"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
--Mark 11:24
It's a commonly held belief that stress causes migraines. However, I did have one neurologist (who will remain nameless) tell me that I was ridiculous to think that stress was causing my migraines. He then went on to inform me that women in war-torn countries endure stress, not women in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Needless to say this neurologist offered no suggestions to help manage my stress. Throughout my migraine journey I have encountered several suggestions to reduce stress in my life. One Dr. (who believed in the physiological effects of stress) actually performed a test on me (ANSAR) that documented that my sympathetic autonomic nervous system was in overdrive. The sympathetic nervous system mediates our fight or flight response, the response to stress, pain, or cold. While the parasympathetic branch is responsible for energy conservation and restoration. Ideally, these systems should be balanced. When I asked this Dr. what I was supposed to do in order to balance myself, he recommended meditation or prayer as a possible solution. I had come across meditiation as a suggestion for migraine relief previously, yet my little knowledge about how to meditate left me paralyzed at the thought of attempting it. The idea of quieting my mind with a goal of thinking of absolutely nothing for a set amount of time became stressful, thus negating it's purpose. Many physicians and stress relief experts find similarities between prayer and meditation-- and prayer I can do.
I debated posting anything regarding prayer as it seems very personal and possibly controversial. Although, I did reveal church outings in my Migraine Plan, I didn't speak specifically to prayer. Whatever your religious beliefs (unless you have none at all) you can pray or meditate and remain unoffended by the fact that I pray. Studies have shown that prayer and meditation can have an impact on stress and pain. A study by Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School was one of these studies. He determined that the body responds to praying, meditating, hypnosis, and other relaxation techniques by lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. His study showed the body achieves a state of relaxation where there is a decreased need for oxygen and a decreased production of carbon dioxide. These things are the opposite of what occurs in the body under stress. Through these techniques we can consciously decrease stress and aid in healing. For this migrainuer prayer is a cheap and fulfilling way to cope and reduce stress. All I need is a quiet room and some solitude.
Many times in a chronic state of migraine my prayers were mere pleads for mercy or negotiations with a higher power to reduce my pain in return for my undying committment. Today my prayers are a time of quiet reflection of thanks and gratitude for the relief I have received. It is a time and place for me to connect spiritually and share responsibility and religuish control for things in my life that I can't control. My prayer today, while I type this blog, is that the message contained in this site will relieve the pain and suffering of a fellow migrainuer.
Can I get an Amen?
I debated posting anything regarding prayer as it seems very personal and possibly controversial. Although, I did reveal church outings in my Migraine Plan, I didn't speak specifically to prayer. Whatever your religious beliefs (unless you have none at all) you can pray or meditate and remain unoffended by the fact that I pray. Studies have shown that prayer and meditation can have an impact on stress and pain. A study by Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School was one of these studies. He determined that the body responds to praying, meditating, hypnosis, and other relaxation techniques by lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate. His study showed the body achieves a state of relaxation where there is a decreased need for oxygen and a decreased production of carbon dioxide. These things are the opposite of what occurs in the body under stress. Through these techniques we can consciously decrease stress and aid in healing. For this migrainuer prayer is a cheap and fulfilling way to cope and reduce stress. All I need is a quiet room and some solitude.
Many times in a chronic state of migraine my prayers were mere pleads for mercy or negotiations with a higher power to reduce my pain in return for my undying committment. Today my prayers are a time of quiet reflection of thanks and gratitude for the relief I have received. It is a time and place for me to connect spiritually and share responsibility and religuish control for things in my life that I can't control. My prayer today, while I type this blog, is that the message contained in this site will relieve the pain and suffering of a fellow migrainuer.
Can I get an Amen?
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