The “Cry Headache”

Have you ever had a cry so good (or bad) that it causes a headache? Yeah, I can relate too.  I often hear this in my practice. In fact, I have patients, friends, family members (and me…shhhhh) that sometimes avoid crying because it may trigger a headache.  This is a phenomenon that science has not been able to explain, so I will take a stab here.  When we are processing difficult emotions, our bodies have a reaction…or I like to say “our bodies have something to say about it.”   It is an energetic release; so, it is bound to have some effect.  For example, when we do intense exercises, what happens to our bodies? We feel sore, there is a little bit of pain, it is hard to move and it takes a couple of days to recover.  Why would “emotional exercising” be any different? When we make space for healing, there is an emotional transaction that happens. Sometimes we feel the positive effects immediately, but sometimes it takes a bit for our system to acknowledge this emotional transaction. During my Brainspotting and parts work sessions, there can be some crying – hard crying (we used to say ‘that ugly cry’). This crying is often a manifestation of the crying that could not take place while a stressful or painful experience was happening. Those frozen experiences are beginning to thaw out in an environment that your body/system is deeming safe.  When we have intentions to heal, let us also make space and compassion for how our bodies will respond. Here are 5 tips for managing that “Cry Headache”:

1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – with water, or even a beverage with electrolytes
2. Take a break from screen time
3. Cold compress for your head
4. Nap Ministry – give yourself permission to take a nap
5. Schedule your session at the end of your day or week

Here’s to tissues, runny noses, and fantastic healing! Continue to take care of you and your parts!