My Life with Migraines: Beginning at Age Five

I’ve been dealing with migraines since childhood, starting at 5 years old, and I’m now 65. Back then, my migraines were linked to anxiety. I had a deep fear of being left alone, and I would worry whenever I went somewhere, which often triggered a migraine. My parents tried to avoid this by not telling me about trips until the last minute, hoping to prevent a migraine. (Just to clarify, I was never actually left alone, and the source of that fear remains a mystery.)

Family history of Migraine

I also began getting migraines during eye exams in my childhood. As I got older, my migraines became linked to my menstrual cycle. Now, they’re mostly triggered by the weather. Migraines run in my family, from my great-grandmother to my grandmother, to my mom, and now to me. My daughter has inherited them as well, and both my brother and sister suffer from migraines, passing them down to their children.

Hope through treatment options

I’m grateful that there are now more treatment options available for migraines. It gives me hope that one day, I might find lasting relief from these debilitating headaches.