Migraine Ireland

The final S in SEEDS stands for Stress. Stress is one of the most recognised triggers for migraine and it's one that hits everyone - no matter gender, age, nationality, religion, skin colour, etc - Like Dublin Fire Brigade said at the parade 'Fire doesn't discriminate', well neither does stress , so these tips are for anyone who might need them. Stress is not always negative, it can be positive, like excitement for holiday, or watching playing (come on ) 🇨🇻🇮🇪But if we try as much as possible to minimise stress or learn better how to cope with it, it can become less of a trigger for migraine.

The second E in SEEDS stands for Eat. Many people look for food triggers that can make or break their attacks. While food is indeed a factor for some people living with migraine, it is in fact only a factor in about 20% of cases.

It is now considered more important to NOT skip a meal than finding a particular food trigger. Studies find that people who practice prolonged fasting when living with migraine are 40% more likely to experience headaches with migraine.

Again we refer to our friends in the Gold Coast Headache & Migraine Clinic for their wisdom. https://brisbanemigraine.com.au/fasting-headaches-why-skipping-meals-triggers-pain/

Keeping the diary can definitely help with tracking what happens when you skip a meal.

When it comes to nutrition, there is a lot to think about for people living with migraine; do I have a food trigger? Is it really a trigger or is it a craving? What foods a re best for ? Did my dinner trigger my attack? Will I ever be able to eat at a restaurant again?

Going to a restaurant or grabbing a quick lunch is something that many people take for granted, but if you live with a chronic condition that can be affected by the food that you eat, then nutrition is something you need to take heed of. Some foods, especially fast or convenience foods contain added ingredients that are known triggers of inflammation, irritation, respiratory and stomach problems which may in turn affect your condition and trigger symptoms.

Here are a couple of videos by Aoife Kimber that might be helpful.
https://youtu.be/6DOrmcIr2cM
https://youtu.be/Hg0XqXqyX9s
Traditionally it was not a man's job to cook, but thankfully we've mostly moved on and men are now taking their own nutrition into their own hands, so gentlemen, I hope these videos help.
Men's Health Forum in Ireland

The final type of treatment that we want to highlight is something many people wonder about. Behaviour therapy. These therapies again don't suit everyone, but they can be helpful to some people. They focus on different areas, but each therapy can help a person to focus on the emotions, anxieties, stigma and lack of control associated with living with a chronic condition.

Have a look at this video on Compassion Focused Therapy https://youtu.be/VgEOAAw_RFU
And this one on Behavioural and Lifestyle techniques
https://youtu.be/JyglugwQ9vE