Living with migraine can feel lonely and isolating. Sometimes, people make it worse by saying something insensitive or unkind.
Other times, people surprise you by saying the words you most need to hear â words that validate your feelings, acknowledge your pain and uplift your heart. True friends to people with migraine might say things likeâŚ
âThank you for being here.â
People donât always understand that living with migraine requires taking risks and making sacrifices. If you agree to join your friendâs birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant, that may mean breaking your migraine-prevention diet. If you show up at your nephewâs fourth birthday party, you know the screaming and bright sunlight might trigger a migraine attack. When a loved one recognizes the effort youâre making to be with them, itâs appreciated.
âDonât worry if you have to cancel. Iâll miss you, but I totally understand.â
This is one of the best things you can hear when you have migraine. Itâs already tough to have to miss important events and occasions because of a migraine attack: kidsâ sports and performances, family gatherings and weddings, even just ordinary evenings with friends. Add to that the burden of guilt some people place on you:
- âAre you sure you canât make it?â
- âCanât you try to come just for an hour?â
- âThe birthday girl will be so disappointed.â
Thatâs why itâs wonderful to have friends who acknowledge ahead of time that you may not be able to attend an event. Itâs reassuring to know that your presence matters to them, but they wonât be mad if youâre forced to cancel.
âI know youâre doing everything you can.â
If youâve lived with migraine for a while, youâve heard dozens of well-meaning people say, âHave you tried this? Or this?â You know theyâre just trying to help, but you want to scream: âI live with horrendous pain! Donât you think Iâve tried everything?â
When a friend acknowledges the hard work youâre doing to manage migraine, thatâs a welcome affirmation. Theyâre not trying to fix you. Theyâre telling you that they see you. It can be nice, however, to have someone ask, âHowâs your new migraine treatment working?â This signals that theyâre paying attention when you share details about your migraine
âHow are you really feeling?â
When you live with migraine, you learn how to fake feeling well. Some of us are really good at it! Even if youâre feeling queasy, dizzy, exhausted or foggy from medication, you try to act normal in social or work situations. Sometimes, you really donât want anyone to know how bad youâre feeling. But other times, you wish someone would notice â and good friends do.
When someone who cares about you perceives that youâre trying to hide the pain, tell them the truth. Admit that you feel terrible, but youâre doing your best. If your friend offers to take you home, or suggests you lie down in a guest bedroom, itâs OK to accept the offer.
âWhat does migraine feel like for you?â
Obviously, this is not a welcome question when youâre in the middle of a migraine attack. But at other times, this can be the beginning of a positive and supportive conversation. It means your loved one recognizes that migraine symptoms are individualized, and that your experience may differ from what theyâve read about the disorder. It means theyâre taking your migraine seriously, instead of dismissing it as something you can get past or get over.
âLet me grab your meds/CEFALY/ice pack for you.â
Good friends ask, âWhat can I do to help?â Great friends have learned what you need when a migraine attack strikes. They know to look for your rescue medication in your bag. Theyâll bring you your CEFALY DUAL so you can use the ACUTE program as soon as symptoms begin. Theyâll even run out to the nearest drive-thru to get you a vanilla milkshake, iced tea or anything that helps.
The next best thing to hear when you have a migraine is, âWhat can I do to make this better?â People who truly care about you hate feeling helpless when youâre in pain. Telling them what you need, and accepting help from them, doesnât make you weak or dependent. It deepens your relationship and means youâll have support when you need it.
Did you know that CEFALY is now available over the counter, without a prescription? Try it risk-free for 60 days to begin seeing the benefits of this innovative, drug-free, clinically proven migraine treatment.