Have you ever woken up at 3:07 a.m. convinced a tiny goblin is stabbing your eyeball with a glow stick? That’s a cluster headache.
One minute you’re dreaming about free pizza, next minute you’re pacing your house like a haunted Roomba whispering, “Why does my skull hate me?”
You try water, snacks, and bargain with the ceiling fan. Nothing works. Even your pillow looks nervous.
The Science (Simplified for Mortals)
Cluster headaches involve the hypothalamus (your body clock boss) and the trigeminal nerve (face-pain hotline).
When misfiring happens, blood vessels around the eye dilate, inflammation spikes, and nerves scream.
That’s why the pain is one-sided, intense, and comes in predictable bursts—aka “clusters.”
Tears, runny nose, droopy eyelid? That’s the trigeminal nerve throwing confetti.
Translation: your brain’s alarm clock is broken and set to “dramatic soap opera.”
The Fix (3 Tiny Wins That Matter)
Pro tip: pacing helps. Suffering silently does not. Join people who get it at ItHurts.com.
The Sign-Off
Cluster headaches are like uninvited rave DJs in your skull. You can’t stop the music instantly—but with oxygen, rhythm, and the right meds, you can unplug their speakers.