CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Utah Headache & Migraine hopes to shine a light on the connection between chronic headaches and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. As Southern Utah’s only clinic focusing exclusively on migraine prevention and treatment, they’re committed to helping create better outcomes for patients living with this debilitating disease.
Although migraines and mental health disorders are separate issues, they commonly occur in tandem, creating what the experts at Utah Headache & Migraine describe as a bidirectional relationship. Without proper treatment, anxiety and/or depression may trigger more frequent and severe migraine episodes. At the same time, untreated migraine can worsen a patient’s physical and emotional well-being due to the health burden imposed by chronic headaches.
“We know there’s a vicious cycle between undertreated migraine and undertreated anxiety and depression,” said headache specialist Katrina Poulsen, FNP-C. “It’s important for people to speak up.”
Chronic headache patients live with considerable interictal burden. Between episodes, many worry excessively about when their next migraine will strike and how debilitating it will be. As a result, they might make lifestyle changes that further worsen their mental health, such as avoiding exercise and withdrawing from social engagements.
“Both migraine and mental health lead to stress and a feeling of not functioning very well in day-to-day life,” Poulsen said.
To learn more about this relationship, the American Migraine Foundation, with support from Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, distributed the Migraine and Mental Health Connection Survey in 2022. Responses from 1,100 migraine patients as well as 300 health care providers found that most medical professionals and people who struggle with chronic headaches strongly believe in a link between these conditions.
Of the patients who filled out the survey, 80% reported experiencing anxiety and 60% identified as having depression. However, mental health concerns are frequently underreported to physicians by patients who fear the dual stigma of “invisible illness.” In fact, the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 1 in 5 American adults experience mental illness each year, but less than half of these individuals receive treatment.
“They’re afraid of being judged by friends and family, or their migraine concerns not being taken seriously because they also have mental health issues,” Poulsen said. “We understand that these are separate issues, but we also understand there’s a really close relationship, and they do have to both be treated.”
Fortunately, many treatment methods for mental health disorders also help alleviate migraine symptoms and reduce the frequency of episodes. Research shows that both migraine and depression are associated with low serotonin levels in the brain, and balancing out that neurochemistry can be hugely beneficial.
Along with medication, treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, biofeedback, mindfulness techniques and diet and lifestyle changes. Utah Headache & Migraine counsels patients on the options available to them and will provide referrals for mental health care as needed.
The specialists at Utah Headache & Migraine are ready to listen and evaluate every patient on an individual basis, striving to help them get the most out of life. The clinic prioritizes accessibility to care and accepts all major insurances, including Medicare, along with offering a cash-pay system for uninsured patients. Referrals aren’t required, and telehealth appointments are also available.
Call 435-274-2980 or visit UtahHeadacheandMigraine.com to schedule a consultation.
If you’re experiencing thoughts of self-harm and suicide, or if you know someone who’s struggling, reach out and get help right away. Go to the nearest hospital, call 911 or visit 988lifeline.org for free and confidential 24/7 support.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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- Utah Headache & Migraine | Address: 2107 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 102, St. George | Telephone: 435-274-2980 | Website.
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