Posted by Jack Boyd on March 25, 1999 at 08:50:18:
In Reply to: ch and children posted by John S. Davis on March 24, 1999 at 08:52:00:
I think that one of the reasons that the medical folks and some of the people here have offered psychological root causes for clusters stems from the weird nature of clusters.
They are indeed weird - they seem to have a life of their own and it is if we are all possessed. Anyone who is chronic or in an episodic cycle can't help but be emotional about this pain. It is too severe and delibitating.
Cause and effect is a difficult concept. I would suggest that much of the psychological or emotional stuff associated with clusters is an effect rather than a cause.
Beware of anyone who offers a definitive cause based on anecdotal experience ( even their own ).
In my 28 years of clustering the only thing I have dreaded as much as the actual pain is the attention I have gotten from family, friends and co-workers when I am in an attack or cycle.