Free My Brain From Migraine Pain

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Keeping the Faith

May 18th, 2009

I haven’t posted in a bit and I find myself feeling a little guilty about it.  The past few weeks have been busy, but that’s not unusual, and they have contained several Migraines, but that’s not unusual either.  My life is more complex than I like.  If I was my own coaching client I might advise myself to simplify.  Since I can’t get outside my own head sufficiently I don’t know what I would suggest cutting out.  The fact is that times are tough economically, and my family is not exempt from that, and I have several businesses to keep up with, a family, a house, and several chronic illnesses, and it’s a lot.

I do know, though, what works.  I know I need enough sleep, though when I feel like I didn’t really have any fun time all day, it’s hard to put down my novel or turn off the tv, or tell my darling daughter (who is 18 and likes to talk late in the evening) I need to go to bed.  I know I need a walk or some exercise in the morning, though when I haven’t slept well it feels like I need the extra bit of sleep more, and when work awaits it’s hard to remember that I will focus better and have a better attitude if I exercise first.  I know I sometimes need a nap after lunch if I want to avoid a Migraine or fatigue.  I know there’s no point in sitting at my desk trying to force myself to focus if my brain won’t do it - a break: a brief walk, a brief snooze, a ten minute clean-up in the house or office, any of these will refresh me and help me return my focus, and time spent trying to force myself is time wasted.  I know at 5:30 I need to leave my desk and focus on my home and family.

I have to confess, though, that knowledge is not the same as action.  I know all these things, but I don’t always do all these things, especially in the face of my anxiety - over finance, over my illnesses, over my daughter leaving home in 4 months, you name it.  Doing the right thing, when I don’t feel like it.  Now that takes faith.

Some days we get up, and we have no energy.  Saturday was like that for me; weather triggers have become much more prominent for me this year and thunderstorms were threatening all day on Saturday.  I felt oppressed - I was in Migraine pro-drome all day.  And so (with some encouragement from my wise husband) I went for a walk.  I did not want to go for a walk.  I wanted to crawl under a rock.  The exercise helped to restore my perspective, raise my endorphin level, and give me the energy I needed to enjoy the day. Going for that walk was an act of faith.

Keep the faith! What do you need to do to keep yourself on track, even when you don’t feel like it?

- Megan

Tags: exercise, Migraine triggers, weather triggers
Posted in Communicating, Managing | Comments (2)

2 Responses to “Keeping the Faith”

1. RK Says:
   June 29th, 2009 at 11:47 pm

   Yesterday, after lunch, I found myself sitting with a bad migraine. I was in pain and did not know what to do. I took leave fron work and went home. While driving my fear was to reach home safely. What should one do, when a migraine refuses to subside for two or three hours?

2. admin Says:
   June 30th, 2009 at 8:36 am

   Hi RK -

   I don’t know what you are doing currently to treat your Migraines, whether you have any kind of abortive medications prescribed to you. The best thing with a Migraine is to treat it at the first sign. If you can abort the Migraine attack early, there is less chance of the pain becoming severe. This means not ignoring the early warning signs, not trying to “tough it out.”

   If medications aren’t helping many of us find icepacks to be helpful, since the blood vessels around the brain are inflamed the ice on the forehead, temples, or wherever it hurts can help reduce the inflammation. A dark room and sleep if you can manage it. I teach relaxation and pain reduction exercises which are very helpful in lessening the pain during a Migraine. You can find recordings and classes on the products page of this site.

   You are right that there is danger in driving, a Migraine does impair our cognitive function. Is there anyone who could give you a ride?

   On the upper right corner of this page you can see a sign up box for a free e-course I offer on how to Manage your Migraines. You’ll find some helpful information in there. I also work with people one on one to help them create a plan to manage Migraines in their lives. Contact me through the contact page if you want to explore that. Good luck! Please come back and visit again.

   Best,
   Megan

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