I remember the first time I had an encounter with a migraine. I was 16 years old and in the passenger seat of my dad’s car on the way home from school. At first, I thought I had looked into the sun or a light reflecting off of the car in front of ours too long. My eyes had suddenly developed that weird fuzzy light spot that happens when we look into a lightbulb or sunlight. Only it didn’t go away. It got worse.
Then, as if with a snap my vision returned and the headache came on full blast. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. I remember crawling into bed and putting my head under the pillow to try to block out light because, all of a sudden, I had light sensitivity and it was causing the migraine to hit searing levels of pain.
I didn’t tell my parents what was going on because we didn’t have health insurance, and I didn’t want them to worry. I lay in bed and prayed over and over again until eventually, and luckily, it went away after a few hours. The pain decreased significantly, but it left my head feeling heavy. I convinced myself I had some malignant brain condition, and then as most teens will do, brushed it off and went on with my evening.
I continued having migraines a handful of times a year without knowing what was going on and just enduring them until I got to college. My sophomore year at the University of Portland, I landed a part-time job in the financial aid office and one day in passing, the receptionist I worked with described what I learned in that moment was a migraine with aura. She had been cursed with them too. She told me to take Ibuprofen with coffee at the onset and that that would help mitigate the pain, and she was right.
She and I were the of the luckier migraine suffering variety. Ours were manageable and sporadic. I know some people suffer from them often and so intensely that it’s crippling. I do, however, remember having one hit while I was driving on the Terwilliger Curves in Portland during a rainstorm with my two babies in the backseat. At the onset I got the squiggly auras in my eyes that grew to completely covering my peripheral vision. I could only see through little tunnels and the Terwilliger Curves are a white knuckle drive on the best of days. I was terrified. I couldn’t pull off (no shoulder or exits anywhere near) and all I could do was grip the steering wheel and pray that the auras would disappear. This would mean that the headache portion would start but at least I’d be able to see again.
I don’t wish migraines on anyone.
Over the years, my battle with migraines has lessened (knock on wood) but once in a while they still sneak up on me. Stress or a weakened immune system tend to be the culprits although I do know hormonal imbalances can also bring them on. The Cleveland Clinic points out that migraines are a neurological disorder. This is something we are simply not taught about as sufferers which is crazy because it’s estimated that at least 12% of Americans deal with migraines.
Migraines also come in what we can call a variety pack of pain. There are 8 common types of migraines, some include the visual aura, some don’t, but they are all debilitating. Women tend to suffer from them more than men (because, thank you hormones), and they tend to hit between the ages of 15 and 55. Most treatment offered for migraines are pharmaceutical although I really wish lifestyle changes would also be addressed by doctors. Reducing stress by practicing things like mindfulness, meditation, getting proper amounts of sleep, and increasing activity levels is key. Learning how to keep hormones balanced especially during puberty and peri-menopause/menopause are also crucial which can be done with bio identical hormone replacement, diet, and once again, exercise.
There are also natural remedies that include herbs like peppermint, frankincense, spearmint, lavender, and ginger that work wonders for headaches of all kinds when applied topically as they help soothe and relax your body, support your nervous system, and calm your mind.
Oral supplements like feverfew, which has been proven to relieve the severity of migraines, and magnesium for overall relaxation add even more relief. All of these things help support your body to better handle a migraine by reducing the intensity. In some cases, if used early enough, can nip a migraine in the bud before the pain hits.
I, personally, like using as many natural remedies as possible so I keep some Ibuprofen on hand if needed, but turn to Migrastil products if I feel the slightest twinge of an oncoming migraine. Migrastil offers a Soothing Neck and Shoulder Rub, a Nausea Stick, and a Migraine Roll On Stick all made with pure lavender, spearmint, peppermint, and ginger to support and soothe at the onset of a migraine. They also have a great Nutritional Supplement Capsules with magnesium, taurine and feverfew to help prevent migraines and encourage normal neurological and blood vessel function. It’s my go-to for relief in case these monster headaches decide to barge into my day.
I wish I had this stuff when I was a teenager…but better late than never! If you suffer from migraines or know someone who does, Migrastil is a great addition to a care package or your medicine cabinet. Natural relief with no side-effects is always the best. Aside from that, I would recommend taking one small daily step towards stress reduction and healthier lifestyle choices (not always easy….I know!) but all of that combined can and will lessen the frequency and severity and if you know how bad these things can get, then you know it’s worth trying anything to keep them away!
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Wishing you happy, pain-free days!
**As an affiliate, I make a small portion of every sale made via links in my blog. I do not make commission from any sale made via Migrastil, although I have been offered product for personal use and review.
header photo by Carolina Heza @unsplash
