# How does my perception of my life turn into a headache?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-perception-of-my-life-turn-into-a-headache/239326>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 10, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-perception-of-my-life-turn-into-a-headache/239326 "2004-04-10T15:47:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-perception-of-my-life-turn-into-a-headache/239326/1 "2004-04-10T15:47:02Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-perception-of-my-life-turn-into-a-headache/239326/2 "2004-04-10T17:31:00Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-my-perception-of-my-life-turn-into-a-headache/239326/3 "2004-05-31T14:06:44Z")

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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?