Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic staff

Chronic daily headaches can interfere with your job, your relationships and your quality of life. But you can cope with the challenges.

  • Take control. Commit yourself to living a full, satisfying life. Work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Take good care of yourself. Do things that lift your spirits. Set aside time for your loved ones — and yourself — every day.
  • Seek understanding. Don't expect friends and loved ones to instinctively know what's best for you. Ask for what you need, whether it's time alone or less attention focused on your headaches.
  • Check out support groups. You may find it useful to talk to other people who experience painful headaches. Try finding a support group in your area to learn how other people cope with their headache pain and discomfort.
  • Consider counseling. A counselor or therapist offers much needed support and can help you manage stress. Your therapist can also help you understand the psychological effects of your headache pain.
Prevention Alternative medicine
References
  1. Rains J, et al. Chronic daily headache: An overview. American Headache Society. http://www.achenet.org/education/patients/chronicdailyheadacheanoverview.asp?print=y. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
  2. Headache: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/detail_headache.htm. Accessed Nov. 10, 2009.
  3. Goadsby PJ, et al. Headache. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. Columbus, Ohio: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2890365. Accessed Dec. 23, 2009.
  4. Headache and other craniofacial pains. In: Ropper AH, et al. Adams & Victor's Principles of Neurology. 9th ed. Columbus, Ohio: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3630946. Accessed Dec. 23, 2009.
  5. Boes CJ, et al. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2008:2053.
  6. Garza I, et al. Overview of chronic daily headache. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 14, 2010.
  7. Olesen J, et al. The international classification of headache disorders. International Headache Society. http://216.25.88.43/upload/CT_Clas/ICHD-IIR1final.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2, 2009.
  8. Sun Y, et al. Acupuncture for the management of chronic headache: A systematic review. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2008;107:2038.
  9. Calandre EP, et al. Myofascial trigger points in cluster headache patients: A case series. Head & Face Medicine. 2008:4:32.
  10. Ducic I, et al. Indications and outcomes for surgical treatment of patients with chronic migraine headaches caused by occipital neuralgia. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2009;123:1453.
  11. Pain: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chronic_pain/detail_chronic_pain.htm. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  12. Vernon H, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of chiropractic and medical prophylactic treatment of adults with tension-type headache: Results from a stopped trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2009;32:344.
  13. Trigger avoidance information. American Headache Society. https://www.americanheadachesociety.org/professionalresources/TriggerAvoidanceInformation.asp. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
  14. Rios J, et al. Evidence-based use of botanicals, minerals, and vitamins in the prophylactic treatment of migraines. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 2004;16:251.
  15. Bajwa ZH, et al. Preventative treatment of migraine in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2009.
  16. Feverfew. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  17. Butterbur. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  18. Coenzyme Q. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  19. Acupuncture: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/introduction.htm. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  20. Meditation: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  21. Massage therapy: An introduction. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/massage/. Accessed Nov. 13, 2009.
  22. Prakash S, et al. Hemicrania continua responsive to intravenous methyl prednisolone. Headache. 2009;49:604.
  23. Sullivan MD, et al. Antidepressant and anticonvulsant medication for chronic pain. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2006;17:381.
  24. Physical activity fundamental to preventing disease. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/physicalactivity/. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
  25. Headache information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headache.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
  26. What do to in a medical emergency: Headache. American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation. http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/EmergencyManual/WhatToDoInMedicalEmergency/Default.aspx?id=248. Accessed Nov. 19, 2009.
  27. Saper JR. Chronic daily headache: Transformational migraine, chronic migraine, and related disorders. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. 2008;8:100.
  28. Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 8, 2009.
  29. Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. The international classification of headache disorders: 2nd edition. Cephalalgia. 2004;24(suppl):9.
  30. Bajwa ZH, et al. Headache syndromes other than migraine. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
  31. Olesan J, et al. New appendix criteria open for a broader concept of chronic migraine. Cephalalgia. 2006;26:742.
  32. Silberstein SD, et al. The international classification of headache disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-II) — Revision of criteria for 8.2 Medication — Overuse headache. Cephalalgia. 2005;25:460.
  33. Olesen J, et al. New appendix criteria open for a broader concept of chronic migraine. Cephalalgia. 2006;26:742.

DS00646

Jan. 23, 2010

© 1998-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger