Modern understanding of migraine increasingly centers on the nervous system — specifically, the chronic dysregulation that underlies many migraine presentations.
The Nervous System in Migraine
The autonomic nervous system has two primary states relevant to migraine:
Sympathetic activation ('fight or flight'): When chronically activated, drives anxiety-type migraine
Parasympathetic ('rest and digest'): The recovery state — undermined by migraine
Dorsal vagal shutdown: A third state — freeze/collapse — associated with depression-type migraine
Signs of Nervous System Dysregulation in Migraine
Chronic hyperarousal (always 'on edge'), difficulty relaxing even in safe environments, and feeling perpetually exhausted despite rest.
Regulating the Nervous System for Migraine
- Breathwork: Directly activates the parasympathetic nervous system
- Cold exposure: Controlled cold activates the vagus nerve, improving migraine
- Safe social engagement: Co-regulation through trusted relationships
- Movement: Discharges sympathetic activation accumulated in migraine