Skip to main content

Trending Now: What everyone's reading.

A 3-Step Daily Reset for Safety, Fear Rewiring & Emotional Healing After Trauma

By The Artful Woman
After surviving a stroke and a catastrophic accident, I’ve had to rebuild not just my body—but my nervous system, my thoughts, and my sense of safety in the world. At the very least, I dedicate 10 minutes each morning to anchoring my body in safety. From there, I’ve developed a simple 3-step daily reset that helps me move through fear, regulate my thoughts, and gently rewire how I relate to uncertainty, pain, and hope. This is not about perfection. It’s about returning to yourself, over and over again, especially after trauma. 1. Morning Safety Anchor (2 minutes) I place my hand on my heart and breathe: inhale for 4, hold for 2, exhale for 6. I say: “In this moment, I am safe.” This helps ground my nervous system and even supports calming phantom pain when it shows up. 2. Midday Thought Flip (30 seconds at a time) When fear starts to spiral into “what if” scenarios, I pause. Instead of feeding the fear, I answer it gently: “And if it happens, I’ll handle it. What if it goes right inst...
Post a Comment

Understanding Headaches After a Stroke: What to Watch For

Image
By The Artful Woman

Headaches are a common experience for many people, but as a stroke survivor, they can feel more alarming. While others might take a pain reliever and move on, we tend to pause and wonder: Is this just a headache, or is my brain signaling something serious? Understanding the different types of headaches and knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial for stroke survivors.

Written by Jean Marshall Master Wellness Coach

Common Types of Headaches & Their Causes

1. Tension Headaches

  • The most common type of headache.

  • Feels like a dull, tight band around the head.

  • Causes: Stress, poor posture, dehydration, or eye strain.

2. Migraines

  • Intense, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head.

  • Symptoms: Nausea, light/sound sensitivity, and sometimes visual auras.

  • Causes: Hormonal changes, food triggers, stress, or lack of sleep.

3. Cluster Headaches

  • Excruciating pain around one eye, occurring in cycles.

  • Can last weeks or months with frequent attacks.

  • Triggers: Alcohol, smoking, or disrupted sleep patterns.

4. Sinus Headaches

  • Pressure and pain in the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.

  • Caused by sinus infections or allergies.

5. Rebound Headaches

  • Result from overuse of pain medications like ibuprofen or aspirin.

  • Occur when medication wears off, leading to another headache.

6. Hypertension Headaches

  • Pulsing pain on both sides of the head.

  • Linked to high blood pressure.

  • May improve once blood pressure is controlled.

What Stroke Survivors Should Watch For

For stroke survivors, headaches can be a warning sign of something more serious. Here are key symptoms that should never be ignored:

1. Sudden, Severe "Thunderclap" Headache

  • Feels like the worst headache of your life.

  • Could indicate a brain bleed (hemorrhagic stroke).

  • Seek emergency medical care immediately.

2. Headache with Weakness, Numbness, or Slurred Speech

  • Could signal another stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA, also known as a "mini-stroke").

  • Call 911 right away.

3. Headache with Vision Changes or Confusion

  • May indicate a neurological issue or restricted blood flow in the brain.

  • Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.

4. Headache with Dizziness or Loss of Balance

  • Could be a sign of a problem with blood circulation to the brain.

  • Don't ignore it—consult a doctor.

5. Persistent Headaches After a Stroke

  • May result from nerve damage, blood vessel changes, or post-stroke pain syndrome.

  • If headaches are frequent or worsening, speak with a neurologist.

How to Manage Headaches Safely

If you experience headaches but they are not accompanied by serious symptoms, here are some ways to manage them safely:

  • Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can trigger headaches, so drink plenty of water.

  • Manage Stress: Practice meditation, deep breathing, or relaxation exercises.

  • Monitor Blood Pressure: High blood pressure can contribute to headaches.

  • Improve Sleep: Poor sleep can worsen headaches, so aim for a consistent sleep schedule.

  • Limit Triggers: Avoid caffeine, alcohol, or processed foods if they worsen headaches.

  • Seek Professional Guidance: If headaches persist, consult your doctor for further evaluation.

Final Thoughts

As stroke survivors, our relationship with headaches is different from the average person. While some headaches are harmless, others could be warning signs of a bigger issue. Understanding when to seek help and how to manage headaches effectively can provide peace of mind and better health.

Have you experienced post-stroke headaches? Share your thoughts or tips in the comments below!

Labels:
Location: Dana Point, CA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

It’s time for me to start telling my story.

By The Artful Woman
 It’s time for me to start telling my story. For a long time, I stayed quiet outside of a very small circle of close friends. I shared only enough to stay connected, but not enough to be fully seen. That wasn’t avoidance—it was protection. After my accident, my nervous system and my energy field simply could not take in more input from the outside world. As an empath, I had to retreat in order to survive and heal. But as my strength slowly returns, I feel that silence shifting. I was in a tragic accident on Ortega Highway that changed the entire course of my life. In an instant, everything I knew about my body, my independence, and my future was disrupted. Since then, I’ve been forced into a long and ongoing process of rebuilding—not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. And I’m still in it. Even the simplest things that most people take for granted have become daily challenges. Basic mobility. Using the restroom safely and in time. Navigating transfers ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why I’m Still Here

By The Artful Woman
  Why I’m Still Here By Jean Marshall I’ve asked myself the question more times than I can count: Why am I still here? After a stroke that changed my life five years ago, I thought I had already learned resilience. I thought I had already been tested. But then came the accident — a beautiful September morning that shattered my body, altered my future, and once again forced me to start over from the ground up. There are days I still can’t fully understand it. One man’s poor decision, one wrong moment, and everything changed. My bones broke. My leg was lost. My body shut down. My life — the one I’d built with so much effort — came to a stop. But somehow, my heart didn’t. They tell me it took over twenty doctors and nurses to keep me alive that day. I was in an induced coma, held together by machines, prayers, and the hands of strangers. There were moments I thought I was dying — I even said my last prayers. But each time I surrendered, something unseen pulled me back. Something...
Post a Comment
Read more

Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident

By The Artful Woman
  Help Me Stay Housed While Recovering From a Life-Changing Accident On September 6th, my life changed in an instant when a driver crossed into my lane on Ortega Highway and hit me head-on. My car was thrown into the air and I nearly lost my life. My vehicle was completely totaled. I spent four months in the hospital. The first part was in a trauma unit where I was placed in an induced coma and underwent multiple life-saving surgeries. I was then transferred to an acute care facility where I required critical support, including IVs, a tracheostomy, a feeding tube, and dialysis. My injuries included: Loss of my right leg Six broken ribs and two vertebrae Broken pelvis, right arm, and wrist Multiple fractures in my left leg Kidney and heart failure from trauma Many of my injuries required surgical repair with metal hardware that I am still healing from After returning home, my focus has been recovery. I’ve faced infections, complications, and delayed healing that hav...
Post a Comment
Read more

What Surviving Twice Taught Me About Purpose—And What It Didn’t

By The Artful Woman
  Questioning the idea that survival comes with a purpose to fulfill I’ve survived two life-altering events, and what I’ve learned about purpose isn’t what people expect. They say, “God kept your alive for a reason,” or “God still has a purpose for you.” And I need to be honest about how that lands for me. It doesn’t feel comforting. It feels like pressure. Like surviving something traumatic automatically comes with an assignment—something I’m supposed to figure out later, some hidden meaning I’m expected to uncover. And in my case, this hasn’t been said just once. It’s been said twice. Once after my stroke in 2020. And now again after a near-death accident on September 6th 2025 that changed my life forever. So it starts to create a pattern I can’t ignore—that my survival is always being tied to some purpose I haven’t “fulfilled” yet. And that raises a real question for me: Why does it sound like I have to go through something catastrophic in order for my life to be cons...
Post a Comment
Read more