Help Head Pain

Two weeks ago, I got an unexpected reminder that we don't get to choose when life challenges our bodies.

During a side-by-side ATV rollover, my right shoulder was held down by the seatbelt while we rolled to the left, creating a lateral whiplash force through my neck. I was in shock afterward—so much so that my family was genuinely concerned for a few minutes.

Once I had ice on my neck and started to gather myself, I sat barefoot on the ground.

Not because it was a magical cure, but because I needed to slow down, reconnect with my body, and calm my nervous system.

Then I spoke to myself the same way I encourage my clients to.

*"This happened."*

*"It's okay to acknowledge that my body just went through something significant."*

*"I have the knowledge, the tools, and the support to recover."*

*"My brothers didn't want this to happen. It was an accident."*

Choosing not to hold on to anger or blame was part of my recovery too.

Too often we respond to pain with fear, frustration, or resentment. But self-compassion doesn't mean pretending everything is okay—it means acknowledging what's happened and choosing to respond with care instead of panic.

As someone who teaches people how to address the muscular side of headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, and movement dysfunction, this experience reminded me that our mindset is just as important as our techniques.

Recovery doesn't always begin with a treatment.

Sometimes it begins with how we speak to ourselves.

If you deal with headaches, jaw pain, or neck tension... today can feel like an endurance event. 🇺🇸😅

While everyone else is packing coolers and fireworks, you're mentally preparing for heat, loud noises, disrupted routines, dehydration, late nights, and all the other things that can stir up symptoms.

So here's my playful challenge:

Treat the Fourth of July like you're about to compete in a sporting event.

Warm up. Stretch. Hydrate. Take a few minutes to massage your jaw and neck before the festivities begin. Your future self may thank you.

And if headaches or jaw pain have become a regular part of your life—not just holidays—my online video courses teach you how to address the muscular side of that pain from home through self-massage, stretching, stabilization, and other practical techniques you can use year-round.

Best of luck out there, stay hydrated... and happy birthday, America! 🇺🇸

Last night, I presented my workshop in Asheville. Saturday at 10:30 I’ll be presenting in Belmont. Links in the bio.

Thanks Boone, NC , Hayes School of Music at App State, and Corinne with Light in Being for having me for two quick days.
There are still tickets for my Asheville & Belmont workshops since I have a large room to present in. If you'd like a complimentary ticket please send me a direct message with full name and email address.
In Boone I stayed in an old chapel converted to an AirB&B. It was the perfect amount of nature surrounding me.
I also had dinner with my childhood friend, Melody, and her daughter. We met in Cramerton / Belmont.
I haven't seen any bears yet, but my daughter who is in camp in the mountains has had 3 sightings!
Appalachian State University - Hayes School of Music

I'm giving away FREE enrollment to TWO people for my live workshop:

**Jaw Tension, Headaches & TMJ Pain: A Self-Relief Workshop**
📍 TechWorks Gaston in Belmont, NC
📅 Saturday, June 27
🕡 10:30 AM–noon

To enter:
✅ Make sure you can attend the workshop in Belmont
✅ Follow this account
✅ Like this post
✅ Comment below and tell me which of these you deal with:
🤕 Headaches
😬 Jaw pain or tension
🙆‍♀️ A stiff neck
😮‍💨 TMJD
…or just comment, "Yep, my head and neck are being dramatic again."

I'll contact the two winners by Friday, June 26.

In this interactive workshop, you'll learn how to address the muscular side of headaches, jaw pain, neck tension, and TMJ issues through self-massage, stretching, and simple techniques you can use at home.

Can't make it to Belmont? I also teach these same concepts in my on-demand video courses, so you can learn anytime, from the comfort of your home and at your own pace.

Workshop and course links are in my bio.

Can trigger points mimic dental pain? Absolutely. 🦷🤕

I wish more dentists and endodontists were aware of this possibility as they're investigating the health of a tooth.

Sometimes the tooth is the problem. Sometimes the muscles are contributing. And sometimes it's both.

Some clues that trigger points may be involved:
• The tooth pain increases when your jaw, neck, or headache symptoms flare up.
• Pressing or massaging certain muscles reproduces sensations in the tooth or other areas of the face.
• The pain seems to move around or is difficult to pinpoint.
• Dental imaging and testing don't fully explain the severity of the symptoms.
• The pain changes with chewing, clenching, stress, or posture.

In this clip from Gums & Gossip with Hope (Season 7, Episode 6: "It's Never Just Jaw Pain"), we discuss why understanding referred pain patterns matters. You can listen to the full conversation on your favorite podcast platform or on YouTube.

This topic is one of my favorites to teach. In both of my online video courses, I show you the referral patterns each muscle can create and teach you how to safely massage and stretch those muscles for relief.

Because sometimes what feels like tooth pain… is really your muscles asking for attention.