prefrontal cortex work in harmony, suggesting a holistic approach to understanding and managing migraines.

Dive in to discover the intricate emotional web behind migraines and empowering strategies to break free from their cycle.

In this episode, you will learn:

1️⃣ The emotional origins of migraines.

2️⃣ How childhood experiences can contribute to migraine triggers.

3️⃣ The relationship between setting personal boundaries and migraines.

4️⃣ The impact of learned behaviors on migraine occurrence & the connection between childhood experiences and migraines.

5️⃣ The connection between perfectionism and people-pleasing tendencies.

6️⃣ The concept of "secondary gains" in relation to migraines.

7️⃣ Strategies to break free from the cycle of overwhelming responsibilities.

8️⃣ The importance of self-care and its role in managing migraines.

9️⃣ Techniques for refocusing the mind and protecting emotional boundaries.

🔟 The holistic approach of our triune beings - gut, heart, and prefrontal cortex - in understanding and managing migraines.