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Migraine as Solitary Confinement, Controlling Lover

A non-migraineur who was close to the young woman who took her life a couple weeks ago, but didn’t know how much she was suffering, emailed me after reading my post and expressed regret that they hadn’t been able to help her. I tried to describe the isolation of chronic migraine, but capturing the experience [...]

Reader Newly in Love With Someone With Chronic Daily Headache Seeks Advice

A woman who has fallen in love with a man who has chronic daily headache has posted a comment asking for input on whether it is wise to stay in the relationship. Although I indulge in Dear Prudence during migraine attacks, I’m not an advice columnist myself. I’ll share my thoughts and would love for [...]

Migraine Beliefs

I am a faker. If I tried harder, I wouldn’t have migraine. It is my fault that I have migraine. I’m only sick for sympathy or attention. If I were a stronger or somehow better person, I wouldn’t have migraine. I have chronic migraine because I don’t want to work (and I have specific migraine [...]

Migraine Activism: How Do We Make People Care About Migraine?

“Yoda is wrong. There is only try.” I posted this on my personal Facebook page with a link to my Migraine.com piece in the hope that some of my Star Wars-obsessed friends would be intrigued enough to read the post. I want people to understand that not everyone is healthy and limited by their own [...]

Survey: What Do Others Think of Your Migraines?

From people thinking they’re playing hooky or trying to get attention to being told to get over their “headaches,” every migraineur has stories of appalling comments or behavior from friends, family, teachers, bosses, coworkers, and even strangers. Here’s your chance to tell your story. Complete this short, anonymous survey to help researchers better understand perceptions [...]

Illness & Romantic Relationships

Chronic illness takes a massive toll on romantic relationships, particularly because one’s partner is also usually their caregiver. Unfortunately, there’s not much helpful information on the topic; even academic research is sparse. You can help by completing a short survey (it took me 10 minutes) on the impact of migraine on one’s life and relationships, [...]

Illness or Not, Plans Get Derailed

Yesterday I described the aunt I wanted to be before migraine interfered with my life plans. Although migraine has commanded all my attention for the past decade, there’s no guarantee I would have been that ideal aunt even without chronic illness. Maybe my career or the 1,300 miles between my nieces, nephew and me would [...]

The Migraine Thief Breaks My Heart

My oldest niece has been accepted to the college of her choice. I’m so, so proud of her and excited for the adventures awaiting her. And I’m crying because I missed her middle and high school years. Debilitating chronic migraine robbed me of the chance to watch, and help, my niece grow up. Much of [...]

Gratitude

Having just drafted a post on gratitude for Migraine.com, the topic was fresh in my mind when I couldn’t sleep the other night. Instead of obsessing over why I was tossing and turning, I mulled over things I am thankful for. Each day I list three things I am grateful for as part of my [...]

It’s the Little Things, Like Folded Underwear

Seeing an oddly shaped stack of my clean, folded underwear brought tears to my eyes. It was a visual reminder of how kind my husband is. After working on TheraSpecs tasks all day on a Sunday, he’d done the dishes and folded the laundry that was decorating our family room. (Chores are normally my task [...]