{"id":7878,"date":"2023-10-03T17:09:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T10:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7878"},"modified":"2023-10-03T17:09:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T10:09:17","slug":"how-i-fell-into-the-trap-of-self-gaslighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7878","title":{"rendered":"How I Fell Into the Trap of Self-Gaslighting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"post-share hidden md:flex justify-center relative bg-transparent text-justify bottom-0 md:bottom-auto left-[20px] right-0 md:right-auto z-10\" data-module-init=\"post-share\">\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fmigraine-denial%2F\" data-vars-event=\"Facebook\" data-vars-info=\"\/migraine-denial\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-facebook\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on facebook<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=It%E2%80%99s%20All%20in%20Your%20Head%3A%20How%20I%20Fell%20Into%20the%20Common%20Trap%20of%20Self-Gaslighting%20as%20a%20Lifelong%20Migraine%20Sufferer%20via%20%40iamwellandgood&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fmigraine-denial%2F\" data-vars-event=\"Twitter\" data-vars-info=\"\/migraine-denial\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-twitter\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on twitter<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/link\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fmigraine-denial%2F&amp;description=It%E2%80%99s%20All%20in%20Your%20Head%3A%20How%20I%20Fell%20Into%20the%20Common%20Trap%20of%20Self-Gaslighting%20as%20a%20Lifelong%20Migraine%20Sufferer&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F09%2FWG_MindsIssue_Editorial_Its-All-in-Your-Head-How-I-Fell-Into-the-Common-Trap-of-Self-Gaslighting-as-a-Lifelong-Migraine-Sufferer_FullBleed1-620x215.png\" data-vars-event=\"Pinterest\" data-vars-info=\"\/migraine-denial\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-pinterest-p\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on pinterest<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" href=\"mailto:?subject=It%E2%80%99s%20All%20in%20Your%20Head%3A%20How%20I%20Fell%20Into%20the%20Common%20Trap%20of%20Self-Gaslighting%20as%20a%20Lifelong%20Migraine%20Sufferer&amp;body=Denying%20my%20own%20pain%20became%20a%20coping%20mechanism%20for%20a%20condition%20both%20invisible%20and%20misunderstood%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fmigraine-denial%2F\" data-vars-event=\"Email\" data-vars-info=\"\/migraine-denial\/\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-paper-plane\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on email<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/aside>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin premium-text-big\" style=\"\"> Denying my own pain became a coping mechanism for a condition both invisible and misunderstood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> I knew the generic name for Advil (ibuprofen), its differences from over-the-counter compatriot Tylenol (acetaminophen), and the right dosage for minor discomfort (one capsule) or major and unrelenting pain (two or perhaps even three capsules) well before I hit puberty. The reason? I\u2019ve had frequent migraines for practically as long as I can remember. And my dad\u2014a doctor who\u2019s also battled migraines since he was a kid\u2014had taught me at a young age to pop the ibuprofen immediately upon migraine onset to ensure the medication worked effectively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> But before you pity me, you should also know that I was absolutely<em> fine. <\/em>Or at least, that\u2019s what I would\u2019ve told you back then. Headaches just weren\u2019t that big of a deal; it seemed like everyone got them at some point. Sure, my headaches weren\u2019t <em>just<\/em> headaches, as they often left me bedridden\u2026 and nauseated (okay, maybe vomiting) and sensitive to light and sound. And yes, I\u2019d had to miss the occasional day of school or dance class, and in later years, trips to the mall and nights out, because of unshakeable pain. But if I took my trusty Advil\u2014which I went nowhere without\u2014I\u2019d usually be okay within an hour or so, save for the rare instances when nothing but an ice pack and hours in a fetal position would bring relief.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Even so, I felt reassured by the fact that my dad had always treated his migraines with Advil, and as a physician, suggested nothing different for me. His comments also quelled my fears that my symptoms might be anything worrisome; if I could squash the pain with mere Advil, surely it couldn\u2019t be a <em>brain tumor<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"min-h-[400px] my-[40px] md:my-[72px] py-5 w-full flex flex-col justify-center\" data-type=\"acf\/premium-article-media-grid\">\n<div class=\"block-wide\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col ml:flex-row justify-center ml:gap-[34px] xl:gap-[53px]\">\n<div class=\"mb-[16px] md:mb-[40px] w-full flex flex-col gap-[17px] md:gap-[30px] lg:gap-[38px] xl:gap-[66px]\">\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col w-full h-auto m-0 max-h-[600x]\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative\" style=\"height: 100%\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image3_1062x848_true_75.webp 1062w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image3_1274x1018_true_75.webp 1274w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image3_1062x848_true_75.webp 1062w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image3_1274x1018_true_75.webp 1274w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image3_1062x848_true_75.webp 1062w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image3_1274x1018_true_75.webp 1274w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 1062px,  (max-width:768px) 1062px,  1062px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div><figcaption class=\"text-gray-light text-[13px] leading-[20px]\"> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-wg-quote block-thin flex flex-col\">\n<p class=\"quote-quote text-quote\"> &#8220;I\u2019d been dismissing my own migraines for years, an act of self-gaslighting that\u2019s common among those in the chronic migraine community.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"quote-credit hidden md:block font-serif text-[19px] italic opacity-60\">-Erica Sloan<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<figure class=\"w-full h-full m-0 max-h-[600x]\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative\" style=\"height: 100%\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image4_848x1062_true_75.webp 848w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image4_1018x1274_true_75.webp 1018w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image4_848x1062_true_75.webp 848w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image4_1018x1274_true_75.webp 1018w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image4_848x1062_true_75.webp 848w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image4_1018x1274_true_75.webp 1018w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 848px,  (max-width:768px) 848px,  848px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div><figcaption class=\"text-gray-light text-[13px] leading-[20px]\"> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> But it\u2019s also worth noting that until the <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0333102416629237\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0333102416629237\">class of medications known as triptans were released in the U.S. in 1993<\/a>, there <em>were<\/em> no specific anti-migraine treatments\u2014meaning my dad had just learned to cope with the medication that was available to him most of his life. Whereas, in my lifetime, a whole host of prescription migraine therapies have hit the market. And in suggesting I just do as he did, my dad was not only dismissing years of medical innovation, but also minimizing the severity of my symptoms (albeit inadvertently). \u201cI can see how recommending an over-the-counter drug that is widely viewed as innocuous could make it seem like migraine is an insignificant thing, and how that might cause you to delay care,\u201d he now tells me.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Indeed, as an adolescent, I internalized the narrative that my migraines just weren\u2019t worth addressing. To see a neurologist would risk receiving an official diagnosis (of migraine, or otherwise), and my still-developing brain couldn&#8217;t conceive of anything worse than being officially \u201csick.\u201d So, I avoided making an appointment, citing time or money, even as my attacks became more frequent and severe in college and beyond. I even flat-out ignored my dad\u2019s suggestion to see a specialist after he learned that I was taking a three-pill dose of Advil on a regular basis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Then, two things happened that changed my relationship with my migraines: First, I moved in with my partner during the pandemic lockdown, and as we spent nearly every waking hour together, he bore witness to my regular migraine attacks, pointing out that I seemed to have one nearly every other day. Then, soon after, I developed stomach pain from eating, which I would later learn from a gastroenterologist was a symptom of an ulcer likely triggered by my regular Advil habit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> It took the concern of a partner who\u2019d become a sounding board for my nonchalant (if frequent) complaints, and the development of a separate medical condition for me to come to terms with a startling reality: I\u2019d been dismissing my own migraines for years, an act of self-gaslighting that\u2019s common among those in the chronic migraine community.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"next-core\/heading core-heading text-h2 block-thin\" style=\"\"> Why I denied and invalidated the existence of my own migraines for so long<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> The nebulous manifestation of chronic migraine\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> The physical location of migraine pain can make it easy to wonder if the pain might just be all, well, <em>in your head<\/em>\u2014something of your own brain\u2019s creation, and thus, something you should be able to handle just as readily. Making it even easier to dismiss is the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/so-much-more-headache\/202010\/why-does-migraine-remain-so-invisible\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/so-much-more-headache\/202010\/why-does-migraine-remain-so-invisible\">migraine is an invisible illness<\/a>, meaning it has no symptoms that others can see.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Even the way neurologists make a diagnosis can make this disorder feel murky: \u201cIt\u2019s a clinical diagnosis, meaning we will make the call based on what the patient tells us about their symptoms,\u201d says neurologist <a href=\"https:\/\/weillcornell.org\/alina-masters-israilov-md?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/weillcornell.org\/alina-masters-israilov-md?\">Alina Masters-Israelov, MD<\/a>, who diagnosed me with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/chronic-migraine-treatment\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/chronic-migraine-treatment\/\">chronic migraine<\/a> (a condition characterized by having 15 or more migraine days per month) when I finally sought medical care last year. \u201cWe may do imaging to rule out other causes for headaches, but there isn\u2019t a migraine test.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"premium-article-quote block-thin flex flex-col relative justify-center text-center mt-[37px] mb-[30px]\" data-type=\"acf\/premium-article-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-wg-quote block-thin flex flex-col\">\n<p class=\"quote-quote text-quote\">&#8220;We may do imaging to rule out other causes for headaches, but there isn&#8217;t a migraine test.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"quote-credit block font-serif text-[19px] italic opacity-60\">Alina Masters-Israelov, MD<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> The fact that there\u2019s no blood test or scan to show the presence of migraine conjures the adage of the tree falling in a forest: If a migraine happens, and no one\u2014not even a doctor\u2014has any way of observing it, did it really happen? Given that your own account is the only proof, it can feel easier to dismiss rather than acknowledge the condition in the interest of charging ahead with life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> That\u2019s especially true when you consider all the ways in which migraine symptoms can encroach on your life, even outside of the days when you\u2019re having an attack. Beyond the main headache phase, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/interictal-migraine-phase\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/interictal-migraine-phase\">migraine has a prodrome (or preictal) phase<\/a>, which can cause light sensitivity and sensory disturbances (aura) for up to 48 hours beforehand, as well as a postdrome (or postictal) phase, also called a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/news\/postdrome-the-migraine-hangover\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/news\/postdrome-the-migraine-hangover\/\">migraine hangover<\/a>,\u201d which can include achiness, tiredness, mood changes, and brain fog for up to 24 hours afterward. And even in the gaps of time between these manifestations of migraine, called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9669578\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9669578\/\">interictal phase<\/a>, it\u2019s possible to experience <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmigrainefoundation.org\/resource-library\/migraine-symptoms-between-attacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/americanmigrainefoundation.org\/resource-library\/migraine-symptoms-between-attacks\/\">less-obvious symptoms associated with migraine<\/a>, like anxiety, stomach discomfort, and fatigue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cIn between attacks, you may not feel fully normal,\u201d says neurologist <a href=\"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/doctors\/ira-turner-14640\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/doctors\/ira-turner-14640\">Ira Turner, MD<\/a>, board member at the <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmigrainefoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/americanmigrainefoundation.org\/\">American Migraine Foundation<\/a>. \u201cFor example, you may have a mild fogginess or even a dull feeling in your head for hours or days before an attack, but it\u2019s so much better than when you\u2019re in the midst<em> <\/em>of an attack, so there\u2019s a tendency to <em>downplay<\/em> those symptoms.\u201d To acknowledge them would require accepting that migraine is an even bigger burden on your life\u2014that it\u2019s affecting you outside of your attacks in a way that feels especially insidious.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> The negative connotations and societal perceptions of migraine<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8075356\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8075356\/\">Migraine itself is a genetic disorder<\/a>, and the stories we associate with migraine are also passed down. \u201cThe generational patterns that happen around migraine affect our own sense of how we should or shouldn\u2019t cope,\u201d says clinical psychologist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.finder.bupa.co.uk\/Consultant\/view\/285285\/dr_sophie_white\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.finder.bupa.co.uk\/Consultant\/view\/285285\/dr_sophie_white\">Sophie White, DClinPsych<\/a>, whose work focuses on <a href=\"https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/news\/the-role-of-a-psychologist-in-migraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/news\/the-role-of-a-psychologist-in-migraine\/\">psychological interventions for headache conditions<\/a>. \u201cIf the story you learned at a young age is, \u2018I should be able to deal with migraine because my dad dealt with it for years,\u2019 then that could lead you to ignore symptoms.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Certainly, my dad\u2019s intentions weren\u2019t to invalidate my pain so much as to assuage my medical fears. \u201cI didn\u2019t want you to be worried about anything potentially life-threatening,\u201d he says, noting that he didn\u2019t suggest a neurologist consultation sooner because he was relatively sure I didn\u2019t have a brain tumor or the like, given my lack of any other neurological symptoms. What he didn\u2019t mean to imply was that I shouldn\u2019t worry <em>at all<\/em> about something affecting my quality of life, he says. And yet, his unconcerned response led me to largely disregard my experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> It doesn\u2019t help that because migraine is such a vaguely understood condition among the general public, plenty of people have no way of knowing how to respond to someone\u2019s declaration of having a migraine, says Dr. White. \u201cIn the face of struggle in such an uncertain situation, we often try to cling to the practical,\u201d she says, \u201cwhich is one reason why people might commonly say things like, \u2018Do you just need a glass of water?\u2019 or \u2018Why don\u2019t you just lie down for a bit?\u2019\u201d Though these kinds of concerns are typically expressed with an intent to help, they can have the effect of minimizing migraine symptoms and making the person having the migraine feel as if maybe they\u2019re just overreacting.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> After all, no one can really know what anybody else\u2019s pain feels like\u2014which makes it easy for people who get occasional headaches to compare migraine pain to their own experiences, says clinical psychologist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yu.edu\/faculty\/pages\/seng-elizabeth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.yu.edu\/faculty\/pages\/seng-elizabeth\">Elizabeth Seng, PhD<\/a>, whose research is focused on improving management of chronic migraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cYou might say, \u2018Gosh, I have this terrible headache,\u2019 and a friend might say, \u2018Oh, me too,\u2019 to which you say, \u2018Mine is a migraine,\u2019 and they reply, \u2018Oh, I know, me too,\u2019\u201d says Dr. Seng. \u201cThe problem is that the word \u2018migraine\u2019 has been co-opted by the broader culture to just mean a really bad headache.\u201d And if everyone gets bad headaches on occasion, suddenly migraine isn\u2019t a valid condition so much as merely a common inconvenience.<\/p>\n<div class=\"premium-article-quote block-thin flex flex-col relative justify-center text-center mt-[37px] mb-[30px]\" data-type=\"acf\/premium-article-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-wg-quote block-thin flex flex-col\">\n<p class=\"quote-quote text-quote\">&#8220;The problem is that the word &#8216;migraine&#8217; has been co-opted by the broader culture to just mean a really bad headache.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"quote-credit block font-serif text-[19px] italic opacity-60\">Elizabeth Seng, PhD<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> When you realize that folks who don\u2019t get migraines may not be able to grasp what you\u2019re going through, it\u2019s easy to start doubting your own reality\u2014aka <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stop-self-gaslighting\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stop-self-gaslighting\/\">self-gaslighting<\/a>. \u201cYou might internalize what other people say and start to think that maybe there\u2019s something wrong with <em>you<\/em>,\u201d says Dr. Masters-Israelov. \u201cThe thought process is that maybe you <em>do<\/em> just need to fight through it a bit more and learn to get through the day, if that\u2019s what others expect of you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Especially in the context of a society that prizes hustling, productivity, and reliability, having to manage migraine symptoms\u2014and take a break to do so\u2014can come at a significant reputational cost. \u201cWhen you\u2019re struggling with this disease that is unpredictable and difficult to control, there are repercussions for what we call role responsibilities, or your ability to engage as an employee, as a parent, as a partner, as a friend, as a member of society,\u201d says Dr. Seng. \u201cThat dynamic has <a href=\"https:\/\/americanmigrainefoundation.org\/resource-library\/the-true-pain-of-migraine-misconceptions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/americanmigrainefoundation.org\/resource-library\/the-true-pain-of-migraine-misconceptions\/\">turned migraine into a stigmatized disease<\/a> and created a stereotype that people with migraine are flaky and don\u2019t care to follow through with their responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> It\u2019s only natural to want to avoid being labeled as such\u2014particularly for a Type A overachiever like me, whose worth as a person is tied in large part to their output and professional success. In turn, it\u2019s common for people with migraine to \u201cfool ourselves into believing that we can still function through these attacks or even in between the attacks, when we know, deep-down, that we\u2019re not firing on all cylinders,\u201d says Dr. Turner. \u201cYou tell yourself you can manage because you don\u2019t want people to think that you\u2019re just trying to avoid work or family or social obligations.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"premium-article-media-columns block-wide min-h-[400px] py-5 w-full flex flex-col justify-center font-serif mt-[58px] mb-[40px]\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col md:flex-row w-full gap-[18px] md:gap-[37px] lg:gap-[48px] xl:gap-[54px] md:items-end\">\n<figure class=\"w-full md:w-1\/2 m-0\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative\" style=\"padding-bottom: 146.33027522936%;\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image1_872x1276_true_75.webp 872w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image1_1046x1531_true_75.webp 1046w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image1_872x1276_true_75.webp 872w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image1_1046x1531_true_75.webp 1046w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image1_872x1276_true_75.webp 872w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image1_1046x1531_true_75.webp 1046w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 872px,  (max-width:768px) 872px,  872px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy !absolute\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div><figcaption class=\"text-center text-gray-light text-[13px] leading-[20px]\"> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"w-full md:w-1\/2 m-0\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative\" style=\"padding-bottom: 146.33027522936%;\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image2_872x1276_true_75.webp 872w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image2_1046x1531_true_75.webp 1046w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image2_872x1276_true_75.webp 872w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image2_1046x1531_true_75.webp 1046w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image2_872x1276_true_75.webp 872w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SelfGaslightingMigraineArticle_Insets_image2_1046x1531_true_75.webp 1046w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 872px,  (max-width:768px) 872px,  872px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy !absolute\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div><figcaption class=\"text-center text-gray-light text-[13px] leading-[20px]\"> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> The role of lifestyle triggers in the pathology of migraine<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Even if you accept that chronic migraine pain is real, it\u2019s hard to avoid feeling ashamed of the potential part<em> you<\/em> may be playing in triggering it. That\u2019s because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/laneur\/article\/PIIS1474-4422(22)00211-3\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/laneur\/article\/PIIS1474-4422(22)00211-3\/fulltext\">lifestyle factors<\/a> like getting consistent sleep, staying hydrated, eating on a regular schedule, and avoiding dietary triggers like alcohol and chocolate <em>have<\/em> been shown to play a significant role in the pathology of migraine. It\u2019s \u201cwhy we often <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/prevent-migraine-attacks\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/prevent-migraine-attacks\/\">stress lifestyle modifications in treatment<\/a>,\u201d says Dr. Masters-Israelov.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Even so, these lifestyle behaviors comprise just one part of the story when it comes to migraine onset. Migraine is a neurological disorder, and the brain of a person with migraine is more susceptible to <em>all kinds<\/em> of environmental changes than that of a person without migraine (more on that below). So, the idea of a patient being able to fully control their migraines or diminish their frequency by simply changing certain behaviors is false, says Dr. Seng. Strengthening that misconception is \u201cthe fact that for a lot of people, other headaches do come around fairly controllable events, like drinking alcohol and getting hungover, or skipping your usual morning coffee,\u201d she adds. That just makes it easier for people with migraines to blame <em>themselves<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> To make matters worse, shouldering the blame for your own migraines is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5327496\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5327496\/\">associated with higher levels of disability <em>and<\/em> higher depressive symptoms<\/a>, according to Dr. Seng\u2019s research. Meaning, it\u2019s not just inaccurate to believe you cause your own migraines; it\u2019s dangerous and unhealthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> But because I\u2019d heard from my dad about the role of lifestyle behaviors in managing migraine from a young age, I internalized the idea that even a true migraine diagnosis should be something I was able to control. According to Dr. White, this is common for people who have an \u201cinternal locus of control,\u201d or who subscribe to the general ideology that if you work hard at something, you\u2019ll get a good outcome. In this mindset, every attack became a poignant reminder of my personal failure to control my condition\u2014and to acknowledge the reality of my pain would be to admit defeat. <em>Anything<\/em> (yes, even full-blown denial) was preferable to that.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h2 block-thin\" style=\"\"> How I\u2019m learning to take my own migraine pain seriously<\/h2>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> I probably wouldn\u2019t have ever seen a neurologist of my own accord. Outside factors\u2014my partner\u2019s insistence, and perhaps more pressingly, the mandate from my gastroenterologist that I stop taking Advil on account of my ulcer\u2014pushed me there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> But once I met with Dr. Masters-Israelov, my perspective changed massively. My symptoms, she said, were indicative of chronic migraine. They weren\u2019t something I could ever be expected to fully manage or control myself. And as I\u2019d come to learn, there were plenty of medications on the market approved specifically for this neurological disorder\u2014which, to be clear, was what I had.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cNeurological disorder\u201d were the words that really stuck. I hadn\u2019t conceptualized my migraines as a disorder of any sort, much less a brain condition. But that\u2019s exactly how migraine is understood in the medical literature, Dr. Masters-Israelov told me. \u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3858400\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3858400\/\">trigeminovascular system of the brain is thought to be more sensitive<\/a> in people with migraine, meaning that the neurons fire more and more often, causing the attacks,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> While, yes, that part of the brain may overreact to certain lifestyle behaviors in folks with migraine, it\u2019s also just more susceptible to plenty of other environmental shifts, as noted above. \u201cThings like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/migraine-and-period\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/migraine-and-period\/\">hormone changes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/migraine-triggers-weather\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/migraine-triggers-weather\/\">weather changes<\/a>, the need to travel, or having a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/list-of-migraine-triggers\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/list-of-migraine-triggers\/\">stressful day at work<\/a> can play a role and aren\u2019t controllable,\u201d says Dr. Masters-Israelov. While I\u2019d also learned about these potential out-of-my-control triggers from my dad, I\u2019d largely brushed them off as cop-outs until hearing them straight from the mouth of a neurologist who specializes in migraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Still, I\u2019ve battled my own internal resistance to Dr. Masters-Israelov\u2019s management plan. When she first suggested I track my migraines to spot any patterns, I found myself regularly convincing myself out of recording them (\u201cThat was probably just a headache!\u201d) so as not to reify their existence. When she first prescribed me a drug to treat my migraine pain as it\u2019s happening, I regularly opted not to take it, telling myself, instead, that if I just rested my eyes for a bit, the pain would \u201cgo away.\u201d (It almost never did.) And when she initially prescribed me a daily preventative drug, I pushed for the lowest possible dose. To take medication that came from a doctor still felt like evidence of my own personal failure to solve this condition myself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> In learning more about migraine, though, I\u2019ve come to realize how much of a misperception that is. One key reason? Recent research points to the fact that certain things long regarded as migraine triggers may not always function as true triggers that we can control at all; instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8068686\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8068686\/\">they may reflect early <em>symptoms<\/em> of a migraine already in progress<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Take <a href=\"https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/news\/chocolate-and-migraine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/migrainetrust.org\/news\/chocolate-and-migraine\/\">chocolate as an example<\/a>. \u201cPatients have often told me they\u2019ll get an uncontrollable urge to eat chocolate, and then upon doing so, they\u2019ll get a migraine\u2014but what we\u2019re learning is that the craving for chocolate may be evidence that they\u2019re<em> already <\/em>in the prodrome phase of a migraine,\u201d says Dr. Turner, \u201cand they\u2019ll actually get the headache whether they eat the chocolate <em>or not.<\/em>\u201d That\u2019s to say, we may be placing more blame on lifestyle triggers than is really warranted, he says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Evidence like this has helped me to understand that accepting a migraine diagnosis isn\u2019t reflective of some personal inability to do or avoid certain behaviors, nor is it overreacting to a small inconvenience. And the way my migraine attacks have majorly decreased since seeking professional care has shown me the power of listening and responding to your own pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> In recent months, I\u2019ve learned to embrace Dr. Masters-Israelov\u2019s treatment plan: Now, when I feel the earliest twinge of migraine pain, I take my prescribed dose of sumatriptan (when it\u2019s likely to be most effective), and every time the drug clears my symptoms, I feel that much more empowered. I no longer shy away from my daily preventative dose of propranolol, and my migraines are down from 15-plus a month to about five or six.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> These days, I\u2019m also far more honest with myself (and others) when I\u2019m dealing with a migraine and need to turn down a plan. And I\u2019m learning to see my open declaration of my migraine symptoms as a sign of personal strength, not an admission of weakness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Perhaps the clearest proof of my progress in that direction is my decision to write this story. With its publication, I\u2019m marking myself\u2014publicly and forever\u2014as a person with chronic migraine. And I can think of no bigger way to keep myself accountable to my own truth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> <em>Citations<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> <em>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/em><\/p>\n<ol class=\"core-list block-thin premium-list premium-list-ordered\">\n<li><em>Xia Y, et al. &#8220;Twenty years of triptans in the United States Medicaid programs: Utilization and reimbursement trends from 1993 to 2013.&#8221; Cephalalgia. 2016;36(14):1305-1315. doi:10.1177\/0333102416629237<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Vincent, Maurice et al. \u201cThe not so hidden impact of interictal burden in migraine: A narrative review.\u201d\u00a0Frontiers in neurology\u00a0vol. 13 1032103. 3 Nov. 2022, doi:10.3389\/fneur.2022.1032103<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Bron, Charlene et al. \u201cExploring the Hereditary Nature of Migraine.\u201d\u00a0Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment\u00a0vol. 17 1183-1194. 22 Apr. 2021, doi:10.2147\/NDT.S282562<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Seng, Elizabeth K. PhD et al. &#8220;Lifestyle Factors and Migraine.&#8221; The Lancet, vol. October, 2022, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S1474-4422(22)00211-3.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Grinberg, Amy S, and Elizabeth K Seng. \u201cHeadache-Specific Locus of Control and Migraine-Related Quality of Life: Understanding the Role of Anxiety.\u201d\u00a0International journal of behavioral medicine\u00a0vol. 24,1 (2017): 136-143. doi:10.1007\/s12529-016-9587-2<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Noseda, Rodrigo, and Rami Burstein. \u201cMigraine pathophysiology: anatomy of the trigeminovascular pathway and associated neurological symptoms, CSD, sensitization and modulation of pain.\u201d\u00a0Pain\u00a0vol. 154 Suppl 1 (2013): 10.1016\/j.pain.2013.07.021. doi:10.1016\/j.pain.2013.07.021<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Karsan, Nazia et al. \u201cAre some patient-perceived migraine triggers simply early manifestations of the attack?.\u201d\u00a0Journal of neurology\u00a0vol. 268,5 (2021): 1885-1893. doi:10.1007\/s00415-020-10344-1<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on pinterest Share on email Denying my own pain became a coping mechanism for a condition both invisible and misunderstood. I knew the generic name for Advil (ibuprofen), its differences from over-the-counter compatriot Tylenol (acetaminophen), and the right dosage for minor discomfort (one capsule) or major and unrelenting &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}