Posted by Penny on February 02, 1999 at 12:12:24:
In Reply to: Do we "Need Our Pain?" posted by Anonymous on February 02, 1999 at 10:33:58:
I have talked before about a couple of feelings I get from CHs and a sort of depression/anxiety is definitely present during a cycle of headaches. It is hard to think of much besides pain.
But when my cycle is over and I know I won't be getting another one for at least a year, I feel something else. I have sort of thought of it as some form of guilt, like survivors guilt. Like why am I being spared while others are suffering, etc. And there is also something like missing the pain although I would never say I liked the pain, when it is central to your whole life for days and weeks at a time, when it is gone there is a void. Now, it does not take me very long to get over this all but it does happen. I've gone 15, almost 15 months without a CH and right now I can't say I miss them.
I think that there is a connection between any kind of chronic disease especially when there is pain and depression. How could you not feel depressed when all you can see before you is pain? I don't believe that depression actually causes the headaches but I do wonder if it doesn't contribute to the whole cycle. I know there is a mind/body connection and although I can't buy that we want and/or cause our HAs, I think we need to keep open minds to everything anyone says or suggests. It seems that great discoveries come from open minds. I would love to have my beliefs proven wrong if someone could find the trigger and cure for these things!