More Than Just A Headache: Battling Migraine Stigma

Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from migraines, a condition characterized by crushing pain, often on one side of the head, that is often coupled with nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and sometimes even visual disturbances (known as aura). A single attack can take anywhere from six to 48 hours to run its course. This very specific type of headache often runs in families and is typically brought on by a variety of “triggers,” which commonly include physical or emotional stress, changes in sleep patterns, certain odors and bright lights, among many others.

But for a neurological condition as common as migraines, many people still doubt that it's a real condition. One recent study found that people with chronic migraines report feeling more rejected and ridiculed by friends, employers and even family members than patients with other types of neurological troubles, such as stroke, Parkinson’s or Lou Gehrig’s disease. “The stigma can reach deep into migraineurs' personal lives,” reported U.S. News And World Report when the study first came out. “Many people with migraine experienced ‘separation, exclusion and rejection in their relationships with family and friends when their condition prevented them from fully engaging in family and social events,’ the study found.”

In fact, the stigma is so widespread that some medical experts weren’t even surprised by the study, which was the first to look at how people with migraines are perceived by others.

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