Suicide Headaches: The Nightmare World of
the Cluster Headache

Some people may say that there are headaches, and then there is the cluster headache.  The cluster headache is a very rare and painful type of headache that  occurs in a group, and are usually triggered by atmospheric changes or other external stimuli.  But you have to worry about it being a suicide headache.

Some occurrences of cluster headache have been so severe that sufferers have been driven to suicide; and the cluster headache has been given the nickname "the suicide headache".  No matter which way you look at it, the cluster headache is probably the worst kind of headache you could get and, just like any other headache, unfortunately very little is known about what causes a cluster headache, nor what might be the most effective treatment for sufferers.

A cluster headache usually comes on suddenly and one of the first symptoms is often a sharp pain in your eye area or your temple.  Some sufferers compare the pain with that of a nail being driven through their eye or even scalding hot water being poured into their eye socket.  This pain can last anywhere from fifteen minutes to several hours. 

In some extreme cases a cluster headache can last for days; and when you consider that reputable medical journals have described the pain as being the most significant pain known to man, this explains why it has earned the reputation of being the suicide headache.  It has been reported that a cluster headache makes a migraine look like a holiday in the Bahamas.

A Cluster Headache is Just Not a Good Thing!

Anyone suffering from a cluster headache will be immediately incapacitated and will be unable to do anything other than concentrate on, and struggle with, the pain.  An episode can cause muscle tightness, excessive facial sweating, and nausea.

People with cluster headaches have been known to experience them at the same time of day for several days consecutively, and for almost the same amount of time in each episode.  These cluster headaches are sometimes so severe that they wake you from a sound sleep – and this has earned them the reputation of being a painful internal alarm clock for the sufferer.

Doctors familiar with the cluster headache are more able to be able to diagnose and treat this rare condition; other doctors have been known to diagnose it incorrectly as a migraine and end up treating it incorrectly.  Most over-the-counter pain medications will have no effect on these terrible headaches. Only certain types of strong steroid-like medications will provide any relief from the pain.  Many people who try to seek medical treatment for this condition are misdiagnosed and even as drug addicts who could be seeking a fix as that is the fit that these severe headaches can throw you into.  They are serious headaches and if you experience a sharp recurring pain in your eye you must see your doctor immediately.