headaches?

[Dorchadas Síofra]

So I'm very new to this. Did anyone get headaches after doing a lot of visualization work? I just want to know if it's normal?

thanks and Blessed Be.

[Laurelei]

No, I've never had headaches from visualisation work, but that's probably because I've been doing it ever since I can remember. You should try not to strain as hard or frown when visualising.

Having said that though, I do sometimes get headaches from overdoing work with gems and crystals. Sometimes too much energy builds up around my head area and I can get a headache.

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

I do get a headache sometimes if i have been overdoing the visualisations. Just take a break, have some water..maybe get a little air.

[Jenett]

It happens for some people.

Probably the biggest thing to keep in mind is just like you can run into sore muscles when you do something physically new and different, you can sometimes do the same thing when you're doing something mentally new.

Or, sometimes, you actually hold your body differently or tension collects differently, which can trigger things like headaches. Whenever I get a lot of tension out of my neck and shoulders (certain kinds of exercise, a chiropractor visit if I've not had one for a while, a really good backrub) I often find I have a headache for a little while after, as the tension dissipates.

As a practical suggestion, I'd suggest two things:

1) check how you're sitting/lying when you do the visualisation. You may be placing strain on your body (especially shoulders/neck) in odd ways that are contributing.

2) If you can't find anything obvious, try cutting back how long you do it for, and slowly build back up (maybe adding 5 minutes a week). Just like running long distances, you can strain your body if you do very infrequent long stretches of exercise. It's easier for your body to develop the relevant skills if you do it consistently, but start with shorter times.

Some people (and I'm one of them) also sometimes get headaches from excess energy after energy work - the first solution to this is usually taking time to fully ground after such work. If this is the case, if you pay attention, you should become more aware of when it's starting to be too much, and you can take steps before it gets to the headache stage.

[bloodstone]

I've gotten headaches doing visualizations, but very rarely. I usually just get migraine headaches the day before, day of, or day after the full moon. :hrmm:

[Romani Vixen]

I have chronic migraines... does that count? ;P

Seriously.... you should try practicing by doing written or taped ones... helps til your brain is worked out!

[Goddess Rhiannon]

I have chronic migraines... does that count? ;P

Seriously.... you should try practicing by doing written or taped ones... helps til your brain is worked out!

Sorry to hear about your headaches. Here is a recipe for headache tea

lavender
chamomile
rosemary
mint

Put a pinch of each into a tea egg. Steep for a few minutes. Brew within 15-30 minutes before intended drinking. You will be tired and less sore....go right to bed.

I hope that helped some.

[tensen]

With new practices like energy work and even visualization it actually should be expected to get headaches the first few times. This is fine. It is an awakening process.
Many times you may get headaches from just the point of your mind trying to decide whether what you are doing is possible or not. It is your mind trying to impose beliefs that are contradictory. It takes time for the mental gymnastics to balance out.

[Ben Trismegistus]

It's probably one of two things. Either you're concentrating too hard, or you're failing to ground after visualization. Try having a snack after visualization, even some toast or something.

[Knight]

Hi!

I sometimes get headaches during guided visualization if I'm already tense. I think the conditions were right for a headache, and I just sort of "put it on hold" until I started to relax. I find what works for me is to stop visualizing or listening to the guide, and just breathe. I gently focus my attention on the pain, and sort of "breathe into" it, instead of trying to keep it at bay. Once you're aware of it, just breathe as deep as you can. Focus on releasing any tension you find. Just let it run off you like a warm shower. I also find just listening to the sound of my breath, or focussing only on the physical sensation of it, helps too.

[Kes]

I get headaches all the time from that sort of thing if I'm not careful, usually when I'm really anxious and am trying too hard.

It really does feel like straining a muscle, but I think it's also important to sometimes not try to force. Relaxing and letting it flow is also necessary.

[kblackthorne]

I've found that many people who are not used to energy work get headaches the first time exposed to it.

I've also noticed that if I'm just sitting here in my sweats and inadvertantly find myself close to a highly charged object or an individulal who has just finished doing energy work and is not yet completely grounded, it will begin to trigger a headache.

The quickest "cure" I've found is to adjust my own energy level to match... but that's not very practical help for you, is it?

Try to spend a little more time with relaxation exercises, focusing on your own internal energy level as you do so. (If nothing else, relaxation helps prevent headaches.)

Also, sometimes a headache will happen if there is something about the experience that part of you is blocking/resisting. Relaxation will help with that aspect, also.

And, as others have said, make sure that you ground fully afterwards.

As you grow more adept, you should be bothered by them less.

[Dorchadas Síofra]

thank you so much for your replies. i shortened the length of time a little and i'm working up slowly. i'm getting minor headaches, but they're becoming less frequent. :)

*ducky*

[lucky7]

whin i first started i did. learned how to ground and leveled out. i think i was try to hard. i found out to relax and let the GODS and GODDESS take over and thin i could fly.

[dr_zeus440]

try keeping the muscles in your head relaxed if you're getting too involved in the visualization and not keeping check on your head muscles, or take an aspirin/mild-over-the-counter-painkiller-equivalent beforehand or afterwards. or take it as a hint and try something else.

[Vanessa TPD]

Yes! At some point last year, when I was just getting the hang of this energy stuff, headaches were something I could count on every Saturday (the day of my ch'i gong class) - and I would try to get rid of them by doing MORE energy work around the head area, which actually did help, but only temporarily. It's good to see I'm not alone in that experience.