Can Repressed Anger Be Causing Untreatable Migraines?

Sue walked into my office with tears in her eyes. “I am so desperate for relief, and this is my last resort. I’ve tried everything to get rid of my migraines, and I don’t know if Hypnosis will help, but I’ve got to do something.”  

I gently guided Sue through an Awakening Experience using my One Belief Away method. In a deeply relaxed state, she recalled a sexually abusive experience at the age of ten. Sue said, “I felt so angry and confused, but I was afraid to say anything because people might think it was my fault that this happened.”

As Sue went through the process of rescuing the younger version of herself, releasing the toxic energy that had been shoved down for so long, and upgrading the limiting beliefs she didn’t even realize were there, a visible weight seemed to lift off of her. All this occurred during our first one-hour session.

At the start of our second session one week later, Sue sat down with a look of surprise and aggravation on her face. “Tim, I can’t believe this has happened. I have not had one headache since our last session. Even starting that session, I felt a headache coming on and was worrying about what the night would be like. But by the time the session was over, the headache was gone. I’ve been going to a top-rated Migraine clinic in Illinois for over ten years and have never gone more than a day or two without a headache. I’m both joyful and mad that it took so long to get to this moment.”

I smiled and replied, “Sue, that anger is one of the reasons for why the headaches lasted so long, so let’s find a more useful approach.” She smiled back and nodded her head in agreement. Then Sue continued. “I thought the stuff we talked about last week had been resolved from the counseling I went through years ago. Yet, so much emotion came up, and I remembered always trying to push it back down. It’s like this pressure has been building up inside me all those years and it’s finally been released.”

Sue’s experience is not unique. Many clients have found relief from migraines and chronic headaches once they released the unexpressed anger, rage, shame, or resentment formed after experiencing traumatic events, particularly physical and sexual abuse. Those situations are painful, but it seems like the unconscious beliefs that develop afterward are the real poison. It’s those opinions of oneself and others that produce chronic tension, mistrust, keeping one’s guards up all the time, insomnia, substance abuse, etc.

Common false unconscious beliefs produced after trauma include:

  • I’m not safe.
  • I’m not lovable.
  • I’m broken.
  • It’s my fault.
  • I’m dirty.
  • Nobody will love me.
  • Others don’t think I’m good enough or worthy of protection.
  • I’m going to hell.

These ideas build up emotional pressure that makes one’s head feel like shooting off into the sky or explode like a boiling teapot that cannot release its steam. However, as soon as the pressure is discharged and those false beliefs are replaced with self-love and acceptance, most have immediate and lasting relief.

The correlation between unexpressed toxic emotion and physical distress has been validated for some time. Yet, most still choose to treat the physical symptoms with pain medication, which often does nothing except produce unwanted side effects. If you wish to remove a weed from your yard, pull it out at the root rather than cutting off the top part. Otherwise, it will just grow back. Start thinking of your mind like a garden that contains mental weeds. If you want it to be healthy, remove the weeds at the roots and focus on planting more flowers (love, encouragement, support, security).    

There is always hope. If you’ve been suffering, find an experienced Hypnotherapist (IndyHypnosis.com) or use the exercises in my One Belief Away book or online course (www.happyandsuccessful.me) to free yourself from needless emotional suffering today!

Tim Shurr, MA, is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and expert in helping people find relief from physical and emotional anguish, even when nothing else has worked. He’s the author of six books, including his latest, One Belief Away (http://www.onebeliefawaybook.com), and is the host of the popular podcast, How To Be Mesmerizing! (MesmerizingPodcast.com)