By Robert (Guest Writer) - Dear Dr ______, I owe you a short note. I’m about to call a spade, a spade. I’ve been left in an anxiety dither for these months since I saw you in October. That’s why I haven’t followed up with anything. I was VA-stunned by deja vu when you asked … Continue reading A Veteran’s Story of PTSD & Headache
By Jeannette - Within the chronic illness community we speak a lot about the importance of visibility. We discuss the need to self-advocate, to have our rights heard, and the importance of speaking out against stigma, especially when you have an illness that has debilitating symptoms that impact our interactions with the world, but aren’t always … Continue reading The Vulnerability of Visibility
By Lisa (Guest Writer) - According to the Center for Disease and Control (CDC), one-third of Americans are not receiving the recommended seven-plus hours of sleep every night and over seventy different sleep disorders have been diagnosed by doctors. A lack of sleep can lead to serious health concerns like high blood pressure, diabetes, and … Continue reading Can Mindfulness Impact Sleep Quality?
By Pamela (Guest Writer) - Laying in bed, room as dark as you can get it in the middle the day, wishing every little sound would just stop... Loneliness creeps in and almost consumes you at times. It is not surprising that migraine and depression have been linked. Living a life where you need to shut yourself … Continue reading Lonely Alone Time
By Wanda - Do you make lists? I do. Tons of them. So many lists! Contacts, recipes, shopping lists, allergies, to do lists, appointments, doctors, medications, surgeries, conditions, test results, books to read, health studies... I make SO many lists! So, medications -- 27 at the moment. Some daily, some as needed, some I’d rather … Continue reading Chronically Fabulous at Fifty
By Jeannette - On social media I often see fellow patients with chronic pain and illness, questioned and put in the position where they have to explain how they can have a bit of beauty, joy, smiles, and soul shine, while they are sick and in daily pain. Apparently, a smile must negate pain. I … Continue reading You Are Allowed To Live With Pain & Still Shine
By Sarah Faith - Chronic pain drains your energy, leaving you exhausted. It keeps you from being productive. It turns your life inward. It causes isolation, depression, loss of hope, and even loss of motivation to get better. First you give up and then eventually even begin making excuses above and beyond your actual limitations, … Continue reading My Journey to Self Care & Self Discipline
By Kiley (Guest Blogger) - It’s important to mention that I’m writing this at a hockey game. You’ll understand why later, but while I tell you this story I want you to know what I’m currently doing. I was probably in second grade when I started exhibiting textbook signs of depression. I retreated into myself, … Continue reading My Road to Radical Acceptance
By Dana - Migraineurs and spoonies quickly learn that change doesn’t operate on a schedule. Treatments work until they don’t. Doctors order new medications or regimens. Migraines and pain flares occur even with the best management programs. Patients often find themselves working to adjust to a different course of treatment, only to find they have … Continue reading Handling the “Next Normal”
By Kristie of HopeVsHeadaches (Guest Blogger) - Hindsight is a wonderful thing, right? When I was in the midst of suffering from chronic migraines it was hard to make sense of it all, but as the pain began to disappear, I was able to reflect on how I broke free. So today I wanted to share … Continue reading 3 Secrets To Becoming Migraine-Free I Wish I Had Known Sooner
