Track triggers

Keeping a headache diary may help you see what triggers your migraines. Note when a migraine started, what you were doing at the time, how long it lasted and what, if anything, provided relief.

Until recently, avoiding migraine triggers was considered the best advice. But certain triggers cannot be avoided. And some research now suggests that completely avoiding triggers might raise a person's sensitivity to potential triggers.

A more useful approach could be slow exposure to migraine triggers and learning to cope with those triggers by using behavioral management techniques. That may include identifying and challenging negative thoughts, relaxation training, and stress reduction. Talk with your healthcare professional to see if this approach could be helpful for you.