I wanted to share something I noticed with myself. It seems when I freak out about my CH when it starts, it gets worse and worse.  I noticed if I accept its happening, try to relax, breathe deeply, the attack isn't as severe (still very painful but not as bad).  I think being mentally calm is a crucial aspect during an attack.  On Friday, I was emotionally distraught from the whole thing, and my attack become so bad that it made me more anxious and it created a snowball affect.  I've tried distracting myself during attacks too by playing the radio or soothing music at low volumes.  Has anybody picked up any meditation techniques that are helping them during attacks? Would to hear what you guys think.

Similar experience here.  But, once the kip level reaches 8-9+, there is no calm.  I do agree, crying always makes ch worse.  

Charlie has a technique that he posts.  If someone can find a link?  If not, and he doesn't see this thread, send him a pm and I am sure he will post it for you.

Looks like I'm chasing you around today! <bg>

Yes. I found a relaxation routine which helped me muchly. Basically, sitting in a comfortable chair with good back support; find a posture where you can relax all your muscles and still stay upright/balanced; dark room & silent; close eyes and breathe with moderate depth--both shallow and forced depth arouses tension;
start to learn how to NOT focus on the pain (that's the hard part); patience......

j0hnglist wrote on Apr 27^th, 2009 at 2:51pm:

I wanted to share something I noticed with myself. It seems when I freak out about my CH when it starts, it gets worse and worse.  I noticed if I accept its happening, try to relax, breathe deeply, the attack isn't as severe (still very painful but not as bad).  I think being mentally calm is a crucial aspect during an attack.  On Friday, I was emotionally distraught from the whole thing, and my attack become so bad that it made me more anxious and it created a snowball affect.  I've tried distracting myself during attacks too by playing the radio or soothing music at low volumes.  Has anybody picked up any meditation techniques that are helping them during attacks? Would to hear what you guys think.

Hi,

Took me 10 or so years (out of 27 and counting) to figure out what you said above...good for ya! Some comments:

1)Every day, at lunch, I leave work for 1 hour and do a form of untrained meditation. Basically is just relaxing and clearing my thoughts of everything but calm. Slow, moderately deep breathing
helps get me there...I have no doubt it is important in reducing number and severity of hits.

2)Every once in a while, if I am in a particularly strong frame of mind and willing to put in the massive effort it requires, I have aborted a hit by the following: It would take too long to fully explain so the short version is...

This sounds counter to what Bob said, but in a weird sort of way it's not. I find the center of the pain, the ice pick point, the burn, while ignoring all the tentacles...I surround it with, well, a circle. Then slowly, mercilessly squeeze that circle smaller and smaller and smaller until the pain is just squeezed out.

Like I said, incredibly hard, and I hope doesn't piss people off because it sounds so "different". But then, I'm different, I'm a clusterhead and thinking outside the box is sometimes all I got.

3) Melatonin doesn't work for me at preventing nighttime hits (2-6 a night, every night). BUT, what it does is keep me sleepy when I do wake...and with the pre thought determination to remain CALM, not fully awake, hit the O2, abort, and go back to sleep...a very important weapon against the beast for me.

4) I'm with Beth. Crying only makes it worse, I concentrate on NOT crying...up to an 8 I can do it...after that it is almost impossible (for me) not to...

5) Slow, deep breathing while on O2 helps keep me calm and nearly as important to me as the O2 itself...

Best,

Jon

I can sometimes help things by breathing slowly and forcefully in through the mouth and out through the nose.  Focusing only on the breathing and nothing else, making sure no air goes up my nose, just in through the mouth and out through the nose.

When it gets really bad, and you cant help but pace,  it would sometimes help a little to walk around my house and count my steps. Focusing only on my steps,(on bad nights I have gotten into the thousands)  It just helps to keep your mind on something else whenever possible.

good luck ;D ;D

Bob Johnson wrote on Apr 27^th, 2009 at 3:10pm:

Yes. I found a relaxation routine which helped me muchly. Basically, sitting in a comfortable chair with good back support; find a posture where you can relax all your muscles and still stay upright/balanced; dark room & silent; close eyes and breathe with moderate depth--both shallow and forced depth arouses tension; start to learn how to NOT focus on the pain (that's the hard part); patience......

Interesting how we deal. Staying calm is of extreme importance.

I'm a bit more like Jon.
I concentrate totally and completely on the pain and completely lose the world around me. I pace or do endless push ups against a counter, table or floor or just rock back and forth when in an unfamiliar place. counting every motion, every breath untill  I have reached the point of total compliance with the pain the pain is then converted to something other than pain. I enter in a deep trance and can become completely motionless yet completely aware of the feelings that are no longer interpreted as pain.

However this is difficult for me at a level of lower pain as too much awareness of my surroundings seeps through. I think its harder to deal with the not so extreme hits than it is with full on hits in this way. Fortunately in that aspect I've allways been hit hard.

I've always tried to concentrate on something ELSE - ANYTHING ELSE but the pain. I hit the button on the TV and try to concentrate on the news or a TV program or get on the computer and see what you guys are talking about (sometimes it doesn't make a lot of sense, but gives me something to do).

I get on the O2 immediately and hyperventitate and concentrate totally on breathing. The exhaustion that goes with the after-headache is something else - I can't lay down so I pace then (I'm usually jumpy as hell). That's when I usually put on sunglasses and go talk to my tomatoes (or dogs if I'm not growing tomatoes). I don't particularly care for humans during this time. >:(

But back years ago (when I was "looking" for a neuro who knew what the hell he was doing) I went thru a clinic of a world renowned neuro (a quack by my thinking) - turned out to be for migrainers and they put me in a dark room and told me to meditate and my headache would go away -- well... that didn't work out too well, even with their little meditation tapes and their comfortable chair - I almost destroyed their little room.  :)

A lot of people here have found that exercise works. I've hit walls and other inanimate objects during a  hit and have thought seriously of getting my golf clubs out of storage and putting up a net in the back yard and using it for a driving range.  Back before CH, I used to do this as a stress reliever  (I named the balls before I hit them) - maybe that would work....  

But panic does make the pain scale go UP. And it is hard to remain calm when you're hitting an 8 or so. It's just something we each have to work out....

Hugs BD

MJ wrote on Apr 28^th, 2009 at 1:31am:

Bob Johnson wrote on Apr 27th, 2009 at 3:10pm: Yes. I found a relaxation routine which helped me muchly. Basically, sitting in a comfortable chair with good back support; find a posture where you can relax all your muscles and still stay upright/balanced; dark room & silent; close eyes and breathe with moderate depth--both shallow and forced depth arouses tension; start to learn how to NOT focus on the pain (that's the hard part); patience...... Interesting how we deal. Staying calm is of extreme importance. I'm a bit more like Jon. I concentrate totally and completely on the pain and completely lose the world around me. I pace or do endless push ups against a counter, table or floor or just rock back and forth when in an unfamiliar place. counting every motion, every breath untill  I have reached the point of total compliance with the pain the pain is then converted to something other than pain. I enter in a deep trance and can become completely motionless yet completely aware of the feelings that are no longer interpreted as pain. However this is difficult for me at a level of lower pain as too much awareness of my surroundings seeps through. I think its harder to deal with the not so extreme hits than it is with full on hits in this way. Fortunately in that aspect I've allways been hit hard.

I am new to ch's; I think they are coming from a tumor I have on my pituitary gland.  So far, my headaches have only gone to what I would say is a 7.  A part of me is terrified of the thought of them going into what is often described here; I'm very moved by the experiences I've read on this board so far.  

I know everyone has their own way to deal with pain, but I have to say I find this post comforting and kind of beautiful.

Can I ask you:  How did you come to find this state?  Does it help you deal with anxiety of another one?

I'm having a hard time with anxiety and ch's.  In my last cycle (my first), ch's intensified as the cycle went on.  Now, just four days later, I believe I am in another cycle, which started out stronger than the first one did- much stronger.  Of course, I'm little terrified of what is unknown to me.

Thanks for this post.

BarbaraD wrote on Apr 28^th, 2009 at 7:21am:

A lot of people here have found that exercise works.

Don't think i could conjure up the patience to sit and meditate. I head straight for the cross trainer and 02 :)  

Lefty...!

I agree with this... staying calm and not beating yourself up mentally during the attack seems to cause a weaker HA.

I'm sure we all been there when we are getting attacked and all you can think about is "why didnt i take the verapamil?!?"  or even better .."why did i think it was okay for me to have a drink of alcohol?"

Thinking this only seems to make it worse

Hello,

       Thanks for the postive take on relaxing thourgh the hit. But to be honest i cant even think when they start, Other than get away from anyone. Like Im in a freakin NIGHTMARE trying to run as fast as i can but i keep falling, or im runing away but im moving slower than if i was walking. Pure Horror


                        Coach Bill

j0hnglist wrote on Apr 27^th, 2009 at 2:51pm:

I wanted to share something I noticed with myself. It seems when I freak out about my CH when it starts, it gets worse and worse.  I noticed if I accept its happening, try to relax, breathe deeply, the attack isn't as severe (still very painful but not as bad).  I think being mentally calm is a crucial aspect during an attack.  On Friday, I was emotionally distraught from the whole thing, and my attack become so bad that it made me more anxious and it created a snowball affect.  I've tried distracting myself during attacks too by playing the radio or soothing music at low volumes.  Has anybody picked up any meditation techniques that are helping them during attacks? Would to hear what you guys think.

i think meditation is a way to train your brain to endure the extreme pain during an attack. when i get hit everything absolutely has to stop. i have to pull over and deal with the business at hand. during a kip9 its hard to keep still. batch has posted some really good information on breathing o2 during an attack. it takes some practice but it seems to work for me.  

theres another member on the board that plays a simple computer game during an attack. its an easy game that hes played many times. the objective is to distract your mind. ch is a very strategic battle of wits.

well obviously past a certain threshold, theres no relaxing. But I can guarantee that for me, being calm when its a 5 or 6 many times have helped from it becoming a 7 or worse

I agree with you John.  For years 2 1/2 years now I've have a very consistent yoga practice.  I believe it has helped my ability to focus on my breath and not on the pain.  Like you said though, this only gets you so far.  Once you reach a certain threshold I don't care how hard you try not to dance.  You're gonna dance...

-Dennis-

I was glad I had read this post before I went in for the MRI yesterday.  I was already about a 6 when I went in, with a migraine to boot...so it was just lovely...NOT  :-/

I concentrated on the loud ticking of the clock and just tuned into that to try and focus and not let the beast take over.  Other than a short burst where my whole body from shoulders down was shaking as I tried to control it all I did okay............thanks for the tip  :)

I practice Mindful Based Meditation as well as Yoga.

The more you practice the better you get. The better you get the more relaxed you become.

The more relaxed you become the more you realize you are in control.

Practice Practice Practice :)

Its very hard to keep still for me, but if I can lay on the floor in darkness and silence.  I lay face down and lightly kick on a pillow and concentrate on just kicking the pillow in the same spot.  sounds weird but it helps some.  Going to start with my new doc on 5/14/09.

coach_bill wrote on May 1^st, 2009 at 9:24pm:

Hello,        Thanks for the postive take on relaxing thourgh the hit. But to be honest i cant even think when they start, Other than get away from anyone. Like Im in a freakin NIGHTMARE trying to run as fast as i can but i keep falling, or im runing away but im moving slower than if i was walking. Pure Horror I, I coach!                         Coach Bill

Sometimes I can stay (relatively) calm and try to distract myself by watching tv or surfing to this site, or a simple game. Sometimes I grab my iPod and focus on the music.
But if the hit's really bad, there's just nothing else I can do but dance. Pace, rock, bang my head, cry, pull my hair and more of that. I don't even want to be around my laptop, because I'm afraid I might smash my head into it. And then what would I do afterwards when I can't sleep?!
But the first thing I do with every hit is get away from everyone around. Everything else comes after that.

Lottie

Johnny mentioned my method of dealing with most of my night time hits, getting on the computer and playing f mindless game that I am bored out of my skull with, but that requires me to concentrate on it.  I learned focus through taking LaMaze classes with my wife 5 times  :) and use some of the principles of focusing the mind on something outside of myself as much as I can.  I CANNOT be still and meditate!  That goes out the window at a K3, but I can usually sit here and keep an attack to a K7 or so by focusing, playing the game, and bouncing around in my seat.  To me the key is to have something to DO along with the mental focus.

Jerry