Men – Talk to Your Partner About Migraine!
Look guys, I get it. We take pride in our ability to handle pain and keep on chugging along. There’s almost a sort of hero mentality we get when we manage to overcome animosity and suffering. It keeps our pride strong and ego up, and there’s no greater example of this than in our relationships. Most men want to look good in front of their partner, whether they’re a short term fling or a long term commitment. Many of us view ourselves as the strong, dependable, fight-through-anything part of the relationship. Any kind of vulnerability would surely get in the way of that, right?
Well, if that’s the thought process you’ve got, then you couldn’t be more in the wrong! Communication is one of the most important parts of any relationship; romantic ones especially. To have proper communication requires honesty, and to be honest is to be vulnerable. This becomes of utmost importance when it comes to your health! There’s no pride in struggling alone, so if you’re a man who suffers from migraine, here are three ways to feel more comfortable talking to your partner about it.
Tip #1: Make Conversations About Medicine Normal!
Even if you’re the type of person who thinks taking medication frequently is normal and okay, you still may struggle with the stigma of talking about it. That’s okay! Young men tend to be taught that internalizing pain is normal. That easily translates to how we feel about taking medication. It’s no surprise that some of us like to keep it under wraps! However, the smartest thing you can do for your own health is to bring your partner into the loop. Let them know what you’re taking, how often you take it, why you take it, and the possible side effects. In the event that your partner needs to take care of you, this information will be vital! Along with this, should you be in a position where someone needs to speak on your behalf, your partner will be well informed to do so!
Tip #2: Building Trust and Dismissing Fear
Having trust in one another is key to a healthy relationship. Being open and honest with each other is a great way to practice building that! You wouldn’t be thrilled if you found out your partner was hiding a serious medical condition from you. You’d likely be worried, mad, or possibly even a bit afraid. On top of this, it might make you wonder if they’re hiding any other issues from you. This goes both ways! So talk openly about what you’re going through and how migraine impacts you. Don’t be afraid to let them know when you aren’t feeling well. That is especially true if it means you need to cancel plans or step away from something. Concern that telling them about a medical condition will make them worried or afraid is understandable. However, not telling them is likely to leave them both afraid AND clueless.
Tip #3: Letting Go of Pride
It’s easy to hold on to the pride of being a strong man capable of anything. However, it’s not worth it in the end. While you may feel that migraine isn’t serious enough to communicate with your partner about, they may not agree. Migraine is a real disability with a big impact on everyday life. Accepting that will make it easier to bring it up to your partner as well! There’s no need to suffer needlessly, so let your partner support you through it! In a healthy relationship, no one has your back more than they do. If they care about you then they want nothing more than your health and happiness. Bring them into that part of yourself that you’re trying to hide. Then work through those struggles together and grow stronger because of it!
Let Us Know!
If you are a guy, is it hard for you to tell a loved one about your migraine? What is hardest about that? If you are a woman with a guy who doesn’t share, what can you do to help him?