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Why I'm going to take it easy today (and why you should, too)

Hello.

This is my first forum post, it's nice to meet you. I haven't been lurking for too long, you guys sort of drew me in right away.

I have a bad migraine. I woke up early this morning with a bad migraine, the kind where you know you aren't going to be able to go back to sleep, and you just get up. I've been wandering around being a migraine zombie since then, dividing my attention between addressing my symptoms (finding some gloves and warm socks, getting the ice and the meds, wondering why I didn't buy thicker curtains, writing off my work day as gone) and trying to kick-start some sort of productive morning routine so that at least SOMETHING has been done for the rest of the household.

Here's my point. I feel like warmed-over dog poo, and I'm sure a lot of you do, too, and we all deserve to take a freaking morning to ourselves, or an hour to ourselves, or five minutes to ourselves, to do something to find some modicum of peace and relief. Please bear in mind, I'm writing this mostly out of the need to convince myself to just set everything else down and take care of myself. For heaven's sake. PLEASE.

Also, I'd assume that if I have this much trouble remembering to go easy on myself during a migraine, the rest of you could perhaps use a reminder, too. So seriously, stop pushing yourself so hard and take five. Yes, you.

I've had headaches and a lot of discomfort with light and sound and other triggers since I was a kid, and the older I get, the less I feel inclined to wait to take care of my migraines. However, what I can't seem to curb is my inclination to just keep doing other things, rather than just resting, even when it's far beyond the point where I really should be. I'll take my meds and drink a bunch of water, and put on a snug-fitting hat with an ice pack, then get caught up cleaning the kitchen and putting away clutter, then before I know it I'm not being productive, I'm just zombie-ing around being miserable.

So today, I'm going to do some very gentle yoga, drink some ginger tea, hang out in my blissfully dark bedroom and take care of myself. I sincerely hope that anyone reading this takes the next opportunity they get to show compassion for themselves. Why? Because people with migraines are strong, hard, motivated workers in need of a break. Also, because our loved ones genuinely want us to feel better. So, taking good, or even great care of ourselves when we don't feel well is a win-win. What better time to put that into action than early on a Friday, so you can have a great weekend?

Much love. Nice to meet you, forum folks. I hope you feel better later than you do right now.

  1. Hi c4328,

    Welcome - we're so happy you are here! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. You've described what many of us with migraine and other chronic conditions go through on a daily basis. It's important to be kind to ourselves, something I think many of us forget, I know I do.

    Many of us simply adapt to being in pain and push through life, forgetting the consequences. Your gentle reminder was wonderful!

    We look forward to hearing more from you,
    Nancy

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