I have a spreadsheet where I track all my headaches, my sleep patterns, all the meds I take, exercise, the alcohol I drink... I think that's about it. I started it on 1 Jan 2010 because I thought there was a direct connection between my sleep patterns and headaches. There is, but only slightly (more than two late nights in a row is a no-no).

But, I'm getting side tracked. The spreadsheet compiles this raw data into a number of graphs, one of which is a cluster headache chart. I showed it to a friend this weekend, highlighting how they used to be episodic, then last year turned to chronic, and then in the last 3 months have gotten REALLY bad, both in frequency and pain level.

She glanced at it, and said, 'that's obvious, for the last three months you've been in a contract you've hated. You've been bored. It'll get better with your next contract.'

My headaches and migraines are very directly linked to stress, and stress for me is very much linked to my job. When I'm bored at work, and not sufficiently challenged, I get very stressed. And it's true, my current contract hasn't really challenged me like I thought it would. Bored doesn't really do it justice.

So, I'm wondering if such stress can also be a trigger for clusters?

I've read on another board that stress can be good for clusters, and that when we relax and go on holiday, that's when we get hit with them. And I find it interesting that I rarely get attacks during the day at work, or even when visiting friends. I generally ONLY get attacks at home, when chilled out. OR when at my very best friend's house - but she is family, so her house is like being at home. So only when I'm resting do I seem to be attacked by the demon. When I'm focused, when I'm under a stress of sorts, he is held at bay.

But, this other kind of stress, could that bring him on more? Do other people experience this?

Renée

Personally, I have no doubt that stress triggers (not causes) CH. 
I'm swamped currently and my CH started about 3 weeks ago.  I'm moving to Indianapolis on Fri.  I have a new baby.  I'm starting a new job.  Aaack!

I, too, tend to get hit when I'm relaxed. 
I took a break from packing yesterday to get pampered for an hour at a spa (I had my 1st ever facial!) and midway through I had to interrupt the lady to take a tripan because I was getting hit even though it was not my usual time.

Sometimes - not always, I find physical work can help me get through a low to medium level attack.

Chopping firewood is my favourite. That's if I can tune out the audience making helpful comments like "should you be doing that?", " I thought you had a headache", etc.

Good for that middle aged waist line and almost everyone I know now has firewood, whether they have a fireplace or not. Want some wood?

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but simply cautious. For me, stress of any kind (including mild physical exertion) can be a trigger. But then again, so is relaxation. I cannot remain at any given level of physical exertion (or lack thereof) for more than 15 minutes without changing the pattern, or I will get hit. Now, that is just me. I recognize many find strenuous activity beneficial, and I say...Great! But for those of us who find it to be a trigger...well, moderation in all things can also be good. Except where O2 is concerned...there, I like excessive amounts as rapidly as possible. 

Sprog wrote on Apr 27^th, 2011 at 10:22pm:

Don't need firewood. I live in the middle of the desert. Suppossed to be about 90 degrees today. But, if you want physical exertion you can paint my house.
Please, no barbarian noises. It excites the dog.

Also... Im sure stress releases chemicals enzymes in the body, so when those chemicals begin to leave your system as you begin to relax perhaps that is a trigger....  thus the "coming down from stress"

In fact this seeems to be a common trend for alot of people. worth investigating.

We are like sharks....once we stop moving we are toast.

Killer Headache/Migraine when I woke up this morning. But, taking my best friend up to Coventry (about 2 hours+ drive) today for her Hen party weekend, so it was vital that I got rid of the pain.

Took 2 double strength pain killers. Nothing.

Took triptan. Nothing.

Took different triptan. Nothing

Took a nap. Nothing.

As a last resort, I decided to go out and buy some Anadin (which has paracetamol, aspirin and caffeine). This is a last resort because I used to take too much of it, and have now been free of Anadin for 6 weeks. I am trying to break free of it, and my goal is to be 7-8 weeks free to make sure it's not causing rebound headaches. But, I know it works, and I had to be free of this headache.

But, before getting Anadin, I also needed to wash the car for the trip. And what do you know, washing the car helped the head.

I've never had that happen so profoundly before. The pain has gone down to about 15% of what it was. Which means I didn't need the dreaded Anadin. (yeah)

Very cool.

Looks like retirement is going to be one big headache. Mind you, with runaway inflation I don't think I'll be retiring any time soon.