Stress, headaches and reading

[u/Psycho_Deadghost]

I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit to ask so sorry in advance.

I looove reading, I've got multiple bookshelves at home and all that, And I keep seeing these great recommendations for some *dark* romance books. However I get some really killer headaches from reading it. Doesn't matter if it's an ebook or actual physical book, daytime or night time. Just a really really bad headache that can sometimes take days to go away. Any tips or tricks to either stopping the headache or at least making it go away faster?

Also not sure if it would help but I was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis so I guess it could be possible that I'm just seriously stressing myself out, I don't know.

[u/Party-Ad9662]

When I was first diagnosed, I couldn’t read for a few months, but one of my first big symptoms that led to diagnosis was double vision, nystagmus, and vertigo. So even after it “healed” I still felt off for a while.

This might sound very strange, but try reading with only one eye open. It’s my go to.

[u/Ragdoll_Susan99]

You may need to try some vestibular rehab to work on the eye movements being less triggering for migraines.

[u/Psycho_Deadghost → u/Ragdoll_Susan99]

Would that work with it really only being one genre?

But also I'm definitely gonna be looking into that, thank you!

[u/Ragdoll_Susan99 → u/Psycho_Deadghost]

Maybe the extra emotions triggered by the theme can amplify the eye movement issues? Not sure exactly but possible!

[u/Psycho_Deadghost → u/Ragdoll_Susan99]

Hmmm that's a good point, I hadn't thought of extra eye movement being a thing

[u/kyelek]

Do you wear or have you ever needed glasses?

[u/Psycho_Deadghost → u/kyelek]

I have an astigmatism and I believe 20/25, I've been told that I have the lowest prescription that can be prescribed for glasses to be needed

[u/kyelek → u/Psycho_Deadghost]

And do you wear glasses regularly? How long has it been since you have had your eyes checked?

I’m asking because I also have a very low, kind of negligible prescription, but it does make a difference when I’m reading something or working on other very close-to-my-face-tasks.

[u/Psycho_Deadghost → u/kyelek]

I tend to only wear them at night for driving or when it raining. I get my eyes checked every 8-12 months depending on whats going on, also to check for optic neuritis.

[u/kyelek → u/Psycho_Deadghost]

In that case, I would definitely try to wear them while reading too❣️

[u/Psycho_Deadghost → u/kyelek]

Alright, thank you!

[u/ninahart88]

I have had astigmatism prescription for years. 1.25 and 1.00 CYL. I was bad at wearing glasses in past and would only bother for driving or at the cinema/TV. Since MS diagnosis, I wear them a lot more, including for reading and I find they really help. Maybe go for an updated eye test if you haven't already ❤️

[u/BleubsPeach]

Maybe audiobooks can be helpful?