Can Stress Cause Migraines?

Why Stress Can Make Migraines Worse

When stress becomes chronic, it keeps your body in a heightened state of tension. Over time, this can lower your threshold for recovering between migraine attacks, making episodes more frequent and harder to manage. Stress also disrupts sleep, affects muscle function, alters posture, and increases sensitivity within the nervous system.

For many people, stress is stored physically in the neck, jaw, and shoulders. These areas can become overactive and irritated, feeding into a cycle of tension and pain. This tension can overstimulate the brainstem, a key structure involved in migraine generation. At Bangalow Headache Clinic, our treatment specifically targets this sensitisation of the brainstem by addressing the upper cervical spine and restoring proper movement patterns, helping calm the nervous system and reduce migraine activity at the source.

How Physiotherapy Can Help

At Bangalow Headache Neck & Jaw Clinic, we believe in treating migraines naturally by addressing the physical and neurological triggers that stress can cause. For those whose migraines are influenced by stress, our combination of manual therapy and personalised lifestyle support often leads to excellent results.

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s article on positional headaches, changes in posture and shifts in pressure or fluid within the skull can intensify head pain, particularly when moving from lying down to sitting or standing. This lines up with what we observe: poor posture during periods of stress can strain the upper neck, tighten muscles, and lead to additional brainstem sensitisation.

Research also suggests that a sensitised brainstem plays a central role in migraine pathophysiology, particularly in individuals with chronic or stress-related migraine. A 2012 review published in the Journal of Neuroscience outlines how repeated stimulation and dysfunction in the upper cervical spine can contribute to persistent brainstem sensitisation and migraine symptoms.

Here’s how our approach supports lasting change:

1. Gentle manual therapy
   We use non-invasive techniques to release tension in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. This eases strain on sensitive tissues and helps reduce central sensitisation. 

2. Posture education and correction
   Postural errors often underlie positional headaches. We guide you through subtle adjustments and exercises to realign the spine and reduce forward head posture.

3. Jaw assessment and treatment
   Stress often shows up as jaw clenching or grinding. Our assessments identify jaw-related tension and correct mechanics to prevent that tension from triggering migraine episodes.

4. Movement and stress relief strategies
   We teach practical, body-centred ways to break the stress-tension cycle, such as breathing techniques, gentle stretching, and movement breaks designed to reduce physical stress before it builds into pain.
5. Collaborative care
   When needed, we connect with psychologists, neurologists, GPs, or other providers to ensure a fully rounded approach. This helps safeguard your nervous system and supports recovery from multiple angles.