How does the digital journal work?

Our digital journal guides you through tracking your headache experiences with intuitive prompts. You'll log symptoms, potential triggers, severity, duration, and relief methods. The system then analyzes your data to identify patterns and provide personalized insights that can help you better understand and manage your headaches.

Is the 'Recover from Headache, Reclaim your Life!' program suitable for all types of headaches?

Unfortunately, the program is not suitable for all headache types. The program is based on research for Primary Headaches including Migraine, Tension-Type headaches, and Cluster Headaches. Those with Secondary Headaches such as Cervicogenic Headaches and TMD-related Headaches will also benefit. The 'My Headache Experience Journal' app has no such restrictions and can be used by anyone.

Can I share my journal with my healthcare provider?

Absolutely! One of the key features of our platform is the ability to generate comprehensive reports from your journal data. These reports can be easily shared with your healthcare providers to give them detailed insights into your headache patterns, triggers, and the effectiveness of different management strategies.

What support is available if I need help?

We offer multiple levels of support including detailed tutorials, a comprehensive FAQ section, email support, and access to our community forums where you can connect with other users. Additionally, our program includes guidance on when to seek professional medical care and how to work effectively with healthcare providers.

Can you have migraine and tension headaches at the same time?

Yes. Mixed headache patterns are common. The two disorders can coexist, and one can trigger the other. Tracking each attack separately is the only reliable way to identify which is which.

Is one-sided pain always migraine?

Most commonly, yes — but not always. Cluster headache is also one-sided, and tension-type can occasionally be unilateral. Look at the full picture: character, associated symptoms, and how it responds to activity.

Do tension headaches turn into migraines?

They are separate disorders, but a tension-type headache can act as a trigger for a migraine attack in people who are prone to migraine. They don't transform into one another in a literal sense.

Can I get migraine without a headache?

Yes. 'Silent migraine' or migraine aura without headache involves the visual or sensory aura phase without the head pain that usually follows. It still warrants assessment if new.

What's the most reliable way to tell them apart?

Record each attack individually — duration, where the pain is, what it feels like, what other symptoms came with it, and what you were doing. Patterns emerge over 4–6 weeks of consistent tracking.

Migraine vs Tension-Type Headache

Migraine vs Tension-Type Headache: How to Tell the Difference

A clinician's guide to the most common primary headaches — symptoms, triggers and what each one responds to.

TL;DR

•Tension-type headache is pressing, bilateral, mild–moderate, and doesn't stop you doing things.
•Migraine is throbbing, often one-sided, moderate–severe, and usually comes with nausea or light/sound sensitivity.
•Many people get both — the difference matters because they respond to different management.
•Tracking each attack individually is the most reliable way to tell them apart.

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Why the distinction matters

Migraine and tension-type headache are the two most common primary headache disorders, but they respond to very different management strategies. Treating one as the other is a common reason people don't get relief.

Tension-type headache

Pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) pain, often described as a band around the head.
Mild to moderate intensity — usually doesn't stop you doing things.
Bilateral (both sides).
Not aggravated by routine activity like walking.
No nausea; light or sound sensitivity is mild if present at all.

Migraine

Throbbing or pulsating pain, often one-sided.
Moderate to severe — often stops you doing things.
Worsened by routine physical activity.
Nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound.
May include aura — visual disturbances, tingling, or speech changes — before the headache.

Overlap and mixed patterns

Many people experience both. Distinguishing them requires looking at attacks individually rather than averaging across weeks. A diary that captures each attack — duration, character, triggers and what helped — is the most reliable way to see the pattern.

What each tends to respond to

Tension-type headaches often respond to postural awareness, paced activity, neck and shoulder mobility work, and stress regulation. Migraine management combines trigger identification, lifestyle pacing, and where appropriate, medical treatment. Both benefit from consistent sleep, hydration, and avoiding medication overuse.

Key takeaways

✓Character, severity, and associated symptoms separate the two.
✓Migraine is worsened by routine activity; tension-type is not.
✓Aura (visual or sensory changes) points strongly to migraine.
✓A per-attack diary beats trying to remember 'the average week'.

Frequently asked questions

From general guide to your own pattern

This guide covers the general picture. The App records your specific pattern — timing, triggers, sleep, stress and medication use — and turns it into a summary report you can discuss with your primary healthcare provider.

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Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your GP or specialist for diagnosis and acute care.

On medication: HeadacheRecovery takes a non-pharmacological, tracking-based approach. Where research on medicines is mentioned it is background context only, not a recommendation. Any decision to start, stop or change a medicine belongs with your prescribing clinician.