Send us Fan Mail Persistent headaches and migraines can be exhausting, especially when someone feels as though they have already tried everything. For some people, understanding chronic headache pain may require looking at more than symptoms alone and considering factors such as neck function, the nervous system, previous injuries, sleep, movement, stress, mindset, and overall health. In Part 2 of the ANEW Insight Podcast, Dr. Supatra Tovar continues her conversation with Dr. Jonathan Taves, a Mayo Clinic-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy, headache specialist, and founder of Novera: Headache Center. Dr. Taves works with people experiencing chronic and complex headache disorders, including migraines, persistent daily headaches, occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and post-traumatic headaches. The conversation begins with what Dr. Taves commonly sees in patients who have struggled with headaches for years and what may distinguish people who experience meaningful improvement. He discusses the importance of consistency, resilience, and willingness to stay engaged in the treatment process, while also explaining that different headache patterns may require very different approaches. Dr. Tovar and Dr. Taves then explore the relationship between chronic pain, mindset, and the autonomic nervous system. They discuss how persistent pain can contribute to a cycle of stress and heightened nervous-system activation, as well as approaches such as breathing exercises, biofeedback, relaxation, mindfulness, and other strategies that may help support nervous-system regulation. The conversation also provides an accessible explanation of occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and post-traumatic headaches. Dr. Taves describes how nerve-related pain may feel different from other headache patterns and explains how previous injuries such as car accidents, falls, skiing injuries, or whiplash may affect neck function and potentially contribute to headache symptoms later. Dr. Taves and Dr. Tovar then discuss approaches beyond medication, including movement, exercise, stretching, sleep hygiene, nutrition, stress reduction, breathing, and overall health. Dr. Taves also explains when medication may still be useful and why it may be most helpful when used as one tool within a broader approach to understanding and managing headache symptoms. Finally, they discuss patient advocacy and multidisciplinary care, including the importance of working with healthcare providers who continue asking why symptoms are occurring and who are willing to consider multiple possible contributors when headaches persist. You will learn about: • Why some chronic headaches may be more difficult to treat • How persistent daily headaches can differ from other migraine patterns • How stress, mindset, and the nervous system may influence chronic pain • How breathing and nervous-system regulation may support pain management • What occipital neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are • How previous injuries may contribute to post-traumatic headaches • What non-medication approaches may support headache care • When migraine medication may still play a useful role • Why individualized and multidisciplinary treatment can matter • How to better advocate for yourself when headaches remain unresolved Timestamps 00:00 Welcome back and introduction to Part 2 01:00 What Dr. Taves sees in patients who improve 03:00 Migraine patterns vs. persistent daily headaches 05:00 Mindset, stress, and chronic pain 07:00 The autonomic nervous system and fight-or-flight 08:00 Breathing exercises and nervous-system regulation 09:00 Light sensitivity and calming the nervous system 10:00 Biofeedback, mindfulness, and chronic pain 12:00 Understanding occipital and trigeminal neuralgia 15:00 Post-traumatic headaches and previous injuries 17:00 Alternatives to medication for headaches 19:00 Movement, stretching, sleep, and lifestyle 21:00 When migraine medication may be helpful 23:00 Medication as one tool in headache treatment 24:00 How to advocate for yourself as a patient 26:00 The importance of multidisciplinary headache care 27:00 How to connect with Dr. Jonathan Taves Key Topics Covered Chronic headaches Migraine Persistent daily headaches Occipital neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia Post-traumatic headaches Chronic pain Nervous system regulation Stress and headaches Mindset and chronic pain Breathing exercises Biofeedback Sleep and headaches Movement and exercise Nutrition and headache health Migraine medication Patient advocacy Multidisciplinary care Physical therapy CONNECT WITH DR. JONATHAN TAVES Learn more about Dr. Jonathan Taves and his work: Website: https://www.noveraheadachecenter.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noveraheadachecenter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theheadachedoctorpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noveraheadachecenter/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theheadachedoctor Connect With Dr. Supatra Tovar Follow Dr. Supatra Tovar on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok: @drsupatratovar Continue Your Journey Book: Deprogram Diet Culture: Rethink Your Relationship with Food, Heal Your Mind, and Live a Diet-Free Life Course: Deprogram Diet Culture https://anew-insight.com Visit the Website: https://drsupatratovar.com Watch More Episodes: ANEW Insight Podcast Watch the TEDx Talk: Rethinking Your Relationship with Food in the GLP-1 Era Support the show Thank you for joining us on this journey to wellness. Remember, the insights and advice shared on the ANEW Body Insight Podcast are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine. To learn more about the podcast and stay updated on new episodes, visit ANEW Body Insight Podcast at anew-insight.com. To watch this episode on YouTube, visit @my.anew.insight. Follow us on social media at @my.anew.insight on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads for more updates and insights. Thank you for tuning in! Stay connected with us for more empowering stories and expert guidance. Until next time, stay well and keep evolving with ANEW Body Insight!
