When your condition first gets diagnosed as a migraine, it can engender a bittersweet feeling.
On the one hand, you finally have an explanation for all the pain you’ve been experiencing for months.
On the other hand, there’s the awareness that you’re going to have to manage and deal with unpredictable migraine attacks perennially. You never know when the next one might come.
Dealing with migraines requires physical, emotional, and mental effort. But the following tips might make it easy for you:
Prioritize yourself
Don’t let anyone tell you that your condition isn’t real, or that it isn’t serious enough. Only those who experience chronic migraines first-hand can understand what you’re going through. Therefore, you’ll have to be your own advocate.
Prioritize your own comfort and health, because it’s valid. If bright lights bother you, for instance, turn them off without feeling guilty about it.
Your condition is real, and it’s okay to cancel plans if you don’t feel well. It’s okay to close the blinds, turn the music down, and not socialize. Surround yourself with a support network that understands your needs and doesn’t make you feel bad about it.
Identify your triggers
It’s quite tricky to pinpoint what’s causing your migraines; sometimes, there are no triggers! But in case there are, correctly identifying them can help you avoid those situations and manage the condition. Daily fluctuations in diet, hormone levels, stress levels, and weather conditions may make it hard for you to determine the triggers. So try to keep things constant as you try to asses the situation.
Every time a migraine spell affects you, make a list of all the food items you’ve eaten in the past 24 hours and all the potential situational triggers. Also note down any changes in your sleep and physical exercise cycles. Repeat these steps the next time you suffer from a migraine attack. Look for repetitions and patterns. Documenting everything helps. You could also take your written records to a neurologist and get their help to understand the situation.
You also need to record the time and day of the attack, any other symptoms that may have appeared before the migraine surfaced, and where you were at the time.
Build a support network
It’s vital to have a group of friends or family who you can turn to for support. You need people who can offer both practical and emotional support. Let’s say you suffer from an attack while you’re at the workplace. You’ll need someone to have your back—for instance, they could get you medication.
You need to find people who don’t complain when you opt to distance yourself. You need people who understand your condition and respect your need for space. You could also look for support groups on the internet to bond with people with similar experiences. In fact, the American Migraine Foundation is a safe space where you can connect with such individuals.
If you’re based in California and need professional help with your migraines, come visit Dr. Farzin Pedouim in LA today. If you need help differentiating between migraines and tension headaches, Dr. Pedouim can help!
Disclaimer: This article is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content, and material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
