Living with chronic migraines is like being strapped into a rollercoaster you never signed up for. The physical pain (the throbbing, the nausea, the sensitivity to light and sound) is brutal, don’t get me wrong. But what people don’t talk about enough is the mental and emotional toll it takes. It’s not just a headache; it’s a full-body, full-mind assault that leaves you questioning your worth, your strength, and your ability to keep going. My brain becomes a battlefield, flooded with negative thoughts I have to fight every day. Here are the most common lies my migraines whisper to me and maybe you’ll recognize some of them too:
1. I’m letting everyone down.
When a migraine hits, plans get canceled. Can’t show up for work or friends the way I want to. The guilt is suffocating. I start thinking I’m a failure as a chef, a spouse, a human. But when I push past that fog, I remind myself: my family sees me fighting. They see me get back up. And maybe that’s teaching them something about resilience I couldn’t show them any other way.
2. No one understands, and they’re tired of hearing about it.
I worry that every time I say “I have a migraine,” people roll their eyes behind my back. Who wants to hear about the same invisible problem over and over? I convince myself they think I’m exaggerating or just weak. The truth? My real support system (the ones who matter) don’t judge. They listen. And I’m learning to let go of the people who don’t get it. It’s not my job to convince them.
3. I don’t deserve to feel good.
On the rare days when I wake up without pain, I almost don’t trust it. I’ve gotten so used to migraines defining my life that I question why I get a break. Gratitude feels foreign... like I’m not allowed to enjoy it because the pain will just come back. But I’m working on it. I’ve earned those good moments, and I’m trying to hold onto them without guilt.
4. I’m not strong enough to handle this.
During a bad attack, when I’m curled up in the dark with my fav edible and an ice pack, it’s easy to feel broken. The pain makes me think I’m too fragile to keep going. Yet, every time I survive another one, I prove that lie wrong. Strength isn’t about never hurting, it’s about pushing through when you think you can’t.
5. This is all my fault.
Did I eat the wrong thing? Skip a meal? Stress too much? Not sleep enough? My mind spins, blaming me for every migraine. It’s like I’m punishing myself for something I can’t fully control. Rationally, I know migraines are a medical condition, not a personal failing... but try telling that to my brain at 2 a.m.
6. The pain will never end.
In the thick of a migraine, it feels eternal. My brain tricks me into thinking this is my forever, trapped in a cycle of agony. But here’s the thing I cling to: it always passes. Maybe not as fast as I’d like, but it does. “This too shall pass” is my lifeline.
7. I’m alone in this.
The isolation of migraines is brutal. Lying in a dark room, cut off from the world, relaying on edibles and other meds, it’s easy to think no one else gets it. But I know that’s a lie too. There’s a whole community out there (and here), people like me, fighting the same fight. Sharing this might even reach one of them.
Chronic migraines don’t just attack your head... they mess with your heart and soul too. But every day I keep going, I prove those lies wrong. I’m not just surviving the pain; I’m battling the emotional chaos it brings. And if you’re reading this, nodding along, know you’re not alone on this ride.
Keep fighting these battles! #Migraine
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