When it comes to finding relief from chronic headaches or migraines, many people feel like they’ve tried everything — medications, lifestyle changes, and even alternative therapies — yet they still struggle. According to Dr. Taves from The Headache Doctor Podcast, the reason some patients fail treatment often has less to do with the treatment itself and more to do with mindset, expectations, and consistency.
In this article, we’ll explore the key reasons patients don’t get better — and what characteristics make someone a great candidate for successful headache treatment.
Understanding Why Treatment Fails
Dr. Taves begins by addressing a simple but powerful truth: “When we understand the problem itself and the barriers that people have for finding relief, then we actually have some action items that we can change.”
He explains that many patients approach their healing journey expecting immediate results, when in reality, progress takes time. “It’s not that your neck was normal and healthy one day and then you woke up with a problem. The neck problem’s been there for a long time,” he says. Because the issue has often developed slowly, the solution also requires time, patience, and consistent effort.
1. A Short-Term Mindset
The first major reason people fail treatment is the desire for a quick fix. Dr. Taves notes, “People that won’t find relief look for instant gratification. If they don’t see a reduction in their symptoms immediately, then they’ll drop that healthy habit.”
Just as long-term habits like brushing and flossing lead to better dental health, consistent habits such as posture correction, movement, and neck care pay off over time. “We’re looking for people that are willing to put in the work over a long period of time in order to make the changes that are needed to solve a problem that took a long period of time to create.”
2. A Passive “Fix Me” Mentality
The second barrier to success is a passive approach to treatment. Dr. Taves explains that some patients enter care believing the provider should do all the work: “Maybe they have this perspective of, you just need to fix me.”
However, lasting headache and migraine relief requires active participation. Patients must be willing to take responsibility for lifestyle factors — movement, stress, sleep, and exercise — that influence their symptoms. “If you’re not willing to make those changes, then there really is no solution,” he says. “Part of the solution is removing a negative, inserting a positive, and then adding time.”
3. Excessive Skepticism or Lack of Trust
Another major obstacle is being overly critical or skeptical of the process. Dr. Taves is careful to point out that trust doesn’t need to be instant, but it must develop over time: “The person that doesn’t do well is the person that never fully trusts that we can help them or in our process.”
Healing involves both physiological and psychological factors. “You can work against yourself by being overly critical and skeptical,” he explains. Just as in other areas of health — like exercise or nutrition — consistent effort over time, combined with trust in the process, leads to the best results.
What Makes a Good Candidate for Headache Treatment?
Patients who succeed with treatment share common traits. They are:
- Committed for the long term, not just seeking short-term results.
- Willing to make lifestyle changes that support healing.
- Open-minded and trusting enough to follow a process, even through ups and downs.
Dr. Taves emphasizes that nearly any patient can improve if they approach treatment with these traits. “Those are the people that almost always find the relief we’re looking for,” he says. “The upfront symptom presentation almost doesn’t matter.”
Ultimately, healing from headaches and migraines isn’t about perfection — it’s about patience, persistence, and partnership. “If the expectation is correct and we have someone who has the motivation,” says Dr. Taves, “then we have a positive equation to be positive and let time do its thing.”
The Takeaway
Headache and migraine relief is possible — but it requires the right mindset. Patients who commit to the process, stay consistent through challenges, and trust their provider are far more likely to find long-term success.
As Dr. Taves concludes, “If you’re someone who can stick with a process, if you’re ready to make change… you are the person that we are going to be a good fit for.”
If you’re ready to take that next step, book an appointment today with Novera Headache Center and start your journey toward lasting relief.
