Migraine and Mental Health
What has been your experience living with migraine and your mental health? Have you found effective ways to cope? What has been the most challenging aspects? Do you receive the support you need? Please feel free to discuss any topics related to migraine and mental health and how it has impacted your life. We would love to hear from you.
Thank you, Joanna, for beginning the topic. I am looking forward to hearing input from anyone who has successfully dealt with the irritability common to migraine disease. I've been chronic for nearly all of the last 5 years and it clearly impacts my family. I'm a sarcastic wench, completely different from my normal self, and I see it coming through in my 9 year old's personality. It is heartbreaking.
So nice hearing from you and your willingness to discuss such an important topic! It's amazing what a "common" symptom irritability is when living with migraine, yet it is rarely widely discussed. As we wait for some more possible feedback from our community members, in the meantime, are you by chance active on Facebook? If so, here is an article we published on there in regards to specifically "Migraine Symptoms: Anger & Irritability" and this article generated lots of great comments & feedback from the community if you wanted to scroll through. Here is the post - https://www.facebook.com/MigraineDotCom/posts/1210967655598441?match=bWlncmFpbmUgc3ltcHRvbXMgYW5nZXIgJiBpcnJpdGFiaWxpdHksbWlncmFpbmUgc3ltcHRvbXMgYW5nZXIgaXJyaXRhYmlsaXR5LGlycml0YWJpbGl0eSxtaWdyYWluZS5jb20sc3ltcHRvbXMsbWlncmFpbmUsYW5nZXI%3D
Should you not be on Facebook, here is the original article https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-symptoms-anger-irritability/
Maybe by reviewing this article and some of the member feedback it may provide some guidance & tips on some ways to help reduce it...especially for your 9year old. I am sure this must be extremely difficult to watch some of those traits come through.
Thanks for being here & help to bring a voice and awareness towards a symptom that so many are faced with.
Warmly,
Joanna (Migraine.com Team)
I feel that there is more understanding and acceptance of the connection between migraine and depression. For me personally, I have come to accept that my own acceptance of it has made my own life easier. I am now retired and looking back I can see that I had a successful career in spite of it not being my first choice. My first choice would have been as a litigating attorney and i have no doubt it was my calling, but as a migraineur it would have been impossible. My mental health suffered when i thought of the "failure" I was. I believe that many migraine sufferers have this same feeling. I have been on several antidepressants over tbe years and frankly nothing has really helped. I was given sumatriptan about 10 years ago and it has been a godsend, but my depression is simply ingrained now. I was very lucky to find a loving and understanding husband, now married 27 years. I would never have believed a human like him existed that could live with me day by day. I have settled into my life of reading, gardening and cooking. Along with my pet doggies, and when the blackness comes in, I know that it will lift as it always does. I feel that in spite of my migraine and depression I am very truly blessed.
My migraines are so out of control that I have zero quality of life. I struggle to work or am in bed. I've given up everything that brings me joy because I have to fight through the basics of my life, there's no room for anything. I am so defeated.
living with migraine is not easy. It's not only intense but it's long. I'm so grateful that you're giving voice to this very real, raw and honest struggle. So many of us here can relate. Are you connected with a neurologist or headache specialist that can help you to manage the attacks? Have you considered connecting with a therapist who is specifically trained in chronic conditions like migraine?
Best
Alene (team member)thanks for the reminder and encouragement to us all that migraine research is advancing each and every day, and with it new treatment options are continually becoming available to us - and more are yet to come.
Best
Alene (team member)
I've been with a neurologist for 12 years. Am 39 years into migraine life. I've tried and failed triptans, anti-seizure, BP meds, all the CRPG's. My neuro says I've failed all protocols. Am on botox, but am migraining 22 days per month. There are no more options. I honestly don't know what is next. Am 59 years old and am no better off than at 20. Ido appreciate your kind words.
it certainly sounds like you've tried a lot of options. That can feel both exhausting and defeating. I do admire though your resilience to continue to seek new options - simply posting on this page here shows your resilience as you're reaching out to connect with others and perhaps even learn any potentially overlooked options. Have you had an opportunity to discuss some supplement options that could perhaps be taken alongside these medications? Only your doctor can determine which is best for you, but there are supplements like feverfew, butterbur and others that have been helpful with managing migraine. Perhaps it's worth a conversation with your doctor, if that's something that resonates with you.
Here are some discussions about them if you're interested in checking them out
https://migraine.com/living-migraine/migranol-supplement
https://migraine.com/video/natural-supplement
https://migraine.com/living-migraine/supplement-cocktail-worked
Best
Alene (team member)yes muscle relaxers, and even meeting with a pain management specialist is a great idea!
Best
Alene (team member)
