Not Just a Headache: What your body’s trying to tell you

We’ve all had those days—your head starts to hurt, and everything suddenly feels harder. Maybe it’s a dull pressure behind your eyes, or a sharp pain that stops you in your tracks.

But headaches don’t just happen for no reason. They’re your body’s way of saying, “Hey, something’s not right.”

And when you understand what your body is trying to say, you can finally do something about it—instead of just pushing through.

That’s why we’re here.

At On Point, our mission is to help you move freely and unlock your untapped potential. That means teaching you how to understand the signs your body is giving you—so you can take action and feel your best.

Let’s go over 4 common types of headaches, how to tell them apart, and what they really mean.

1. Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common kind. Almost everyone gets them at some point—especially after a stressful day or staring at a screen too long.

What they feel like:

• A dull, steady ache on both sides of your head
• Like someone’s squeezing your head with a tight band

Common causes:

• Stress, being tired, eye strain, or bad posture
• Tight muscles in your neck and shoulders

How to know if it’s a tension headache:

• The pain feels mild to moderate—not super sharp
• It doesn’t get worse when you move
• No nausea or strong sensitivity to light or sound

What helps:

• Gentle stretching, taking breaks, and deep breathing

2. Cervicogenic Headaches

These headaches start in your neck but feel like they’re in your head. They’re often mistaken for migraines.

What they feel like:

• Pain on one side that starts in your neck and moves up
• A steady ache (not pulsing)
• Your neck might feel stiff or sore too

Common causes:

• Joint problems in the neck
• Tight muscles, old injuries like whiplash, or long hours of bad posture

How to know:

• The pain gets worse when you move your neck
• Headache doesn’t go away with regular pain meds

What helps:

• Hands-on care, specific exercises, and working on posture with someone who understands how your whole body moves

3. Cluster Headaches

These are rare, but really painful. They come in bursts—several headaches in a row for weeks, then none for a while.

What they feel like:

• Sharp, burning, or stabbing pain behind one eye
• Always on one side
• Can happen multiple times a day, then go away for months
• Other signs may include watery eyes, a stuffy nose, red eye, droopy eyelid, or restlessness

When they happen:

• Often around the same time each day
• Can last from 15 minutes to 3 hours

What helps:

• Talking to a provider (like us!) to get to the root cause and make a plan

4. Migraines

Migraines are more than just strong headaches—they affect your whole system and often need total rest.

What they feel like:

• Throbbing or pulsing pain, usually on one side
• Can be really intense
• Often come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound
• Other signs (called aura): Blurry vision, flashing lights, or zigzag lines
• Additional signs can include geeling tingly or having trouble speaking

Common triggers:

• Hormone changes
• Certain foods
• Too much stress or loud noise
• Not getting enough sleep

What helps:

• Keeping a journal to track triggers
• Sticking to a routine
• Getting support from a provider who can help you manage and prevent future attacks

When to Get Help?

Don’t try to handle all headaches on your own. Talk to a provider if:

• Your headaches are happening more often or getting worse
• They’re stopping you from doing daily activities
• You’ve had a head injury recently
• You have new symptoms like weakness, confusion, or vision problems

Final Thoughts

Pain can feel like a full stop in your day. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

When you understand the kind of headache you’re dealing with, you can use that info to take back control—and start feeling like yourself again.

Whether it’s stress, posture, or something deeper like migraines, your body is always trying to tell you something.

When you listen, you can start healing.

At On Point, we’re here to help you figure that out—so pain doesn’t hold you back. We want to help you move freely, feel confident, and explore everything your body is capable of.

Let’s start that journey together.