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5 Thoughtful Images That Show the Truth of Today’s World

If you’ve lived on this Earth for any substantial time at all, you have probably noticed that something just seems terribly wrong about the current operation on this planet. Even if you have a positive outlook on life and see the best in everything, it gets hard to simply ignore the seemingly upside-down world we live in.

Steve Cutts, an illustrator and animator from London, uses the atrocities and insanity of today’s world for inspiration for his art, creating videos and images that portray the absurdities of modern times. While the following images might paint a dismal picture of today’s world, they help to spread awareness at least, and get people talking about solutions to the problems we face in modern society.

Here are 5 images that show the truth of today’s world:

Man’s Best Friend..iPhone?

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No matter where we go, our cell phones have a tight hold over us. We wouldn’t dream of going anywhere without our trusted phone, because it has become a part of us now. We practically have them attached to our hands, unlocking them far too often to check for updates and notifications. We need the instant gratification, a sign that someone out there cares about us enough to leave a nice comment on our picture or send us a friend request. We go about our daily activities, but are we really present? Are we really living in the moment, or are we living through the screen of our virtual best friend?

Zombie Apocalypse

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We don’t have to fear a zombie takeover, because it’s already here. Luckily, these zombies don’t seem to want to tear our limbs apart, they just walk around in a dazed stupor, staring at their phones all day. They don’t look up unless someone calls their name or they have to cross a busy street…even then, they anxiously await the moment when they can look into their screen again and go back to being in a trance. I read somewhere that if you pass people on a street, more of them will be looking down at their phone than will look at you and say hello. Is this the world we really want to create for ourselves?

The Rat Race to Nowhere

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We work day in and day out, 40-80 or more hours a week, but what do we do it for? What does it do for our lives? Sure, our work puts food on our tables, pays for the house that we live in, the clothes we wear and the gas we buy for the cars we use to drive to work, but does it really fulfill us? We all scramble to make it to work on time, in fear of our boss getting mad and firing us for being late. We fear not having enough money to pay the bills, so we stay locked inside the system, not knowing how to escape this giant prison. Most of us don’t even question it anymore; we just do what we have to do to get by. We’ve been enslaved by an outdated system that no longer serves us, but we continue to take part in it because we have no other way. We have been taught to obey and follow orders, so we go along blindly, wishing for the day when we can all run free…

We Are Not Machines

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Those of us who have awakened to the truth have a hard time going to a normal job everyday, feeling trapped inside a machine that just won’t stop. It never stops, and needs us to keep it going. Without us, the machine would cease to exist. Most of us just keep doing our duties, and don’t want to cause a scene. However, when we do speak up, someone out there will feel threatened by our rebellion, and will certainly keep a watchful eye over us and try to get us to fall in line again.

The Price of Gluttony

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We go to McDonalds or Burger King to get a quick meal, but do we even think twice about where that “food” comes from? Do we even think about what we eat anymore, or do we just devour anything that satisfies our taste buds? As we continue to eat our favorite foods, millions of animals must die for our greed…but that doesn’t matter, as long as we can eat what makes us happy, right?

When we look back at these times in history, will we feel proud of our accomplishments and progression as a human race? Or will we wish we would’ve spoken up and promoted a world where everyone can prosper and feel happy? The choice lies with us, and we must stand together as one and start to care about issues outside ourselves if we want to thrive as a species once again.

*All images created by Steve Cutts.

4 Ways to Fill the Emptiness In Your Life

Almost everyone feels empty at some point in their lives, but not many can pinpoint exactly why they feel this way. Most blame a lost lover, a lack of purpose, boredom, not enough friends, or other reasons, but this only skirts around the true reason for emptiness.

However, none of these reasons get to the root cause of why people feel empty; they just mask the underlying problem. Right now, we have so much chaos and destruction on this planet because people feel this emptiness, and they seek outside themselves in order to fix it. Or, out of frustration and loneliness, they hurt others to release these feelings. None of this will solve the problem, however. At the core of emptiness, lies a lack of love for oneself.

An article posted on HuffingtonPost.com, written by Margaret Paul, Ph.D., says it best: “There is only one thing that truly fills the emptiness. Love. There is only one cause of inner emptiness: a lack of love. But it is not a lack of someone else’s love that causes your emptiness. Inner emptiness is caused by self-abandonment — by not loving yourself.”

So, now we know that a lack of love for oneself causes feelings of emptiness, but what can we do about it?

Here are 4 ways to fill the emptiness in your life:

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1. Dig deep down within yourself to understand your feelings of emptiness.

We can’t solve the problem if we don’t first understand it. What stops you from not fully committing to loving yourself? After all, the only reason to feel empty lies within us. If we always felt content and safe in our own skin, why would we need to seek fulfillment elsewhere? Of course, losing someone you love or going through a traumatic experience warrants feelings of emptiness, and understandably so. However, constant feelings of emptiness can indicate something deeper going on within you.

It takes courage to rip out your wounds and learn to love your scars, but this is a necessary step on the path to self-love. It won’t happen overnight, but you have to come face-to-face with your ego at some point, and show it love. Then, it will have nothing left to yearn for, and nothing left to take from you.

2. Allow yourself some sort of outlet for your emotions.

You can’t just move through life and keep all your feelings bottled up inside. This isn’t only unhealthy, but it isn’t natural. We are complex beings with a variety of emotions, and we shouldn’t be expected to stifle them just because society seems to look down on people expressing themselves. Whatever makes you feel more whole within yourself, do that. Whether you like to draw, write, paint, sing, dance, act, hike, or bike, just do something that comes naturally to you.

This will help you fill that emptiness, and give yourself a healthy way to express yourself.

3. Commit to loving yourself, no matter what.

Coming from someone who still struggles with this, I know that truly loving yourself is one of the most difficult things a person can do in this lifetime. We have every reason in the world to love ourselves, but when it comes down to it, a lot of us still don’t feel good enough. With the drop of a hat, we can log onto social media and endlessly compare ourselves to others. We can tune into advertisements on TV trying to sell us something that will make us “perfect,” and we can listen to others degrade and belittle us. However, we can also choose to walk away from all of this, and commit to loving ourselves unconditionally.

How do you do this? Make a decision. Make a choice to continue loving yourself no matter what people think of you, what mistakes you make, or what path you take in life. You cannot truly experience life if you can’t even enjoy and love the person you spend the most time with – yourself. 

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4. Get involved in activities that make you happy.

Feeling emptiness in your life will seem difficult if you do things that make your heart happy. You won’t even remember feeling a void in your life if you fill it with activities that bring you joy. Even if you’ve been down for a while, you can always get back up. You can always choose to stand up and fight rather than submit to feelings of worthlessness and defeat. Sign up for martial arts or yoga classes, join a hiking group, get together with friends and cook healthy meals for one another, or just whatever makes you truly fulfilled. Then, the emptiness will slowly fade, as you start to replace those feelings with love.

Remember, life requires us to constantly move in order to thrive. Living out in nature, we wouldn’t just stay in one place for long periods of time, and that shouldn’t change just because we live a different lifestyle. Momentum and action are the worst enemies of emptiness. You won’t even notice that void if you choose to take steps each day toward feeling alive again, so just make that choice. You CAN do it, no matter how hard it seems at first.

5 Signs You Take Yourself Too Seriously

Many of us take ourselves far too seriously, and that shows in the amount of stress we have in our daily lives. What if we stepped back for a few minutes to remember that there’s so much more to life than our job titles, money, accomplishments, degrees, and whatever else we identify with? Most of us spend so much time trying to become something and beat obstacles and get ahead that we forget to simply breathe, laugh, and take in the beauty that surrounds us every day. We let the voices in our heads tell us we aren’t good enough way too often, and we start to believe them after a while.

Life doesn’t have to feel like a constant battle; you can choose to have a more light-hearted approach, and just ride the waves of life rather than fighting to stay afloat.

“Don’t take life too seriously; nobody ever makes it out alive anyway.” – Van Wilder

Here are 5 signs you take yourself too seriously:

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1. You don’t remember the last time you laughed at yourself – or anything at all, for that matter.

Many studies have come out in the past decade regarding the incredible health benefits of laughter, and how it really is the best medicine. Laughter has been proven to reduce stress, combat anxiety, and depression, improve memory, lower blood pressure and heart rate, release endorphins into the body, and even boost circulation and oxygen levels to organs. It offers a plethora of health benefits, and most of all, it helps you not take life so seriously. If you don’t remember the last time you laughed, I would recommend taking the highest dosage of laughter you can, because keeping our hearts light and happily allow us to live a healthier, richer life.

Go out with friends, watch a funny YouTube video, or do anything that brings a smile to your face. Just because you have responsibilities in life, does not mean you can’t enjoy yourself along the way!

2. You feel you must defend yourself constantly.

If you take yourself too seriously, you will likely feel as though everyone wants to attack you and get under your skin. You might see the world as a hostile, unfriendly place, in which you must defend your territory and belief systems. However, having this attitude will only keep people from getting close to you, and will not help you to stop taking yourself so seriously. Most people in the world actually love reaching out to others and having intelligent conversations without wanting to hurt or attack other people for their beliefs or personality.

If you feel threatened by others, work on your confidence levels so that other people start to look like friends rather than enemies in your eyes.

3. You get offended when other people question your beliefs.

As an elaboration of the last point, you shouldn’t feel threatened or on edge when other people ask questions about your beliefs or viewpoints. You should be able to have a civilized, open conversation with someone without taking it to the extreme and feeling like you must get defensive about it. If you don’t want to elaborate on how you feel, you don’t have to, but most of the time, others just want to get to know you and don’t mean any harm.

Don’t attach yourself so much to your beliefs; rather, keep an open mind so you can learn from other people, and they might just learn a lesson from you, as well.

4. You always need a goal to chase in order to feel happy.

Humans are goal-oriented creatures by nature. We want to have something to set our sights on, something to work towards, and something to accomplish. Having a dream and going after it is great, but not when it takes you out of the present moment and prevents you from enjoying life in the now. Just because you have something you want to achieve in the future, doesn’t mean you can’t embrace the present. If you can’t feel happy without having something to work towards constantly, you might be taking yourself too seriously. Try to enjoy the little things about life, and remember what truly matters: your family, friends, health, and how you treat others.

5. You compare yourself to other people constantly.

With social media and other forms of entertainment and news outlets, we don’t have to look very far to find someone to compare ourselves to. However, this only serves to make us bitter and judgmental in the end, and does nothing to help us feel good about ourselves. Next time you catch yourself doing this, remember that no one can imitate or replicate you. So go out there and show the world your unique gifts and talents, and stop trying to become someone else. You will only lose yourself by trying to be someone you’re not, so make the choice to love yourself today. If you stop taking yourself so seriously and learn to relax into your individuality, you will start to have a more open, loving perspective about life, and just enjoy the ride while you can.

6. You don’t have a sense of humor

If you get upset when someone teases you, it could mean you’re too serious. It’s normal to get into friendly banter at work, home, or school. If you get offended when people do this, you’re being too serious. Of course, there is a time to be serious, but not all the time. Having a sense of humor is healthy and makes those around you feel happier.

Instead of taking yourself so seriously, relax and allow yourself to join in the fun of friendly teasing. Friendly teasing is usually a sign that people feel comfortable around you.

7. You appear tough

If you take yourself too seriously, you may feel it’s important to come across as tough and strong. Perhaps you feel this so much that you find it hard to be vulnerable with people. Being strong is a mask you hide behind to keep others at arm’s length.

If this is you, don’t be afraid to appear less than strong, especially around trusted friends and family. Remember, it’s okay to be yourself, not a tough veneer to hide behind.

8. You’re hard on yourself

One sign that you’re too serious is that you are too hard on yourself. You feel like you need to work harder than everyone else. You may challenge yourself and load up your schedule. Likewise, you feel you need to do more than others to feel good about yourself.

If you feel like this, it may be good to step back and evaluate why you’re doing this. Maybe you feel inadequate, so you’re trying to prove yourself. Give yourself some space and relax.

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9. Get upset when you make mistakes

Self-deprecating thoughts over simple mistakes are common if you view your life too seriously. Everyone makes mistakes. Even if your mistakes seem huge at first, they probably aren’t as significant as you think. Most people don’t even notice other people’s mistakes. It’s easy to be your worst critic.

When you make a mistake, try not to take it so seriously. Find a lesson you can learn from your mistake, and commit to try again.

10. You try to control everything

There are many things in life that you just can’t control. Being overly cautious and controlling is a sure sign you’re too serious about life. Of course, there are many things in life you can and should control, but you need to let go and trust God to help you with those things that are out of your control.

Being a control freak is exhausting, and it never works. Something in life will be out of your control. Try to let go of your fears and desire to control. Look to God for help to trust him with those out-of-control things you face. The well-known serenity prayer expresses this idea like this:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

11. It’s all about you

When you take life too seriously, you can’t let go of your ego. Everything is about you and how it makes you feel or look. You may express this by

  • Avoiding social situations where you don’t feel comfortable
  • Overly worrying about what others think about you
  • Getting angry if someone doesn’t give you the attention you think you deserve
  • Assuming people should know what you need, so you don’t ask
  • Drawing conversations back to yourself instead of focusing on the other person

Try to step back and harness that ego of yours. Assume that you aren’t the most important person in the room and focus on others.

12. You’re not humble

Being too serious often means you don’t like to be told you’re wrong. Maybe you don’t like being evaluated or getting feedback at work. Humility is having a low estimation of your importance. Characteristic qualities of humility include:

  • Being grateful
  • Not boasting about yourself or your accomplishments
  • Not giving into pride or arrogance
  • Being kind, not rude
  • Not belittling others

Begin practicing these qualities in your life. Choose humility when you’re tempted to be prideful. Keep working at it. You can grow in humility as you practice it every day.

13. You’re a loner

People who stay socially connected to friends and family are happier and healthier than people who chose to be alone. They typically live longer than people who are less connected to their community. It’s okay to be alone sometimes, but if you pull away from people all the time, it’s not healthy. Find ways to get involved in your community. Strive to stop taking yourself so seriously and allow others into your world.

14. You can’t give compliments

If you’re overly serious, you may think that it’s disingenuous to give compliments. Or perhaps you see nothing good in others to compliment. Either of these thoughts means your ego is showing. Giving compliments isn’t wrong if your motive is to encourage someone, not just flatter them. Be on the lookout for good things that other people do and genuinely compliment them about it.

15. You aren’t grateful

Studies show that gratefulness and well-being go hand in hand. People who express gratitude are happier. They see every day as a gift from God. They don’t take things or people for granted. Gratefulness is a remedy for being too serious. Fostering positivity helps you enjoy life. You aren’t as caught up in being successful, but enjoy the adventure of being alive.

If you take life too seriously, it may be time to look around at all the good things you have in life. Even if your life isn’t perfect, there is always something or someone you can be grateful for.

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Final Thoughts on Taking Yourself Too Seriously

Life is hard. It’s easy to get busy with work, friends, and family. Too much stress in your life will cause you to become too serious.  If you take your life too seriously, it may be time to step forward and re-evaluate your life. Try to include gratitude, laughter, and complimenting others in your day. Enjoy your life, even all the imperfections. There is beauty all around you if you can take the time to see it. Today is a good day to stop taking yourself too seriously and enjoy being who you were meant to be.

What Does Your Bed Reveal About Your Personality?

If we are getting the right amount of sleep, then we are spending about a third of our day in bed. It’s the space in our lives that is most personal and intimate. It is one of the few places we can let our hair down and be our true selves without fear of judgment or criticism.

It’s fair to question what we can learn about someone from their bed. Well, the answer is a lot.

What Our Bed Reveals About Our Personality

Here is what your bed says about you.

new mindset growth mindset1 – Are You Happy or Unhappy?

People that don’t make their bed are in the majority.

As reported in an article over at Psychology Today:

“In a survey of 68,000 people by Hunch.com, 59 percent of people don’t make their beds. 27 percent do, while 12 percent pay a housekeeper to make it for them. Here’s what disturbed me: 71 percent of bed makers consider themselves happy; while 62 percent of non-bed-makers admit to being unhappy. Bed makers are also more likely to like their jobs, own a home, exercise regularly, and feel well rested, whereas non-bed-makers hate their jobs, rent apartments, avoid the gym, and wake up tired. All in all, bed makers are happier and more successful than their rumple-sheeted peers.”

Bottom line, those of us who make our beds are happier, more productive, and more successful than those of us that don’t.

2 – Are You an Introvert or Extrovert?

The color of your space can help determine whether you are an introvert or extrovert. An introvert recharges their batteries and gets energized from spending time alone and in quiet. On the other hand, an extrovert gets their energies from others in a more social atmosphere.

Well, the colors that indicate the difference between an introvert and an extrovert seem to follow suit. A bedroom space surrounded by warm, colorful hues like oranges, yellows and cheerful and welcoming pinks suggests an extroverted personality. On the other hand, mild and neutral hues like blues, greens, and browns that give off a calming and tranquil vibe suggest more of an introverted personality.

3 – Are You Spontaneous or a Planner?

How a bed and bedroom space are arranged says a lot about how you go through your day and life in general. A more put-together space with everything in its place indicates an organized, in control, planner type of person. Conversely, a more chaotic, disheveled space where things appear to be thrown around supports someone who is more spontaneous and “goes with the flow.”

4 – Are You Modern or Traditional?

It’s pretty easy to determine whether you embrace modern, minimalist, technology-enhanced style choices or true to the traditional antique design. Just look around, and it will be hard to deny your preference.

What does a design aesthetic say about someone’s personality? Someone attracted to traditional design and color palettes wants to put down roots, values family and works hard to maintain a family-work balance.

Someone who selects a more contemporary and modern look for their bedroom space is often more adventurous, willing to change, and gets excited by the newness of things.

5 – Do You Seek Attention of Feel That Less Is More?

Feminine and bold colors indicate an outgoing personality who thrives at being the center of attention. On the other hand, a minimalist approach to the bedroom says the person is open-minded and direct.

It should come as no surprise that our choices in decor, color palettes, and even how we leave our bed in the morning can say a lot about who we are. We make those choices based on what we’re feeling and the experiences we’ve had.

As we grow and evolve, so does our personality, and to keep a dated look in the bedroom may be the cause of poor sleep, feelings of restlessness, and a lack of passion and intimacy. If our bedroom doesn’t fuel us, it may be time to rearrange and redecorate our space to fit our evolved style and personality.

bedFinal Thoughts on What Your Bed Says About You

It might be as simple as starting to make our beds. Admiral William McRaven, US Navy, said this in his commencement speech at the University of Texas, Austin:

“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.”

9 Things To Never Say To A Strong Woman

Wherever you go, you meet them. Strong women are in every town on the planet and comprise a diverse group. She can be anything and anyone she wants to be, so you’d better not tell her otherwise.

From your Grandma who won’t take any backtalk to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, strong women are the backbone of the world. They bring the next generation into being, and the weight of that tremendous responsibility rests on their strong shoulders.

Strong women are empowered, accountable, visionary, resilient, and have high integrity. You’re dealing with a superwoman, and with that comes super responsibility. She has a long to-do list and works harder than anyone you know to get everything done.

When to Just Be Quiet

A strong woman always values your input. She respects your opinion, although she may not always agree with you. She’d instead work with you than against you, so, like a lawyer, she’s always prepared with her opening argument to help you see things from her perspective. If you can’t see eye to eye, you’d better get out of her way.

Some things are better left unsaid, whether you know a strong woman or are one. Telling her any of these ten things are going to escalate the conversation rapidly.

Here are nine things to never tell a strong woman:

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1. “Just stop.”

You can’t stop a strong woman, so why try? You might want her to finish if she’s in the middle of something. Whether venting her feelings or working overtime on a project, she has energy and will use it. If she’s hard at work, ask if she wants help or get out of her way.

If you tell her to stop and she’s midstream in speaking, that will be seen as rude. Tell your strong woman that when she’s had her say, you’d like to add your views, and she’s more likely to wonder what’s on your mind. She’ll stop and let you have your turn.

2. “What were you thinking?”

Even if you think she should have done things differently, this is certainly not how to get your point across. It comes off as accusatory, and a strong woman will likely take a defensive position in response. She had several thoughts on the matter, and now you can hear them all.

3. “You’re crazy.”

She may be emotional and you might not like it, but she’s not crazy. Strong women speak and act with strength and conviction. Interpreting her actions as crazy was an error in judgment on your part.

4. “You can’t.”

This one might be a good motivator if you need her to do something because a strong woman will fight to do what she’s been told can’t be done. Just because you think it can’t be done doesn’t mean she can’t do it. She’s likely to show you a lot of “can do” attitude and back it up with action.

5. “Why can’t you be more like __?”

Because she’s a strong individual woman like no other. So quit comparing her to anyone else. Strong women hold themselves to their standards. She’s unlike your old boss, girlfriend, lover, mother, sister, aunt or friend.

A strong woman can change, but she’ll do it for herself, not for you. Never tell her to be someone that she’s not.

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6. “Get your priorities straight.”

Her priorities are on her mind constantly. A strong woman puts first things first. Just because you aren’t her priority right now does not mean she isn’t focused on what is most important.

7. “You don’t need that.”

As if you’ve never bought something just because you wanted it. A strong woman has the right to something that she wants. She probably even knows exactly how her budget can afford the purchase. Just let her enjoy it and bask in the glow of her smile. Even better, note her preferences and get it for her next time.

8. “You ask too many questions.”

Strong women ask because they need to know. Whether it’s to inform her of strong opinions or to clarify what you said, never tell her to stop asking questions. She has a mind to learn, and telling her to stop won’t limit her inquiring mind.

9. “Calm down.”

It’s like poking an angry bear, throwing gasoline on a fire, and pulling the pin on a grenade simultaneously. If you thought she wasn’t upset, you haven’t seen anything yet. The strong woman to whom you just said this will show you some powerful emotions.

You should handle this differently. You might try “You seem very passionate about this” or “What do you think we should do about it?” Diverting her energy to focusing on a solution is fine as long as she’s had time to express herself fully.

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Final Thoughts on the Things You Never Tell a Strong Woman

Now that you are armed with what never to say to a strong woman, what do you say instead? How about “I love the strong woman that you are. I support you and want to help you accomplish your goals.” That might leave her speechless.

6 Types of Headaches You Should Never Ignore

We all get headaches from time to time. Sometimes they are self-induced through stress, diet, or lack of movement, and other times they signal that something else might be going on inside our bodies.

It’s important to know that not all headaches are created equal. Listening to our bodies and understanding our headaches, including their triggers, can help us treat them more efficiently.

More importantly, it can signal that something more serious is going on and prompt us to seek medical attention. Please know the information in this article is for education purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or be used as a course of treatment without medical guidance. It is always advisable to see your doctor when you experience any unusual, unexplainable, or persistent symptoms.

What is a headache?

Headaches are a pain in a part of your head. Most headaches (96%) are benign, but some less common types of headaches require immediate medical care.

Headaches are classified as either primary or secondary headaches. A primary headache has no identifiable cause, while a secondary headache results from some abnormality. Secondary headaches can cause disabilities or be life-threatening.

Common types of headaches include the following:

  • Tension headaches
  • Migraine headaches
  • Cluster headaches

Secondary headaches include

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Conditions that affect your circulatory system

Headaches may be a sign that you have an underlying health problem. Other conditions that can cause types of headache include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Tumors or cysts
  • Blood clot in your sinus region that prevents blood flow out of the brain
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Stroke
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning

Six Types of Headaches You Should Not Ignore

Seek help if you have severe pain or the aching does not go away within a few hours.

1 – Tension Headache

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. It’s reported that 90% of people will experience one in their lifetime. They result from tightness, or tension, in the muscles of the upper back and neck, usually caused by stress and fatigue.

The pain is mild to moderate and manifests itself through a dull pressure or tightness in the forehead. You can treat these headaches through natural relaxation methods like yoga, meditation, massage, or even a nap. If they persist, over-the-counter pain relievers are also an option.

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2 – Sinus Headache

Sinus headaches happen as a result of an acute sinus infection. The symptoms of a sinus headache are pain around the nose and eyes, a runny nose, and fever. The pain can range from mild to severe, and the best treatment is OTC pain relievers and sinus medications.

3 – Migraine Headache

Many people with migraines might not even be aware that they have one because less severe migraine headaches are often mistaken for tension or a sinus headache. A migraine is a neurological condition that results in throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.

Specific triggers such as sensitivity to climate changes, hormonal imbalances, reactions to certain foods, and visual disturbances may help predict oncoming migraine pain that ranges from moderate to severe.

People suffering from chronic migraines are usually under a doctor’s care, which includes a remedy and lifestyle changes.

4 – Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches are rare, affecting only .1% of the population. They tend to occur simultaneously every day, so doctors believe the hypothalamus is involved, as it’s responsible for controlling our body’s clock.

They are called cluster headaches because they come in clusters daily over several weeks. It begins with excruciating pain behind the eye and usually starts shortly after sleep.

Cluster headaches are triggered by alcohol and are also more common in smokers.

Cluster headaches are treated through your wellness professional and include medications, nerve blocks, and even melatonin.

5 – Sport Headaches

There has been a lot of discussion in the news lately regarding concussions and sports, specifically within the NFL. It’s hard to avoid headaches in many contact sports, including hockey, boxing, football, and rugby.

The headaches can manifest themselves through tension or migraine-type symptoms. The National Headache Foundation says, “Serious diseases may cause early morning awakening headaches.

These diseases may include brain tumors, sleep apnea, and severe high blood pressure.”

The pain and symptoms are varied, so it’s vital to seek a proper diagnosis if you are experiencing frequent headaches following exercise or playing a sport.

6 – Thunderclap Headaches

Thunderclap headaches are named for their sudden, explosive pain. These severe headaches peak within 60 seconds, but the pain can linger for more than a week.

It’s essential to pay attention to the warning sign of a thunderclap headache because it is usually a sign of a more severe illness. It is imperative to seek medical help right away when experiencing one.

Thunderclap headaches are attention-getting and dramatic, and its symptoms include pain that:

  • Strikes severely without warning
  • Starts to diminish after 60 seconds
  • Is constant, lasting anywhere from an hour and ten days
  • Involves the neck, lower back, or head
  • Can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or loss of consciousness

relieve headache symptoms

 

 

How to Relieve Most Types of Headaches Naturally

There are natural remedies for common types of headaches that many people swear by. Try one of these natural remedies the next time you have a headache. Natural remedies for common types of headaches include these:

Peppermint oil

Dab a little peppermint oil on your finger and massage it into the back of your neck, your temples, your chest, and shoulders. These areas of your body are susceptible to tension.

Lavender oil

This essential oil is good for migraines due to stress or lack of sleep. Lavender has calming properties that help relieve stress and anxiety. Inhale a little lavender when a migraine hits.

Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10)

This is an enzyme that helps remove the symptoms of a headache. Be sure to ask your doctor if CoQ10 is safe for you to take. Individuals with chronic diseases such as kidney failure, diabetes, or liver problems shouldn’t take CoQ10.

Magnesium

Low magnesium has been linked to migraines and headaches. Taking a magnesium supplement may help treat your migraine nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Eating foods high in magnesium may help to prevent migraines. Add these foods to your diet.

  • Black beans
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Cereals

Folate, a Vitamin B

Folate makes the red and white blood cells located in the bone marrow. If you’re low in folate, you can end up with anemia. This can lead to migraines, fatigue, low appetite, and pale skin. Taking 2 mg. of folic acid and B vitamins can reduce your migraine symptoms.

Speak with your health care provider before you start taking any vitamins or supplements, especially if you take medications. Some supplements interact with medications and could make you ill.

Exercises That Can Relieve Some Types of Headaches

What activities will help relieve headaches?

Certain activities can help elevate most types of headaches. Many activities relieve stress, which is often a trigger for a headache. Activities you can do to help get rid of your headache include.

  • Yoga
  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Relaxation techniques

Other things you can do, include these things:

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle-Staying healthy can help get rid of headaches. Maintain regular exercise and healthy foods in your lifestyle.

  • Get enough sleep
  • Find ways to alleviate your stress.
  • Get regular check-ups-During your check-up, your health care provider will do blood work to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, both of which can contribute to headaches,

stress headaches

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Types of Headaches

When seeing a doctor for a thunderclap or another headache, prepare by bringing as much information about the episodes as possible.

Note the symptoms, triggers, any medications, and write down questions for the doctor. The more information we have, the better equipped our doctor is to formulate a course of action.

Headaches are a warning sign, trying to tell us something. Whether they are saying slow down and relax or alerting us to a more severe condition, it will do us good to pay attention to what they are saying and seek professional help when severe and persistent.

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