What mechanism actually creates this symptom? Or, in my case, how does my perception of my life turn into a pain in my head? I think cortisol is a hormone produced by stress. Is it involved? Could the amount of cortisol in the system be mediated i.e. reduced? Would that have significant drawbacks? Could it be a treatment for stress related headaches? What say you, dopers? The Qagdop person might be of help here.
When I am having a stressfull week I catch myself clenching my jaw… a lot. Usually it just feels like I have been chewing gum but if I do it without noticing, blam, killer headache.
Suppose it’s true that I get headaches as a response to stress. What is the pathway from the latter to the former? How does a circumstance of life activate the blood vessels in my head to swell and cause pain? Is cortisol involved? If so, what does it do? What’s really happening?