5 Free Ways to Support your fellow Migraine Headache Sufferer

Migraines are a debilitating neurological illness that inflicts millions of sufferers with migraine headaches, nausea, vomiting, hypersensitivity to sounds, scents, and lights, and stroke-like symptoms. Migraines are linked with epilepsy and increased risk for stroke and heart disease. Why then are so few governmental funds set aside for migraine research, spreading migraine disorder awareness, and providing support for migraine patients? Here are some ways you can influence migraine funding without spending a dime…

1- Sign the petition!

Go to the AHDA (Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy) website to urge Congressional hearings on the impact of migraine and headache disorders. There are millions of migraine sufferers in the world, but at the time of this blog, a mere 8,231 have signed the petition asking politicians to recognize migraines and other chronic headaches as a debilitating illness that requires more government-funded research.

Migraine attacks plague our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to the countless US citizens just trying to earn a living and get through a day without debilitating head pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Migraines are a recognized source of disability, yet very few grants are allocated towards finding a cure for chronic headaches.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that migraine headaches account in more “lost years of healthy life” in the USA each year than epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, ovarian cancer, and tuberculosis.
To date, the US Congress has never hosted a public hearing on chronic headache disorders like migraines and cluster headaches.

Migraine Atlas Sheds Light on Chronic Headaches around the World

2- Become a Facebook addict!

Explore Facebook (Do a search on migraines) and you’ll find endless Facebook migraine pages devoted to helping out people like you who want to connect with other migraineurs. Migraines are comorbid with severe depression, so this is a good way to discuss migraine symptoms without feeling as if you’re “complaining.”

Here are some excellent Facebook pages for migraine sufferers:

PS: Don’t forget to follow Migravent on Facebook too, if you don’t already!

12 Ways to spread Migraine Awareness without saying a Word

3- Keep up with migraine forums and blogs

The Facebook groups mentioned also have a strong presence on the web for migraine advocacy, migraine forums, and personal blogs about managing migraines. They are excellent resources for finding local headache specialists, solving social dilemmas like migraine stigma, and finding out the latest news related to migraines.

Want a Cure for Migraines? 10 Ways you can help

4- Be a 24-hour migraine awareness advocate

You’re going to run into many people throughout your day who have never heard of migraines with aura, think that migraines are caused by stress, and don’t realize that headaches are just one of many horrible symptoms of migraine illness. They’re bound to make some pretty insensitive comments. It only takes a few seconds and a well-rehearsed line to (politely) put them in their place.

Here are some good comebacks that won’t offend:

“I wish I could just take a few Excedrin for migraines, but unfortunately, my body doesn’t respond to them.”
“Your mother-in-law is very lucky to have found a cure for her migraines. If only one cure worked for everybody…”
“I pray constantly for relief from migraines.”
“Sadly, migraines aren’t just in my head- they’re also in my nervous system.”
“I would work overtime every day for the rest of my life if it meant I never had to suffer another migraine again.”
“I wish it were only a headache- that would be heavenly!”
“I’m not antisocial. It’s just that everything outside my bedroom triggers migraines.”
“I’m on disability because without it, I would starve.”
“You’re in my prayers, too.”

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

5- Share this article

If you found this information helpful, please share this with friends, family, coworkers, doctors- anybody who you think would benefit from knowing more about migraine disorder.

Please tell us about any other migraine advocacy groups you appreciate that are not mentioned here.

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