Unofficial Therapy Animals
Anyone else have a pet who helps them manage their migraines? My cat just seems to know when I'm in one and will spend most of the day on top of my legs for comfort. She's very good at looking after me.
Oh my gosh, your cat is SO beautiful. Those eyes are just gorgeous.
It's funny you bring this up ... not sure if you've seen it yet, but ourjust wrote an article about a week ago about pets and their value as migraine friends. Pets are a super popular topic around here. Who could blame us???
Here's Holly's article, the discussion is still going on in the comments:
https://migraine.com/living-migraine/power-of-a-pet
So glad your little love is a great support! -Melissa, migraine teamMy cat was very loving, but didn’t come near me when I had a migraine! I’d like to think she somehow knew I don’t like to be touched when I have one.
Hi Nicole! Would you be willing to share a picture of your cat? We are celebrating the animals who have or are currently accompanying our migraine journeys: https://migraine.com/forums/celebrating-pets-a-call-for-pictures-and-stories. We'd love to see a picture of your girl. Perhaps she knew you needed space. Cats are super smart and tuned in to us. Warmly - Holly - migraine.com team I can believe that, for sure. Cats are so perceptive even to subtle changes...she probably felt your desire to be left in peace! Hope you have a low pain weekend. -Melissa, migraine team
My dog (she just passed in Feb’24 and I’m still not coping well) wasn’t a cuddler or anything so she wasn’t one to “give” assistance 🤣❤️ BUT she helped me through every single step of my struggle! We were absolutely obsessed with each other… she would sit and stare at me, and make sure she could see me no matter where I was in the house.
I adopted her at 8 weeks from a rescue, 3 months after I went on leave from work. We were home together 24/7 she was spoiled beyond belief… so I was more her assistance human where I came to her beck and call. I knew every quirk and sigh she made that could possibly signal anything being off. She gave me a reason to wake up in the morning, go outside several times a day and have a bedtime. My life the day I had to let her go has not been the same without her.
Whether they “assist” us they give us reasons to live and support them ❤️From one pet person to another, I am sending you so many hugs and deepest condolences. It's a HARD thing to lose a pet, especially when they play such an important part in your coping mechanism. I get it, and I hope the good memories will bring you some peace. We're here for you. -Melissa, migraine team
I believe my dog a 160 pound Great Pyrenees. Suffers from miagranes too. We are both highly triggered by the weather (we live by the coast in Florida). He feels the change sometimes before me and begins digging his ears and crying. Sometimes I have symptoms first. I always feel bad when I have the symptoms first because I am usually to sick to get him some calming medication.
It has happened so frequently that my family knows the dog and I are going out for the count together.
I like to think that maybe he feels my body changes before. I always start with tight muscles and increased anxiety. Sometimes maybe he senses that and worries for me.
Either way I feel sorry him and I am positive he worries for me.
Awe, so sorry to hear that both you and your dog struggle around weather changes,
. It's never easy to see our four-legged family members feel scared and worried, especially when we're not feeling good ourselves. How long have you and your dog been united together? He must be huge, 160 lbs is a lot of doggo to have around! - Cody (Team Member)
