You wake up with a pounding head and a stiff neck. You chalk it up to sleep posture, dehydration, or maybe skipping your morning coffee. But what if the real cause is something more profound – something you can’t see on an MRI or blood test?
If you deal with regular headaches or migraines, you’ve probably been down the rabbit hole of symptom management. Painkillers. Muscle relaxers. Maybe even physical therapy. But if your pain keeps coming back – especially in the form of tension headaches, tight shoulders, or jaw clenching – it could be more than just a physical issue.
A patient asked me, “Is it possible my neck pain is coming from my mind?” That question hit hard – because, yes, it absolutely can. As a naturopathic doctor, I see this all the time. People come in after years of treating their headaches with pills and patches, yet no one has ever asked them about their stress. Western medicine is still so compartmentalized. You’ve got one doctor for your head, another for your back, maybe a third for your gut – but who’s checking in with how those things relate to your mind?
Stress is a powerful force. It triggers a cascade of muscle tension, shallow breathing, poor posture, and nervous system dysregulation. It makes your neck tighten, your jaw clench, and your shoulders rise toward your ears – all of which can contribute to the chronic nature of headaches and migraines.
Treating headaches and migraines effectively often requires addressing both the mind and the body. That’s why I use acupuncture as one of my primary tools – it works on both levels.
Acupuncture creates a localized effect that reduces inflammation, increases blood flow, and relieves muscle tension where it hurts. But more importantly, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system – your body’s natural “rest and heal” mode. That’s where real, lasting relief begins.
I often tell patients: If we’re treating the same pain and not seeing real progress, it’s time to explore a mind-body component. That doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real – quite the opposite. It means the body reliably responds to signals from the brain: stress, fear, trauma, pressure, unresolved emotions. Your tension has a story, and your body is trying to tell it.
Common mind-related triggers for headaches include:
- Work or relationship stress
- Unexpressed anger or frustration
- Perfectionism or feeling “not enough”
- Anxiety about the future or ruminating on the past
- Emotional trauma held in the body
The beauty of acupuncture is that it allows you to get out of your head and into your body – to start unwinding the physical manifestations of emotional stress in a gentle, holistic way.
If you’re stuck in a cycle of recurring headaches – even with medications – or you feel like something important is being missed, it may be time to take a closer look. I invite you to schedule a consultation so we can explore what’s really going on beneath the surface. New patients are welcome to book a complimentary 15-minute consultation to learn how a naturopathic approach can support lasting relief. You can schedule online or call the office at (303) 688-6698.
We’ll work together to uncover what your body is trying to tell you – and create a space where true healing can begin. Headaches may be common, but they’re not inevitable. Dr. Adam Graves is an acupuncturist and licensed naturopathic doctor, and owns and operates Colorado Naturopathic Medicine & Acupuncture in the south metro area of Denver, CO.
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