Migraines play havoc with emotions. Migraines are disabling in many ways, but none is worse than feeling like you are an emotional cripple. If migraines are mild, the impairment is mild. Upon reaching the state of transformed migraine (a condition of more unrelenting migraines) a migraineur, one who has migraines, feels as if someone used dynamite on his emotions. If this has happened to you, you feel distraught from letting people down by being unable to fulfill your part in planning and participation in everyday functions. This guilt is depressing and you feel that migraines are ruining your life. You may feel that your relationships with others have changed. You may experience a feeling of isolation believing that no one can understand your pain and you resent other people just going on with everyday life with no problems. Have I described you?
Emotions play havoc with migraines. People who suffer from migraines have a more sensitive body to light, sound, smell, food, and/or stress. Emotional difficulties are stressful and can trigger migraines. Migraines are much more than headaches. The migraine syndrome can manifest itself in many ways: panic attacks, palpitations, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), neck pain, chest pain, hypoglycemia, vertigo, and even fibromyalgia.
The sensitive body is a set up for panic and emotional upset. The migraineur is stimulated easily, and the body can vigorously overreact. Disorder in medical jargon refers to disturbance or dysfunction in physical or mental health. There are several disorders that can prime the patient to have a panic attack—panic, anxiety, phobia, obsessive-compulsive, bipolar, and post-traumatic stress disorder to name a few. Panic attacks, for example, can present as complication of drug abuse, poisoning, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, migraine syndrome (which would include fibromyalgia), and chronic fatigue syndrome, among others.
A migraineur must understand that he is dealing with a lifelong illness. However, he is certainly not unique in this position. Counseling can be extremely helpful in dealing with the emotional aspects of migraines. There are also self-help groups available for support of family. By communicating your needs to your family you can educate them, thus allowing them to provide additional support. If noise reduction is needed, tell someone. Learn to say “no” or qualify your response with, “If I am able.” Tell your significant other not to rattle off a “to do” list. Rather, give a short written list or only one verbal request at a time. Around the time of migraines, avoid making decisions. Maintain routine. Have your family members be your advocate, coming to your defense when dealing with others. Explain to children your situation, but remember: repetition is the mother of teaching—do not resent teaching. Do not wait until a migraine to decide on sex. Gentle cuddling and massage can be reassuring. Think of how situations would be handled, if someone in the family had anginal chest pain. Stress and excitement would be muted. Care and concern would be directed toward the patient. The patient would treat angina with respect, trying to avoid danger. Treat your migraines as you would any other serious disease.
J. Wes Tanner, MD is a family practice and headache specialist who has been treating people for about 30 years. He has extensive experience in treating migraines and fibromyalgia with excellent success. In "Doctor, Why Do I Feel This Way?", Dr. Tanner exposes the secrets and myths about fibromyalgia and the migraine syndrome. To find out more, go to http://www.migrainesyndrome.net .
