Explaining migraines to someone who’s never had one can feel impossible. These aren’t just headaches—they’re full-body, reality-warping experiences that defy simple explanation. Here are four creative ways to describe what it’s like to live through a migraine.
1. A storm inside your skull
Imagine a thunderstorm trapped inside your head. Lightning flashes behind your eyes, thunder rumbles deep in your temples, and barometric pressure builds so intensely it feels like your skull might crack open. Sounds become thunderclaps, light feels like electric shocks, and even the softest pillow offers no shelter.
You’re not overreacting—your pain is real, and storms always pass, even if they leave puddles behind.
2. A malfunctioning radio station
It’s like your brain’s tuning knob is stuck between stations. Every sense is full of static: smells too strong, lights too bright, sounds too sharp. Your thoughts try to cut through the noise, but the signal is fuzzy, and the song keeps skipping. You’re still here, but the world is distorted and warped.
You’re not broken. Your brain is doing its best to protect you—and clarity will come back, one click at a time.
3. A glass globe about to shatter
You’re walking around with a fragile glass orb balanced on your spine. Any sound, light, scent, or movement could send a crack spiderwebbing across it. It makes you tentative, hypersensitive, and scared to move too quickly—because once it breaks, you know the pain will be unbearable.
You don’t need to justify being careful. Your instincts are wise, and you deserve softness and safety.
4. A system overload shutdown
Your brain is the motherboard, and during a migraine, it short-circuits. The screen glitches, the memory lags, and it’s like someone pulled the power plug halfway. You might slur your words, forget your thoughts mid-sentence, or feel like your body is just a machine overheating.
You’re not weak—you’re powerful enough to reboot after a shutdown. And rest is a valid, necessary response to overwhelm.