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Being a high school student with Migraine.

I’m a high school student diagnosed with migraine. I get very severe attacks that makes it hard to concentrate. It’s been 7 years living with it but I still can’t control the pain. Teachers always think I’m acting when being in pain. They think I take days off just for fun. (Though I’m a student who used to prioritise studies more than my health)
And they always say that migraine is ‘just’ a headache.


  1. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Being a teen is tough enough, add migraine to the mix and things can get more complicated.
    Have you found a health care provider who understands and is able to treat you accordingly? Hope to hear from you soon, Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team

    1. Nancy is right. Being a teen is hard enough without having to live with migraine disease. One of the most important things to remember is that migraine is not 'just a headache'. I have found that people can often relate to brain freeze pain if they have ever tried to eat or drink something too cold. I tell them a migraine is similar to that, but it gets worse and lasts a lot longer! Having a doctor that specializes in migraine/headache disorders is a great place to start. If you and your parents need help finding your way along this journey we are here to support you. Warmly, Cheryl migraine.com team

      1. Thank you so much for the support, and ! 😀


        1. We're here for you! How are you doing today? Nancy Harris Bonk Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team

      2. I'm 26 now, but I remember having my first aura in high school precalc. It was so jarring; that I thought I was having a stroke! From my experience, as long as your parents are on your side, usually the school would back off. I remember missing almost a week thanks to stomach pain (which can present itself as migraine) and the school made me speak to a guidance counselor. They didn't have a plan for me to stay in class, as much as they wanted to do their due diligence and see what was wrong with me. I hope you have a healthy support network at your side. It can be so hard having to balance high school, as well as head pain. The last thing I remember wanting was something to distract me from friends, class, and theater. But it was important to look after myself, even it wasn't easy or cool. Know you're not alone in this, and we're here for you! I felt pretty lonely not having people know what I was going through, which is why this community matters so much to me.


        I hope you've been feeling happy, healthy, and symptom-free today ~ Sawyer (team member)

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