Don ’ t Go It
By Matt Alderton
Alone
Migraine may be an invisible disease , but that doesn ’ t mean you have to suffer in silence . Here ’ s how to seek and find support among sympathizers and skeptics alike .
Most teenage girls are a little boy crazy : Did he notice me ? Does he like me ? Will he ask me to the prom ? These questions are a bottomless pit of adolescent angst that can cause anxiety , acne and even depression . For Karen Jerabek , however , it caused migraines .
“ The migraines started during my senior year in high school ,” says Jerabek , now 35 . “ When I was under stress , especially stress from dating , I would have a series of bad migraines .”
When Jerabek , a writer and single mother of 3-yearold twins , got divorced in her
20s , her condition worsened , resulting in chronic , daily migraines . But — as is the case with many migraineurs — Jerabek ’ s relationships haven ’ t only caused migraines ; they ’ ve also been casualties of them .
The ancillary effects that typically accompany migraines — from missing appointments to fatigue and irritability — can cause friction with co-workers , bosses , romantic partners and family members . And with chronic migraines , these negative effects aren ’ t just a fluke ; they can happen several times a month , which means they are constantly impacting others . For many migraineurs , the social symptoms of migraines can be just as devastating as the physical ones . “ It ’ s frustrating ,” says Judy Brown , a Nashua , N . H ., resident who has suffered from chronic migraines and cluster headaches for more than 30 years . “ I had my best friend tell me , ‘ You ’ ve got to stop worrying about it , Judy . It ’ s all in your head .’ That really hurt .”
These types of situations can cause migraine sufferers to feel very isolated — like no one truly understands what they are going through . That ’ s why building a strong
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