Am I heading for a mental breakdown?

[pabst]

Hello all, Ive been playing piano for roughly two years now, and just recently I upped my study-time - it now stands between 4 and a half and five hours per day, no weekend free. I have no idea what grade I would fit in, but atm Im learning Beethoven op. 22 Sonata and op. 10 n. 2 Sonata, Scriabin Etude op. 8 n. 2 and a whole bunch of Bach (4 fugues from the WTK and some preludes).

The thing is, lately Ive been having these (still rare) migraines, some bearable headaches (nothing some acetylsalicylic acid canīt take care of) and more than frequent dizzyness... all after my study session (the migraines are usually the morning after). So I am wondering if anyone also experiences this - would you overlook it for fear of having to stop studying? Just made my mind about entering music school, so I am really reluctant to telling my teachers, since I have been having some good improvements.
Maybe the pieces are a bit too cerebral and abstract (well its like 8 fugue-style writing pieces [including the Beethoven Presto Fugato from op. 10 n. 2 heh], Scriabin etude is a bloody annoying rythmic study, altho great music, and the Op. 22 is kinda long, having some trouble memorizing it with all that's going on.
I also love slow study, and when learning Bach I usually put the silent pedal down and play it hands together up to speed counting the next two note's fingerings for the both hands in my head (of course I study before doing this or it all falls apart), so I can concentrate on voicing - yep Im a bach-scriabin freak 
This is a way Ive found to memorize and to be able to "let go" musically when playing quite about anything. Maybe I should simplify my study, instead of making it more complex? If I make my studying more complex, does it mean the playing will become simpler or is it the other way around?

Or maybe the headache is a good sign, meaning my brain is splitting up and I might just be getting better? No pain no gain?

[abell88]

I would suggest you see your doctor and have your eyes checked, as well. When you are practising, perhaps you need to take mini-breaks -- get up, walk around, focus your eyes on something further away, and have a drink of water. Just some possibilities...

[xvimbi]

Thinking doesn't cause headaches, stress does

Are you drinking enough water?

[steve jones]

Are you drinking enough water?

Excellent question xvimbi, dehydration has to be the number one cause of spontaneous migraines. Couple this will with stress and mental exhaustion, and you have a recipe for disastor.

My advice is to practice only as long as is constructive - no point forcing an extra hour of completely wasted practice time. If you get wiped out, maybe chill for 10mins, have a cup of tea and then start back refreshed.

Also, be sure to have a glass / bottle of water handy to sip during practice.

Oh, and if it continues to get worse see you doctor!

Good luck

[pianistimo]

my eyes get tired in late afternoon and late evening.  if you can't take a bit of a nap, try just shutting them a little, or playing in the dark.  it sounds funny, but it can take a little pressure off your practice and you can see how much is memorized.  light bothers me when i have headaches.  hope you do get checked out.  maybe it's your pace.  you can experiment with how much difficult stuff to practice at one time and alternate it with easier.

[jayd]

Prolonged periods of sitting with the piano stool at the wrong height, or with too much tension in your arms and back caused by poor posture/technique, can cause headaches. Ask your teacher to check your sitting position during your lesson and then check you are at the same height/in the same position at home. Make sure too that you show your teacher where you look when you practice. You might for example always have your head lowered towards the keys if you are playing by memory, rather than looking at the music which you might do in your lesson. It could make a difference to how you're sitting. I know if I am playing by memory I tend to hunch towards the keys which strains my neck and that can cause headaches.

I also went through a period of splitting headaches at the piano once but linked the problem to my back due to the headaches coming on instantly if I did pulldowns at the gym. A medical professional diagnosed me with muscle dehydration caused by an amino acid deficiency from over-training. He manipulated my back muscles and put me on a short course of amino acids and it fixed it right up. Note the dehydration wasn't caused by not drinking enough water - I was drinking plenty but the muscles couldn't absorb it without the amino acids. If you feel this might relate to you see a doctor and ask their opinion. They may refer you to a specialist but the specialist will be able to tell if this is the problem very quickly.

Also you want to break for 10 minutes every 45 minutes or so - and when you break get up off the stool and walk around. Playing can be very physical and you need to let the body rest and stretch.

By the way I am in awe of what you can play after just 2 years. 

[practicingnow]

Cut down your practicing time - 5 hours a day is too much

[nsvppp]

Please check your muscles in neck and shoulders. Are they supple? Touch them with your fingers and press your muscles, especially on the back of your neck.  If they feel ok then you know your sitting habits are ok. If not, you probably found the source of your problems and you don't have to worry about your mental state.

Good luck with it.

[pabst]

Thanks everyone for the attention, the advice was really helpful. I think I know what the cause is.

I would suggest you see your doctor and have your eyes checked, as well.

Funny I just got my contact lenses from my doctor, having used glasses my whole life. And there really is a great difference - glasses will force your head to sit still (this might be personal), while lenses allow more movement. So I suppose it was a good decision.

Thinking doesn't cause headaches, stress does

Hehe I bet youre right on the money, I could be just a little stressed due to the proximity of the music school exams - this december. Having never attempted one of these, I may be beating myself up a bit.

I know if I am playing by memory I tend to hunch towards the keys which strains my neck and that can cause headaches.

Its really interesting how back pain and headaches are connected. Im no expert but Ive heard of many people taking aspirin for back pain, alongside with headaches, so youre right. When playing-studying Bach I really tend to hunch and put my face a bit too close to the keyboard ala Gould  I know its bad for the wrists, but I take care of them, never paid too much attention to the back tho, so there it is.

Cut down your practicing time - 5 hours a day is too much

Oh but it is between 4 and a half hours and five, so I can get away with it, right?    And its not like I do it in one sitting - I do it in 3.

If not, you probably found the source of your problems and you don't have to worry about your mental state.

Oh great I think I might be on to something. Its the stress plus posture theory then - I will police myself harder and take breaks after every 30 mins, for some tea or coffee (mmkay maybe not coffee heh).
Thanks a bunch guys!