The Link Between PTSD and Headaches

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Few people talk about it, but there is a reason to believe that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and headaches frequently co-occur. Even though headaches have received much less attention among mental health professionals than other problems in PTSD, the connection between PTSD and headaches makes sense.

PTSD is a reaction to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Some of the symptoms include:

PTSD also puts you at risk of developing physical health problems such asdiabetes, obesity, heart disease, andpain. For example, 20% to 30% of people with PTSD report problems with pain.

Patients with migraine or tension headaches report high rates of exposure to traumatic events. In addition, about 17% have symptoms consistent with a PTSD diagnosis.

Another study found that 32% of OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD say that they have problems with headaches.

The Connection Between PTSD and Headaches

PTSD can significantly interfere with many aspects of a person’s life, including work and relationships. This fact likely causes more stress, increasing the likelihood of headaches.

The Link Between Stress and Migraines

How to Manage Headaches

If you have PTSD and are experiencing significant problems with headaches, discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider. You might also learn more about types, causes, diagnosis, and prognosis for PTSD-related headaches.

There are a few things you can do on your own, too. For example:

To address PTSD headaches at their roots, rather than just the symptoms, trycoping strategiesthat focus on reducing stress. They also can help minimize other stress-related problems, such as anxiety and depression.

Coping With PTSD

Frequently Asked Questions

A headache actually can be a symptom of a migraine, a neurological disease. Other symptoms of a migraine include a pre-headache aura, blurry vision, pain on one side of your head, upset stomach, and sensitivity to light, touch, smell, or sound. Simple headaches are just that: Pain in the head from any number of common causes (inflamed sinuses, dehydration, fatigue, etc.).

See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis if you’ve experienced or witnessed a traumatic event and repeatedly have flashbacks, avoid triggers, suffer anxiety and related problems, and feel symptoms of depression.

SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asmundson GJG, Coons MJ, Taylor S, Katz J.PTSD and the experience of pain: Research and clinical implications of shared vulnerability and mutual maintenance models.Can J Psychiatry. 2002;47(10):930-937. doi: 10.1177/070674370204701004De Benedittis G, Lorenzetti A.The role of stressful life events in the persistence of primary headache: Major events vs. daily hassles.Pain. 1992;51(1):35-42. doi:10.1016/0304-3959(92)90006-Wde Leeuw R, Schmidt JE, Carlson CR.Traumatic stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in headache patients.Headache. 2005;45(10):1365-1374. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.00269.xFicek SK, Wittrock DA.Subjective stress and coping in recurrent tension-type headache.Headache. 1995;35(8):455-460. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1995.hed3508455.x

Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asmundson GJG, Coons MJ, Taylor S, Katz J.PTSD and the experience of pain: Research and clinical implications of shared vulnerability and mutual maintenance models.Can J Psychiatry. 2002;47(10):930-937. doi: 10.1177/070674370204701004De Benedittis G, Lorenzetti A.The role of stressful life events in the persistence of primary headache: Major events vs. daily hassles.Pain. 1992;51(1):35-42. doi:10.1016/0304-3959(92)90006-Wde Leeuw R, Schmidt JE, Carlson CR.Traumatic stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in headache patients.Headache. 2005;45(10):1365-1374. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.00269.xFicek SK, Wittrock DA.Subjective stress and coping in recurrent tension-type headache.Headache. 1995;35(8):455-460. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1995.hed3508455.x

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Asmundson GJG, Coons MJ, Taylor S, Katz J.PTSD and the experience of pain: Research and clinical implications of shared vulnerability and mutual maintenance models.Can J Psychiatry. 2002;47(10):930-937. doi: 10.1177/070674370204701004De Benedittis G, Lorenzetti A.The role of stressful life events in the persistence of primary headache: Major events vs. daily hassles.Pain. 1992;51(1):35-42. doi:10.1016/0304-3959(92)90006-Wde Leeuw R, Schmidt JE, Carlson CR.Traumatic stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in headache patients.Headache. 2005;45(10):1365-1374. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.00269.xFicek SK, Wittrock DA.Subjective stress and coping in recurrent tension-type headache.Headache. 1995;35(8):455-460. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1995.hed3508455.x

Asmundson GJG, Coons MJ, Taylor S, Katz J.PTSD and the experience of pain: Research and clinical implications of shared vulnerability and mutual maintenance models.Can J Psychiatry. 2002;47(10):930-937. doi: 10.1177/070674370204701004

De Benedittis G, Lorenzetti A.The role of stressful life events in the persistence of primary headache: Major events vs. daily hassles.Pain. 1992;51(1):35-42. doi:10.1016/0304-3959(92)90006-W

de Leeuw R, Schmidt JE, Carlson CR.Traumatic stressors and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in headache patients.Headache. 2005;45(10):1365-1374. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2005.00269.x

Ficek SK, Wittrock DA.Subjective stress and coping in recurrent tension-type headache.Headache. 1995;35(8):455-460. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.1995.hed3508455.x

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