Even the thought of getting “triggered” is enough to make some migraineurs vomit.
And migraines can be quite complex in some situations.
But not the actual “migraines”, if they are real migraines.
Usually it is the causes of the migraines that are the complex pieces that need a little work to get to the bottom of.
But just like most other diseases, our bodies build up to a point at which they can no longer maintain health, and then they break in their weakest links, which for many migraineurs is migraines.
The overwhelming emotions that come from being triggered and knowing we are out for the count, taken from family and waiting for the pain to take us into a deep dark hole is enough motive to make us use anything we can to avoid another event and the dreaded “trigger”.
So what is this “trigger”?
Its most easily described by a theory that is called different things from hot air balloon theory to bathtub theory and even threshold theory.
These theories are the same but fall under different names and use different metaphors to explain how a trigger happens and how to avoid them.
They are all a type of threshold trigger theory, in which your body builds stress and tension in various forms and then comes to a point where it “breaks”, or “crosses the threshold” or “triggers”.
Hot Air Balloon Theory
Hot air balloon theory describes a situation in which you are flying a hot air balloon.
This balloon has a height at which it is safe flying at, lets say over 50 metres and below 500 metres.
When it goes below 50 metres it can run into danger with structures or birds or trees etc.
When it goes over 500 metres it can run into danger because of high winds and losing control.
Between 50-500 metres of height or altitude is known as the safe flying zone.
This safe flying zone is similarly applicable to our lives and migraines.
When we are maintaining our foundation principles, breathing properly, drinking enough water to clean ourselves out, getting enough rest to recover and repair, and thinking, feeling and acting in tune with the dream we want to achieve then we stay in the safe flying zone very easily.
But when we have a couple coffees, some alcohol, chinese food and sugary treats…
When we miss out on even 1 hour of sleep for a week we get a sleep deficit of 7 hours which can be an entire night’s sleep…
When we are stuck in a stress response and our breathing stays tight all day or for days…
When we are taken off of our dreams, goals and the loves that give us purpose and keep our thoughts, feelings and action in tune…
When we workout too much and create muscular tension that affects our shoulders neck and head…
These all cause us to gain more and more height, getting us closer and closer to the danger zone.
Then it’s just one or two little things…
Usually the straw that breaks the camel’s back, like forgetting to drink water all day or getting into an argument can send us into the high winds of the danger zone and becoming triggered.
Bathtub Theory
Bathtub Theory uses a bathtub to illustrate how this happens.
A little water from issues with detoxifying…
A little water from a dusty/moldy environment…
A little water from the fluorescent lights you sit under all day…
A little water from the coffee you had before bed preventing your body from turning off cortisol…
A little water from a wheat sensitivity…
And just a little bit more water from a fragrance that’s just too strong and BAM…
The bathtub overflows and you’re triggered.
Threshold Theory
This theory is simple and just says that “stress” which is a term used to describe all stimuli to the body that cause it to use resources and energy without returning any to it.
This stress can come from many areas and takes us out of balance and out of what our body can maintain with its available resources.
This stress, when not properly taken care of, over time accumulates just like a dripping tap does into a cup.
The body is amazing and it can tolerate a lot of abuse, but once it is pushed passed a certain point, what we call the “threshold” then it can no longer maintain normal functioning and you get triggered.
How to Add More Spoons
Another theory I would like to use to illustrate how you can improve, relieve and both lower how high your balloon or water is and increase the height of your bathtub and safe flying zone.
“The spoon theory is a disability metaphor used to explain the reduced amount of energy available for activities of daily living and productive tasks that may result from disability or chronic illness.”
So how do we add more spoons, and even get so many spoons, that chronic disease goes away?
It begins with the Foundation Principles to Migraine Health.
The most powerful healing and health maintenance is found in first and foremost making sure you think, breathe, drink, eat, sleep and move properly and in tune with nature and your body.
Without doing these right, the bodies ability to de-stress, detox and cope with daily life is greatly diminished.
So what is the most important part of the foundation principles to migraine health?
Thinking right.
Thinking that is connected to and in tune with what you want to achieve and do with your life.
Even if you don’t exactly know, it’s what you want to have and do and how you want it to feel.
When you can think, feel and act toward these dreams, health will fall into place.
So I’d like to ask you to take a moment and ask yourself, have you ever written down how you want your life to end up in one, five or even 10 years?
What about 20 or 50 years?
Who do you want to surround yourself with?
What do you want to surround yourself with?
What feelings, sites, smells and touches do you want to wake up to?
How would you spend your day if you could choose however you wanted to spend it?
A Harvard Business study revealed remarkable statistics relating to goal setting and success.
The study found that the 14% who have goals are 10 times more successful than those without goals.
The 3% with written goals are 3 times more successful than the 14% with unwritten goals.
Getting these questions clear and and writing them down is an essential step in making sure you have the energy, motivation, clarity of thought and most of all pain free days to be able to do what you want and not just what you need.
How often do you write your goals down?
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