tension

[stressbald]

I have been told by my doctors that I have tension headaches. I also have depression and anxiety disorder. I have pains all over the top of my head going to the back on left side almost every day for 5 months. Advvil does not help me. Are my  sickneses related?

[LifesAHeadache]

Let me ask are you are sure they are tension headaches?  IWhat doctor specialty diagnosed you.   I ask this because anxiety and depression are very common maladies for those with Migraine and visa versa.  So, the timing of onset is actually very important.

Have you always been anxious and depressed?

Did you start getting severe headaches, and then start worrying about what if I'm sick for this event or that.  

Or has the pain been so consistent that you've gotten anxious and depressed because it has impacted your life so much.

I am assuming you have tried over the counter medication more than once and it didn't do the trick

Are you male or female and what age did the headaches starts?  These questions actually make a difference as to which doctor you want to go to first.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,
Yes your symptoms could be related.
You could be having the headaches due to the anxiety, depression and stress. It would be best to try and identify the cause of your stress and solve things out.
You should also try to remain happy - spend time doing activities you enjoy. Go for regular walks and exercises - including breathing exercises and yoga. Take up music, dancing or gardening - whatever helps you relieve your stress and helps to calm you down.
Try some OTC pain relief medication for a few days and see if they help.
If your symptoms still persist, see a doctor or psychiatrist.
Do let us know about your progress.
Hope this helps.
Regards.

[Godofredo MD]

Hi.

Your symptoms seem to suggest a chronic type of tension headache, wherein the headache occurs almost daily and is severe in intensity.

Depression and anxiety disorder can indeed sometimes trigger tension headaches. Are you taking any medications for these? It would be advisable to adequately manage your depression and anxiety to possibly lessen the incidence of tension headaches.

You should probably ask your doctors for other types of pain medications to help relieve your symptoms.

Aside from the medications, you can do lifestyle modification to minimize stress. Some relaxation techniques and aerobic exercises have been reported to be helpful in alleviating tension headache.

Good luck.