So, things don't happen
the way we want them to or, if they do, it is at the wrong time.
People don't act the way we want them to act.
When we are in a hurry, all the traffic lights are red.
So... here we are living our lives, doing our work, being in relationships,
all the while buffeted by the winds of change.
We would be happy if only things changed the way we wanted them to.
The problem with this approach is that it puts the responsibility for our
being happy on something we view as being separate from ourselves.
This is the role of a victim.
(Ron Sieh)
Triggers
Whilst the attacks may come and go, the disease remains.
There are a variety of factors that may come together to produce a migraine
episode.
Ideally, it is possible to control the frequency of attacks by managing the
triggers.
Common triggers: emotional stress, food, physical stress and environmental
factors.
Although the disease is incurable, you can seek to address the triggers.
If the migraine is not triggered, it will not occur.
Emotional stress
(trigger)
These emotional imbalances are known to affect migraine: anger,
depression, excitement, shock, tension and worry.
Food
(trigger)
The affect of diet on a migraine varies according to the
individual, although dehydration and infrequent meals/fasting/dieting are
triggers common to all types of migraine.
Illness
(trigger)
If you are ill, your resistance to the migraine will weaken.
An attack can be triggered quite easily because you are already in a more
vulnerable condition.
Viruses, colds, diarrhoea, dehydration, temperature, fever - these will all
increase the risk of migraine.
You may well find yourself on the edge of a migraine for weeks if your
body is experiencing some form of unassociated illness.
Physical stress
(trigger)
These physical imbalances are known to affect migraine:
eye strain
clothing that constricts the head or neck
over-exertion
physical tension
change in routine
change in sleep patterns
tiredness
travelling
Environmental factors
(trigger)
Migraine can cause a person to develop physical intolerances:
bright light - supermarket lights & car headlamps
flickering or flashing lights - televisions & computer screens
loud noise
intense or penetrating smells
smoking
stuffy atmosphere - central heating
certain patterns/colour combinations
Autumn and
Winter are much more comfortable because of the short days and longer
nights.
It is important to avoid artificial lighting, flickering screens and buzzing
electronic devices.
Keep the curtains half-closed and buy some good sunglasses.
Anxiety
(trigger)
Trying to figure out which specific trigger produces a migraine
attack can be frustrating; and may lead to anxiety.
Finding balance can be difficult because nothing in life is fixed and
stable.
Healthy lifestyle
Healthy habits such as tai chi, regular meals, drinking water and good sleep
will all improve your balance.
Taoism and tai chi encourage a way of living that is low stress
and easy going.
The risk of attack is reduced.
Serious migraine
There are a few migraines that might be classified as very serious. These
include basilar and
hemiplegic migraine
(FHM).
They may involve numbness, speech loss, mild paralysis, photophobia, phonophobia, osmophobia, light-headedness,
blurry vision, in addition to the aura (scintillating
scotoma) and the actual physical
pain itself.
Less than 0.01% of people suffer from this type of migraine.
Hemiplegic migraine is believed to be the consequence of mutated
neurons in the brain.
This 'abnormal' brain activity can also cause:
heightened sensory awareness
symptoms associated with:
- autism
- dyslexia
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
blurry vision
It is very hard to hold down a mainstream job when you are diagnosed with
serious migraine.
Many people spend their lives impoverished.
Page created 3 February 2001