In short, yes most definitely.
Most commonly we find that people describe their headache to originate from:
- Behind the eye socket
- Temples
- Top and back of the head
Other uncommon ones include:
- Feeling hot in the head,
- Ringing in the ears
- Feeling like your head is being squashed.
To put it very simply, this is an indication that the muscles in the neck and shoulder region are overworked – this can be holding tension from stress, overstretching your muscles to look at a monitor or poor movement pattern in the shoulder and back, for example.
Getting a massage will help the muscles to release this tension because:
- You’re most likely in a relaxed state and breathing deeply; and
- Therapists will target the following muscles to decrease the intensity of the headache:
- SCM and Suboccipital muscles for headaches through the forehead/temples.
- Traps, Scalene and Splenius Capitis muscles for headaches at the back and top of your head.
- Erector Spinae muscles: your anti-gravity muscles that hold you upright, that also crosses the neck region.
3 things that you can do at home (or anywhere, really!) to help support your nervous system:
- Deep breaths: In for 4 seconds and out for 8 seconds.
- Breathing deeply and mindfully will counteract the feelings of stress and hopefully relieve any tension in the body.
- Stay hydrated
- Get regular sleep!
- Adults require 7-9 hours of sleep per day and sleep cannot be made up at a later date.