For people who have never experienced migraines, it is easy to look at someone else and say things like, "Oh, it'll pass" or "Just take some tylenol". A migraine is a headache on steroids that decides to hit you on the head with a hammer just because it feels like it. The problem with migraines is that for the majority of people who experience them, taking any kind of pain reliever is just like putting a bandaid on a cut artery.

I've dealt with migraines for years now and as a college student I can easily say that it is the one huge factor in my life that holds me back from my full potential. Whether it be in academics, such as being able to read for extended amounts of time or sitting down and writing a paper for hours, to going out with friends late at night after a long day. When you get hit with a migraine, it feels like you have been hit by a semi. All of a sudden you are forced to stop whatever you are doing because the pain can be overwhelming and all you want to do is lay down in a dark room. Having this happen in the middle of work, class, or hanging out with friends can be a huge setback and extremely frustrating.

For people with migraines, you'll find yourself saying the same few phrases all of the time. Usually they look somewhat like these: "My head hurts", "Can you turn the volume down?", "I'm sorry, I can't make it out tonight", "I'm going to bed", or "Please, can you speak more quietly". Sometimes you can feel like a broken record and sometimes even helpless.

Remember that taking care of yourself is the number one priority. You are only able to properly help others once you have taken care of yourself. If you are reading this and haven't had to experience migraines but know someone who unfortunately does, please don't get on them when they need to leave a party or go to bed early because they have a migraine, they aren't able to control it.