The Unseen Mental Struggle Behind Migraine Pain

Living with migraine is often an invisible battle, where the pain is accompanied by a silent mental struggle that goes unnoticed. If you have a broken leg or a broken arm, you wear a cast. If you have a cold or other sickness, you cough and sneeze. When you have a migraine, the only one who can understand it is the one who is suffering.

Sure, there are signs when I have a migraine. I squint my eyes because the light bothers me. I hunch my back because it feels like my head weighs one thousand pounds. My balance is off, causing me to walk funny. And my overall demeanor is lethargic.

There are moments when I wonder if I’m being taken seriously when I have a migraine. While some believe and empathize, others do not, and questioning negatively affects my mental health.

Another hit on the mental health aspect for me is that it limits my fatherly duties. When I have a migraine, it affects my kids. I can’t read stories at bedtime. I need to lie down in a dark room. I can’t cook dinner, so I order delivery. I can’t work out. Working out helps my mental health as much as it does my physical health. When I don’t work out, I don’t get the much-needed endorphin boost, and it adds to my depression and anxiety. In essence, I feel guilty about not being the dad my kids need.

Thinking about a migraine future is also taxing. My first migraine occurred when I was 10-years-old. I’m 48 now and I am thankful for the strides in migraine pain management, but facing a future of living with migraines is daunting and sad.

When discussing migraine, we mostly talk about medications, preventatives, and pain management. We shy away from sharing the impact migraine has on someone’s mental health. And it can be devastating. It’s a topic that must be discussed along with migraine treatment.

The goal of this article is to share my experience with others and say; you’re not alone in your mental health struggles. I talk to a therapist weekly and have shared my battle with migraine-related depression and anxiety. My therapist helps me see through the self-inflicted negative thoughts. As I talk through the emotions, it gives me a better perspective on what living with migraines is, as well as how to handle those moments when depression takes over. Many physicians and neurologists are not equipped to help a migraine patient deal with intrusive thoughts and negative feelings, and talking to my therapist also provides me with a nonjudgmental safe space.

In conclusion, it’s essential to recognize that beyond the physical pain of migraines, there’s a significant emotional aspect that often goes unnoticed. Dealing with migraines isn’t just about the physical pain; there’s also an emotional side that we need to talk about more. Sharing our experiences can help break the silence and make people aware of how migraine affect our mental health.

If you, too, find yourself coping with the mental toll of migraine, remember that you don’t have to experience it alone. Whether through conversations with a therapist, connecting with people in the migraine community or others who understand, addressing the mental health aspects of migraine is an important step towards accepting this disease and managing it better.

*The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not represent the official position of the Nerivio brand. Additionally, it is highly recommended that you consult your doctor before taking any action based on the information above. This content does not constitute medical advice or recommendation.

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