Mental Health
How To Stay Connected With Others While Managing Migraine
Do you find it hard to stay connected with others while managing your migraine disease? Having migraine can be incredibly isolating. We often stop attending social events and family gatherings. We even avoid leaving the house for errands or doctor appointments. Why? Because we know that the outside world is full of migraine triggers we…
Read MoreThree Things to Know About Going to Therapy with Migraine
Living with migraine, we often spend a lot of time caring for our physical health. We go to doctors’ appointments, take supplements and medications, try physical therapy and exercises, and maintain certain diets. But caring for our mental health is also an important, and yet often overlooked, piece of a well-rounded treatment plan. May is…
Read MoreNew Year’s Resolutions for a Migraine Warrior
How are you going into the New Year with migraine? New Year’s Resolutions for a Migraine Warrior I will mindfully be kind to myself and rest when my body says I need to – even when that means “extreme self-care“! I will mindfully let go of guilt for the things I can’t do, places I…
Read MoreNavigating the Joys and Challenges of Relationships and Migraine
No one likes to be struggling with pain and feel like a burden to their loved ones and friends. Equally, no one likes to see a loved one in pain and not be able to intervene. Relationships when one or more people live with a chronic disease such as migraine can be incredibly challenging to…
Read MoreWhen Migraine Hurts Can A Positive Attitude Help?
Migraine and other chronic pain conditions take a huge toll on your general well-being. There are days filled with anger, sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness. Some days it’s like the people around you don’t see how pain is affecting you, and then you can also start feeling resentful and frustrated. Pain causes stress, which then causes…
Read MoreManaging Seasonal Depression: Taking Care of the Body
Daily, consistent self-care is key for managing seasonal depression and seasonal affective disorder. Taking care of your physical body is so important during the darker months. Focusing on the following can help manage SAD, and is also beneficial for migraine and other chronic conditions.
Read MoreMigraine, Seasonal Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Migraine, Seasonal Depression and SAD: Part I As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s common to feel the “winter blues.” But for many—especially those of us battling migraine and other chronic conditions—seasonal depression can go far beyond just feeling down during the darker months. This is something I have a lot of personal…
Read MoreManaging Seasonal Depression: Taking Care of the Mind
Seasonal depression and SAD can be really difficult to deal with, especially if you also live with migraine, but doing something each day to take care of your mind can help to keep focused and in a more positive place.
Read MoreMigraine Comorbidities: Mental Health Disorders
Migraine is comorbid with a range of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and many other mood disorders. According to one study, up to 47% of people with migraine have comorbid depression, and up to 58% have comorbid anxiety—both commonly occurring especially among people with chronic migraine. Researchers believe there may be some neurological connection between migraine and mental health disorders and there is emerging evidence of genetic links between migraine, depression, and anxiety.
Read MoreWhite Coat Syndrome and Migraine
Many people with migraine experience what is called white coat syndrome, also known as white coat hypertension, which happens when someone develops higher blood pressure in the presence of a physician or other healthcare professional than is normal for them. White coat syndrome can happen to anyone, but for those with migraine, a trip to the doctor’s office can be especially anxiety-producing. As a result, in addition to higher blood pressure patients can experience increased anxiety, palpitations, fear, tightness in the chest, and more. What is most sad is that for some people the experience is so severe that it impacts their willingness to see a doctor, and access the care they need for disease management.
Read MoreMigraine Symptoms: Mood Changes
Many people with migraine report mood changes before, during or after a migraine attack. Anxiety and depression are common in people with migraine, but other mood changes can also indicate that an attack is on its way. This rarely discussed symptom can greatly interfere with day-to-day life and be quite difficult to manage.
Read MoreManaging Your Mindset and Mental Health
Living with migraine can be incredibly painful, frustrating, and lonely. It’s no wonder anxiety and depression so often come along for the ride. But there may be ways we can refocus our thinking and keep our hopes high. Keeping in mind that what works for some may not work for all, here are some ideas to add to your treatment toolbox:
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