onyx8nomad Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 Just checking to see if I'm the only one. After a cluster headache, I get a small bonus of an endorphin (or feels like) high. I just assumed it was due to natural endorphins release in response to pain, and since cluster headaches leave as quickly as they come on, I get a short... "high". I was wondering if anyone else experiences these? Of course this could be a completely psychosomatic response to the headaches. ie: NOT being in the middle of a headache is SOOOO nice compared to being in one, it seems heavenly. Just wondering 2 Quote
Pebblesthecorgi Posted December 29, 2019 Posted December 29, 2019 I have observed a feeling of euphoria after attacks. Not sure if its a sense of accomplishment having survived, relief its over or a biochemical event. I do not believe it is psychosomatic. Nothing wrong with enjoying victory after outlasting the demon. Quote
THAD1983 Posted January 2, 2020 Posted January 2, 2020 I too experience the euphoria after attacks and believe it to be chemical. It's either that or as you both state, the sheer joy of having survived yet again. Quote
igdc Posted January 4, 2020 Posted January 4, 2020 Not for me. I am completely wiped out after they subside. Just exhausted. Quote
Matthew Funk Posted March 27, 2021 Posted March 27, 2021 Yes! Been scouring this board looking for something on this topic. I most assuredly have these after a heavy attack (kip 8 or 9). Quote
jon019 Posted March 27, 2021 Posted March 27, 2021 ...hi MF...welcome... ...oh absolutely....and combined with a ciggie post hit was the closest I could get to a buzz while in cycle. never knew if it was endorphins from pain, physical exertion (I was VERY active)....a reaction to excess adrenaline dump....or some kind of psychological relief high. what i did notice was that the longer my ch "career" went, and the lesser my anger, agitation, physical activity, overheating and stress became.... because i learned how to deal: (OXYGEN!!!, energy drinks, D3, meditation for mental health between cycles....and actually going from ECH to CCH) ....the lower the level of euphoria post hit i experienced. would make that trade ANY day.... ....there has been discussion....a number of yrs ago.... at clusterheadaches.com.....not sure how much can be said about post hit euphoria that's worth a deep dive, which is probably why it's an uncommon topic.... best jonathan 1 Quote
Dr. Julie Posted March 28, 2021 Posted March 28, 2021 On 1/4/2020 at 11:19 AM, igdc said: Not for me. I am completely wiped out after they subside. Just exhausted. Me also, and confused in the sense that anything happening in the hour or two afterwards will be lost to me the next day. Quote
xxx Posted April 1, 2021 Posted April 1, 2021 One of the best explanations for the cause of the euphoria many of us experience after a heavy CH hit follows. There's a cocktail of several known chemicals produced by the brain that can have a euphoric effect on a person. (Particularly after a painful CH). -Endorphins (The brain's natural opiates released in response to pain.) may be the most well known of these chemicals and they can be produced for a variety of reasons, one of which is, athletic activity or in our case as CHers, during a heavy hit. -Dopamine is another well known chemical that makes us feel good and can be produced when eating delicious food. Dopamine is also the primary chemical that is produced in overflow quantities when using methamphetamine a.k.a. speed or meth. The excess dopamine is what causes the user to feel "high". When the excess dopamine is destroyed the user "crashes". (What's unclear here is the sequencing. Is dopamine released in response to the endorphins or the CH pain? In either case, it's nice.) -Serotonin is another important chemical in determining mood/well-being. It can be produced naturally by simple exposure to light. Serotonin is one the primary chemicals adjusted in most major antidepressants. These drugs are known as SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. The SSRI works by blocking the sending neuron from taking back serotonin, thereby increasing the available serotonin levels in the synapse. For what it's worth... Better living through bio-chemistry. Take care, V/R, Batch Quote
Archimedes Posted April 16, 2021 Posted April 16, 2021 Other way around for me, I get often euphoric sensations before the build up of an attack (when not sleeping of course). Not kidding, it sucks. Batch's feedback makes sense as always Quote
Archimedes Posted April 16, 2021 Posted April 16, 2021 Other way around for me, I get often euphoric sensations before the build up of an attack (when not sleeping of course). Not kidding, it sucks. Batch's feedback makes sense as always Quote
tmac Posted April 18, 2021 Posted April 18, 2021 I get this as well. When I feel it, I know that hit is gone and I can stop the O2. Quote
Amir Posted June 18, 2023 Posted June 18, 2023 I have cluster headaches for 25 years and after attacks my brain becomes 10x sharper and I feel high . I remember few times I had my headache during 4 hours long university exams and I was sad that I am going to miss the exam but after 45 minutes that headache finished I solved all questions and got the first rank. I feel like flying and have 100% control on my brain when this happens ... I believe it can be both chemical and metaphysical Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.