Understanding headache & migraine
Headaches are one of the most common health complaints. Tension-type headaches feel like a tight band or pressure around the head and are often linked with stress, poor posture, eye strain and irregular sleep. Migraine is a neurological condition that causes throbbing, often one-sided headache with nausea and sensitivity to light or sound, sometimes preceded by visual changes (aura).
Headaches and mental health are closely linked. Stress, anxiety and depression can trigger or worsen headaches, and living with frequent headaches can in turn affect mood and sleep. Overuse of painkillers — taking them on many days each month — can itself cause a daily “rebound” headache.
Common signs
- Headaches on many days of the month
- Pressing or tight pain around the forehead or back of the head
- Throbbing one-sided pain with nausea or light sensitivity
- Headaches triggered by stress, missed meals or poor sleep
- Taking painkillers more than two or three days a week
- Low mood, anxiety or irritability alongside headaches
Having some of these signs doesn’t mean you have a condition. A professional assessment helps make sense of them.
When to see a psychiatrist
Consider a consultation if headaches are frequent, are affecting your work or studies, or if you are taking painkillers regularly. Psychiatric care is particularly helpful when headaches are connected with stress, anxiety, depression or sleep problems.
Seek urgent medical care for a sudden, severe “worst-ever” headache, headache with fever and neck stiffness, weakness, confusion, loss of vision or after a head injury. These need emergency evaluation.
How treatment works at The Peaceful Mind
Assessment includes the pattern of your headaches, triggers, sleep, mood, medicines and medical history. Where needed, you may be advised to see a neurologist or have tests to rule out other causes.
Treatment combines practical steps — regular sleep and meals, hydration, screen breaks, a headache diary and stress management — with treatment for any associated anxiety, depression or insomnia. Some medicines used in psychiatry are also effective at preventing tension headaches and migraine. A plan to reduce painkiller overuse is made where needed.
Talk to Dr. Vibha about headache & migraine
In-clinic in Ravet or online · English, मराठी, हिंदी · Confidential
Questions people ask
Headaches are often closely linked with stress, anxiety, depression and sleep. Treating these together can reduce headache frequency, and some preventive headache medicines are prescribed by psychiatrists.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Vibha A. Bhide — {{TODO: confirm review & date}}