Understanding That "Funny Feeling" in Your Head

Understanding That "Funny Feeling" in Your Head

Feeling funny, weird, or "off" in your head can be confusing and even scary. But in many cases, these sensations are related to common conditions that aren't necessarily serious when properly diagnosed and treated.

What Causes Funny Head Feelings?

There are various possible causes for funny head feelings, including:

• Migraines or headaches
• Medication side effects
• Stress and anxiety
• Poor diet and dehydration
• Lack of sleep
• Hormonal changes

In some cases, more serious neurological conditions may also be to blame, like seizures, brain injuries, tumors, or stroke. But these are less common than more mundane explanations in otherwise healthy people.

Connecting Headaches and Dizziness

Headaches and dizziness frequently accompany that vague "funny" feeling. In fact, many people report sensations ranging from slight lightheadedness to room-spinning vertigo along with head pain.

Why does this happen? The brain itself lacks pain receptors, meaning it can’t ache like your sore muscles might. But several types of headaches originate from pain-sensitive structures surrounding the brain and nerves that relay signals about the body’s balance from the inner ear to the brain.

Primary Headache Disorder Causes

Primary headache disorders arise from the nerves, blood vessels, neck, and muscles surrounding the skull rather than illness elsewhere. These include:

• Migraines – Severe headache plus symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound
• Cluster headaches – Brief but extremely painful headaches that occur in clusters
• Tension headaches – The most common type, often feels like a band squeezing the head
• Exertional headaches- Brought on by physical activity
• Sinus headaches – Deep, dull pressure from sinus congestion

What Triggers Primary Headaches?

Headache triggers vary based on the type, but some common categories include:

• Hormonal changes in women
• Stress and negative emotions
• Dehydration and diet issues like skipped meals
• Poor sleep habits
• Physical factors like poor posture
• Environmental causes like weather changes

When headaches strike, keeping a diary can help identify your personal triggers. Avoiding or adapting these can reduce headache frequency.

Diagnosing the Cause of Funny Head Feelings

Because many possibilities exist for funny head sensations, getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial. To determine the cause, your doctor will likely:

• Ask about your symptoms and medical history
• Conduct a neurological exam checking your coordination, reflexes, balance, vision, etc.
• Order imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan
• Refer you to a neurologist or other specialist for further evaluation

Keeping an ongoing record of when you feel funny or dizzy along with any accompanying symptoms assists with reaching a diagnosis and effective treatment plan.

Questions Your Doctor May Ask

To understand your case, questions your doctor might ask include:

• Where exactly does your head feel funny or hurt?
• Does the location of sensations change or stay the same?
• How would you describe the pain or sensations?
• How long do episodes last?
• How often do they occur?
• Do you have nausea, vomiting, sound/light sensitivity, or other vision changes?
• What medications do you take? Have you started anything new recently?
• What makes symptoms better or worse?

Answering questions thoroughly and tracking down old medical records aids diagnosis. So don’t downplay even mild occasional sensations in your head when talking to your doctor.

Treatments to Feel Better

Treatments vary based on each individual’s diagnosis but often include:

Medications

Prescriptions like:

• Pain relievers to reduce headache intensity
• Triptans to curtail migraines
• Muscle relaxers for tension headaches
• Medications to reduce fluid or relax blood vessels
• Antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs as preventatives

Alternative Therapies

Options like:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Massage
• Physical therapy
• Stress reduction techniques

Lifestyle Changes

Steps you can take to prevent headaches like:

• Get enough sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Reduce alcohol and caffeine
• Fix poor posture
• Incorporate relaxation practices
• Improve diet and hydration

Keeping a headache diary also helps identify lifestyle triggers to modify.

When to Seek Emergency Care

In rare cases, funny feelings and head pain signal serious medical emergencies requiring immediate care. Seek ER help if you experience:

• Sudden, severe head pain unlike your usual headaches
• Fainting, loss of consciousness, or confusion
• Seizures
• Weakness or vision changes
• Head injury or trauma
• High fever and stiff neck

Rapid treatment is vital if you show emergency neurological warning signs like these along with that “not right” feeling in your head. Don’t downplay seemingly minor funny head sensations either – call your doctor promptly to discuss distressing or worsening symptoms.

When to Visit Your Doctor

You should also make a non-emergency appointment to discuss head sensations if you experience:

• Funny feelings without clear cause
• Head pain disrupting work, school, relationships, sleep
• Dizziness
• Fatigue, memory/concentration impairment
• Nausea
• Vision changes
• Numbness or tingling

Keeping your doctor informed helps diagnose, monitor, and properly manage even mild symptoms occurring in your head.

Coping with Funny Head Feelings

Whether you’ve received a diagnosis or are still looking for answers, coping strategies can help you manage funny head symptoms:

Track Symptoms

Logging details like timing, length, location, triggers, etc. helps your healthcare provider identify patterns and effective treatments.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration commonly triggers head symptoms, so drink enough fluids daily.

Stimulus Control

Limit overstimulation from loud noises, bright screens, environments with too much sensory input during symptom flare-ups.

Alternative Treatments

Relaxation techniques, massage, physical therapy provide relief for many.

Take Prescribed Medications

Follow your doctor’s advice about taking medications as directed to manage health conditions.

Be Patient

Getting satisfactory answers and solutions may take time.

While feeling off in your head can definitely disrupt life, various helpful strategies exist for managing the situation. Stay in touch with your medical provider, identify triggers, follow treatment plans, and don’t lose hope.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.