Chronic headaches are an unfortunate concern for many children and young adults. Children with migraines can experience episodic and severe headaches throughout their lives. This discomfort and distress may impact other parts of children’s lives, including absences from school, less focus, less energy, less participation in after school / extracurricular activities.
In fact, there are close to 20% of children who experience migraines, compared to 13% of adults (Headache Classification Sub-Committee of the International Headache Society, 2004). As such, those working to address childhood migraines may have two goals. First, what is the best way to help heal the migraines? And, second, provide methods and techniques that children may use to deal with future headaches?
Available Options: Methods / Therapies
Pharmacologic interventions are traditionally the first attempt at treating headaches. Relaxation and psychological and cognitive-behavioral therapies may also be used to treat chronic headaches.. Hypnosis can be used together with such therapies. The goal is to reduce severity and frequency. Additionally, as headaches are often a result of stress, stress reduction may also be used.
Impact of Stress and Headache Index
In a study by Zoughbi, A. (2008) considered potential psychosocial stressors of 30 children and teenagers with headaches. Patients used hypnosis-induced relaxation and headache-related imagery. 37% reported their headaches were associated with fixed stressors and 63% reported variable stressors. 96% reported a decrease in headache frequency and/or intensity following use of hypnosis.
One ways to measure the effects is through a headache index. This is calculated by multiplying the frequency by intensity. Baumann, R. (2002) studied the decrease in headache frequency and duration due to behavioral therapies. One way of assessment was through headache diaries. Children kept a journal of headaches, stressors, and headache-associated activities. Initially, a counselor reviews the log with the child and parent. After a few sessions, the family takes over the responsibility.
Survey Study
In his study, Kohen (2010) takes a look at a number of different cases with children and young adults. Kohen studied these individuals through a survey that he sent out. The goal was to consider the current treatment, application, condition of headaches and hypnosis. 52 completed a survey out of 178 subjects who received one. The University of Minnesota’s Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research and by the Institutional Review Board of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics–Minneapolis approved the anonymous survey instrument and methodology.
Other Factors
These studies show that hypnosis may be used to treat headaches and migraines in children and young adults. Other recommendations including nutrition, sleep, and other positive lifestyle advice may be beneficial to children.
References:
Baumann, R. (2002). Behavioral Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents. Pediatric Drugs. 4 (9): 555-561
Kohen, D. P. (2010). Long-Term Follow up of Self-Hypnosis Training for Recurrent Headaches: What the Children Say. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 58(4): 417–432
Zoughbi, A. (2008). Relationship of headache-associated stressors and hypnosis therapy outcome in children: a retrospective chart review. Hypno Digest: 50(4):335-41.
Melvin S. Marsh is a certified hypnotherapist in Augusta, Georgia and Blairsville, Georgia with a specialist certification in pain management and hypnosis. He performs hypnotherapy appointments both in person and worldwide via Zoom. He can be reached at www.afterhourshypnotherapy.com
