Dr. Amelia Barrett Shares Her Thoughts on Mind-Body Connection: The Effects Of Migraine On Mental Health

Migraine is still one of the most common and disabling chronic neurological diseases. Most of the time, it's treated with drugs, but there are some non-drug treatments out there that can help reduce stress and anxiety. This can help people with chronic conditions live better, and reduce the amount of pain they have. Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett, a Stanford-trained neurologist, blends conventional medicine with cutting edge neuroscience to offer an integrative solution. In addition to treating symptoms, Dr. Barrett examines the complex relationship between migraines and mental health issues, revealing a life-altering pathway to relief.

Dr. Barrett emphasizes a startling statistic—about 25% of people with migraines suffer from anxiety or depression, compared to a mere 5% in the non-migraine population (J Headache Pain, 2021). Migraines are the number one cause of disability for women under 50 (Steiner Et Al, 2020)

As a practicing neurologist, taking care of patients for the last 30 years, Dr. Barrett uses evidence-based techniques, traditional yogic practices, and functional medicine to help people get better. Her goal isn't just to treat symptoms, but to figure out what's going on and help people take control of their health.

Chronic migraines are linked to enlargement of the amygdala in the brain, which makes it more likely for anxiety and depression to develop. Chronic pain causes stress hormones like cortisol to release, which can affect your blood pressure and pulse, how well you sleep, and your immune system. This connection between your mind and your body is really important when it comes to migraines.

Dr. Barrett emphasizes the dramatic reduction in headache frequency and severity that comes from understating the labs and genetic testing that tells you what your body needs. By empowering you to move from medication-based treatment to self-directed treatment, her approach provides a sense of control and peace of mind.

Using an Apple Watch, for example, is a biohacking tool that monitors the state of the nervous system. Dr. Barrett emphasizes the importance of biohacking tools to integrate technology into migraine treatment. "They give real-time feedback on interventions," Dr. Barrett explains. "They provide evidence of progress and allow people to stay focused on their wellness." Dr. Barrett believes that biohacking tools are game changers for people seeking to improve their health because they provide feedback along the way, allowing them to know they are on the right track before they feel a subjective improvement in their day-to-day symptoms.

Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett addresses the frustration many people experience due to unsuccessful attempts at various health treatments. In her words, "People fall into the mindset that their efforts have not made a difference, and nothing they do will result in improvement." She aims to motivate people to believe that their efforts matter and that there are solutions available. There is hope in new science and technology that is changing lives." However, it is important to note that just changing one variable may not immediately result in a significant improvement in how the other factors contributing to migraines have improved. For example, if a person decides to go to bed an hour earlier every night, they may not see any difference for the first week. However, if the monitoring device tells them that they are getting better numbers in terms of deep sleep or total sleep, they know that the intervention is working. She emphasizes that prioritizing sleep aids in lowering cortisol levels, promoting overall health, and positively influencing migraine symptoms.

Practices that can help heal the mind include meditation, yoga, and medications targeted at the mind end of the spectrum. Encouraging determination, she urges individuals not to give up until they find personalized solutions for a better quality of life.

The first step to migraine relief is recognizing migraine symptoms. Dr. Barrett recommends being aware of chronic headaches, light and sound sensitivity, and visual issues. Early detection allows for more effective treatment.

Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett takes an integrative approach to migraine relief that goes beyond medication. She combines conventional neurology with new science and technology to give people solutions to help them get rid of migraines.

Media Contact:

Name: Dr Amelia Scott Barrett M.D

Email: drbarrett@migrainereliefcode.com