Pain in head / frequent headaches

I'm a healthy (or so I hope) 20 year-old college student, 6'2'', 180-lbs, and regularly active (running / weightlifting) except during finals week. I've had trouble sleeping for as long as I can remember (not being able to take my mind off of things), and they have been getting worse ever since I entered college. I'm sure the sleeping problems are related to stress, but something else has been bothering me more lately. I usually wake up with a slight headache (I like to believe my morning coffee makes it go away), but when I have especially bad nights of sleep, I wake up with an extremely bad headache that can persist throughout most of the day.

I've also been having an odd sensation in the back of my head. The best way to describe it is a tightness in the back of my head; not painful, just a sensation to make me think about it (which I'm sure makes it worse). I also, as of the past couple of days, have had a much more localized tingling/sharp-pain/itch in the top right portion of the back of my head. The feeling changes throughout the day, but I'm sure it is because of my thinking about it.

Based on some reading I've been doing, it looks like anxiety and stress are the causes, but I have no experience in anything medical, so I was hoping to get a second opinion. I am double majoring in Mechanical Engineering and Physics, and this summer I am taking an advanced mathematics course, an advanced physics course, and starting to develop a thesis proposal for my honors research.

My stress level is obviously elevated, and I was wondering if this could really be causing my problems. If so, what steps can I take to help?

[bibigirl12_10]

dear phys101,
what are you taking for pain relief?
it seems to me that your headache situations are caused by stress...
but, who am i to diagnose what is wrong with you, i'm just a seventeen year old girl.
well, to explain a little bit more about it i've been diagnosed with a brain tumor just in 2009 and for the past year i've been dealing with nonstop headaches and migraines and frequent cases of syncope (fainting spells). my neurologist ruled out the whole thing of surgery now he's just trying to help with the headaches. i've had multiple mri's done and nothing seems to be changing with my tumor, so he believes that the tumor isn't causing my headaches... the cause of my headaches is from the stress that i've been going through for the past year with my problem. he has suggested to me that i should learn different ways of meditation to help calm the headaches, he's also prescribed me multiple headache/antidepressants/seizure medications throughout the year to also help with the pain.

now what you are describing about the tingling/sharp-pain/itch in the top of your head, i know what that feels like, that's exactly how my headaches are and lately i've been having trouble sleeping because of the headaches... my best suggestion to you is to try meditation in your free time (even though it may sound a little girly or whatever but hey, whatever works right? i know the pain and it seems to be helping to take my mind off of a lot of things) because to me it looks like you are in over your head with college work which is very understandable, although it's very impressive (: but if your headaches don't ease up, try going to a doctor and see if he or she could help you out with everything. i know i'm just a seventeen year old girl but i've been through a lot the past year with headaches and such.

please keep us informed and i hope that i could atleast answer something of your concerns. good luck in everything that is happening

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Tension-type headaches present with dull, non-throbbing pain associated with tightness of scalp or neck. The degree of severity remains constant and most often stress is a factor. Rest, ice packs, muscle relaxants and avoidance of stress will help provide relief. You can also try biofeedback therapy and other relaxation techniques  for non-medical treatment. Take care and do keep us posted.