An Inside Look at Chronic Headbanging Disease (CHD)

I have recently discovered CHD because I suffer from it. Chronic Headbanging Disease is nothing to scoff at. It's a real thing, and a real problem. 

You may be asking yourself, "How can this be a problem? Headbanging is one of the best ways to rock out!"

Let me explain what it's like inside the life of someone who suffers from CHD. I'll try to be brave. 

CHD is usually (but not always) associated with alcohol. Herein lies the first problem with Chronic Headbanging Disease: you never regret it at the time of the act. You obviously look like a rock star and everyone is cheering you on - in awe of the real-time hair whipping commercial going on right in front of their faces. 

CHD makes you believe that the people you're surrounded by are practically DEMANDING to see you headbang. If there is a good song on, you will headbang and/or whip your hair for their viewing pleasure (and for the rush of adrenaline from temporarily being a rock star).

The next day is when reality sets in. You can take painkillers for your headache, and drink water to ease your dehydration, but nothing, NOTHING, will help the pain in your neck from headbanging. 

Heating pads, icy hot, massages, painkillers, more alcohol, stretching. These are all useless against the next-day pain of CHD. 

What's worse, is the 2nd day after your hair-whipping extravaganza. It's usually a Monday. (CHD has been known to happen more frequently on Saturday nights). Like you needed another reason to hate Mondays, now you're at work, and the pain in the back of your neck has extended to the front of your neck, making it painful to move your head in any direction. You'll just have to let that bug land on your face, because flinching away isn't an option. 

Sufferers of CHD always tell themselves they will never headbang again. They will even tell their friends and/or significant others, "Don't let me headbang tonight. I will regret it tomorrow". They are aware they have a problem, but it doesn't matter. No matter what advice their loved ones try to give them, sufferer's of CHD cannot and will not learn their lesson. They will consume alcohol, they will believe that they have transformed into a rock star, and they will headbang, with surprising (and impressive) vigor, as much as socially acceptable (and beyond). 

Unfortunately, many people are uneducated about CHD, and will encourage this behavior, causing further damage to be done.  You might think you're innocently cheering on someone who suffers from nothing but being awesome, but there's more to it than that. There is no known cure for CHD, nor is there currently a treatment plan.