The migraine attacks of a twenty-eight-year-old male patient with anxiety hysteria came to an abrupt end during psychoanalysis. The patient's difficulty was rooted in a neurotic character structure with a compulsive dependency on an overevaluated mother figure. This attitude clashed with his wish for independence and he was unable to express the resulting hostility. He had an extremely overprotective mother who gave him little love. His first migraine attack occurred at the age of four when he was restrained by her from doing something he wished to do. At twenty-two he married a mother substitute. Because he was afraid that he would injure her and that she would desert him, he was never able to express anger toward her even when she did so. During analysis his migraine attacks occurred when he was frustrated but unable to express anger for fear of losing his security. He was finally able to defy his mother and the women upon whom he was dependent,