I've suffered from migraines for as long as I can remember. They're not fun, and I would never wish them on my worst enemy. I have a high pain tolerance, but most of the time it takes everything in me to deal with them. They run in my family; and, while they affect people differently, we all wish we didn't suffer from migraines. When I do have a migraine, I don't let it interfere with what I have scheduled, but you can be sure that I'll take a nap whenever possible. With that said, here's 17 Things Only People That Suffer From Migraines Understand:
1. You wish you could quite literally remove your head.
This sounds completely insane; however, when your entire head or even a portion of it is throbbing it's all you can think about.
2. The smell of perfume drives you insane.
Perfume is OK when you don't have a migraine, but when you do, the smell is magnified by at least ten degrees. And, it's torture.
3. You feel as though your brain has something against you.
It feels as though your brain is trying to claw its way out. Yes, it's as painful as it sounds.
4. You wouldn't think twice before taking a hammer to your own head.
Just like wanting to remove your head, taking a hammer to your head seems like a viable option.
5. Taking Tylenol barely cuts through the pain.
To get Tylenol to even work in the slightest, you have to take like three. Sometimes, that doesn't even help.
6. People automatically assume that if you "look" OK, then you're not in pain.
Pain isn't visible. Looking OK doesn't mean you're OK.
7. Just like perfume, the sun can be too loud.
The sun can be blinding, especially when you have a migraine. Light sensitivity is a real thing.
8. Sometimes, it seems like nothing will work.
For migraine sufferers, even the best of the best medicine doesn't work. You just have to suffer. It sucks.
9. Research becomes a common habit.
When you have migraines, you research them. Really, you do. And you do it so much, that you feel like you know more than your doctor.
10. People assume you have a headache.
Trust me when I say I know the difference between a migraine and a headache. If I say I have a migraine, then I most definitely have a migraine.
11. Migraines will ruin your day.
If I have a migraine, I only go about my normal routine because I have to. I don't have a choice.
12. You're a pro at acting like everything is OK.
Even if everything isn't OK and you're in a ton of pain, you do your best to not let other people know.
13. You feel like your brain is having a party.
You didn't invite pain to the party, but your brain did.
14. Migraines almost always put you in a terrible mood.
Really, though. Approach with caution. There's no telling what kind of mood I'll be in.
15. Everything seems foggy.
You can't comprehend even the simplest of things with a migraine.
16. Migraines can last longer than a day.
Your migraines are likely to last more than a day, and there's almost nothing you can do about it.
17. Migraine hangovers are a real and awful thing.
When this happens, I call it a migraine hangover. It feels gone, but there's still pressure. If you get excited that it's gone, it's likely to come back.
This goes out to all of my fellow migraine sufferers! I feel your pain-- literally.
