When we read and learn about stress management, we are often focused on how adults can better manage stress- whether it be personal, on-the-job, or due to a failing relationship. Sometimes, though, with all this focus on adults, we forget that children can feel stressed too.
One of the biggest reasons children feel stress is because of changes in their environment. They feel out of control when things change, and might not be able to have any control over where they live or go to school (such as when their parents separate or divorce) and they may also be subjected to stress at school, such as by being bullied or ridiculed.
Sometimes, it’s tough being a kid. One of the ways that children demonstrate stress is through complaints of headaches. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis examined the impact of hypnosis for headaches in children.
The study made a distinction between fixed and variable stressors. Fixed stressors were defined as events over which the child had no control, while variable stressors are those in which the child might be able to change his behavior and modify the outcome. In this study, 37% of children reported fixed stressors, and 63% reported variable stressors.
In the study, 96% of children reported improvement in their headaches after using hypnosis- improvement, in this case, meant that they had fewer headaches or the headaches weren’t as painful than before. This effect was greater for children who were experiencing variable stressors.
For these children, it means that hypnosis, plus a greater understanding of the role they were playing in their own stress, was highly effective at reducing headaches.
This is a positive sign, because it means that, perhaps, children who are under stress can learn how to relax and gain control, instead of relying on medication to control their stress and headaches.
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Thank you so much for writing this article. My son (12 years) has been suffering from headaches since January. The doctors don’t know what is wrong with him, and did not have any idea of how to help him. I did not want him taking medicine everyday. I am going to get him the free downloads you are offering. I hope they will help him. Thank you.
I also appreciate this article. My son has had headaches for over the past two years. Never did I attribute this to stress. He is a big worrier. We will definitely be looking into your recommended solution.
Good stuff. A lot of people probably wouldn’t think of hypnosis as a treatment for children but it’s definitely worth it if it helps headaches or anything else for that matter, and is especially good as an alternative to the harsh drugs out there.
Well, hopefully some of those child psychiatrist will take a moment to read this article. Today it just seems easier for them to prescribe a drug for children, which, by the way, are generally not approved by the FDA for use in children for controlling their stress. The idea of alternative treatments needs to be widely communicated.
A few years back we helped a young lady who had quite a few issues and the doctors had her on 6 different drugs. It is a shame that drugs are over used to control a child’s behavior or physical problem, like a headache, when they relate to stress.
To be truthful (and perhaps a bit naive) I didn’t even realize that stress caused headaches in adults, let alone children. This is significant.
Kudos to Michael for this important message,and to Peggy for pointing out that most psychiatrists would prefer to ‘drug’ our children to make the symptons go away!
My daughter is constantly getting headaches and it never occurred to me that stress could cause headaches in children. Now that the first day of school is approaching, she is starting to get headaches again. All summer long she didn’t have a headache. I am looking into hypnosis to help my daughter. Thanks for this great and informative article.
I’m with Toni. My son is suffering the same things — headaches during the school. During the summer vacation … no headaches at all. Now that school is about 2 weeks away, the headaches are starting again. It is very hurtful for a parent not to be able to control these symptons … but we are really going to look into hypnosis. Thank you so much Michael for opening up the truths.
I have worked with children who for known and unknown reasons were stressed mostly from controlable stressors. Drugs are the first line of offense which only mask or gave short term relief. I would like to see, one something less aggressive, and two, something longer acting and more relaxing.
thanks for your article about children’s headaches benifitting from hypnosis. where can i find the downloads you are offering?
thanks again
I find that talking with my son (yes, a form of self-assurance/hypnosis) is the best way to relieve a headache he has. It’s usually caused by some type of “child stress” - something insignificant to us adults, but extremely important to him (as a child). Parents just don’t sit down and talk to their children anymore. And I believe that this is what children need. I know my son benefits from it, in more ways than just headache relief! I’m going to try a daily 10-minute stress reduction program with him, perhaps just before bed, and see how he likes it.
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