The word migraine comes from a Greek word that means "half a skull", and if you've ever experienced one, then you know this is an appropriate description for the paralyzing affliction.
While migraines suck heaps of donkey dicks, the great news is that #1 there are accessible, natural, effective solutions if you're having one, and #2 with a ninja mental posture you can still find something to appreciate. Let me explain:
I got my first migraine about 10 years ago, and I went from totally normal in one moment to thinking I was having a stroke in the next. My vision suddenly went black, my hands and face went numb, and I could not force my mouth to form the words in my mind. It was very scary!
Interestingly, I did not have a headache at all but was so alarmed by the sudden onset of symptoms that I went to the minor emergency room. This was back when I thought Western medicine had answers and solutions (ha!!), but the doctor had no suggestions for me except to get a CAT scan as soon as I could.
A few days later, I went to the hospital and had my brain imaged. My family physician interpreted the results, reporting that nothing looked abnormal and thus I had probably just endured my first migraine. I expressed my disbelief, reiterating that I never had a headache.
He explained that there are 2 phases to a migraine: prodromal and postdromal (my further research reveals that phases can be broken down even further into prodrome, aura, attack, and postdrome). Some people experience more pronounced symptoms in one phase or another, and like myself may not have any discomfort in other phases.
Here's what happens in the phases of a migraine:
1. Prodrome, AKA Warning Phase
May last a few hours to a few days
Symptoms:
- Mood and energy changes: either unusually excited or depressed
- Irritablity
- Thirst
- Cravings for specific foods
- Yawning & fatigue
- Insomnia
- Increased urination
- Trouble concentrating
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Nausea
- Muscle stiffness, especially neck and shoulders
2. Aura
May last 5 minutes to an hour or more
Symptoms:
- Vision changes: blurriness, blind spots, bright spots or flashing lights, or even "seeing" geometric designs
- Hallucinations
- Numbness or pins & needles sensations
- Language problems: confusion, trouble concentrating, trouble understanding spoken or written words, trouble speaking
3. Attack
May last several hours to many days
Symptoms:
- The headache from hell
- Often begins above the eyes
- May be on one side of the head, both, or move from one to the other. Could also affect neck and jaw
- Pain may extend into face and teeth
- Often feels throbbing
- May get worse on sitting up or moving around
- Sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
- Lightheadedness & fainting
- Nausea, sometimes vomitting
- Inability to sleep
- Anxiety
- Can range from mild to debilitating
4. Postdrome, AKA The Migraine Hangover
May last hours to days
Symptoms:
- Extreme fatigue
- Confusion
- Head pain that flares up when you lean over, move quickly, or get a rush of blood to the head
- Body aches
- Trouble concentrating
- Dizziness
Sounds pretty terrible, right? It feels even worse. So how could a migraine possibly be a blessing?!
To me, healing itself is the blessing! Increased self awareness, increased vitality, and receiving relief are absolute miracles, and I give thanks for the ability to experience that. Migraines are a reminder for me to honor and prioritize health, and to keep my mental posture as positive as possible when faced with great challenges.
After plenty of experience in genuine healthcare, I firmly believe that dis-ease is simply a messenger to have a word with yourself. Tune into your energy, mind, and spirit, and honestly assess how you are conducting yourself. Ailments show us that something is "off" or out of balance in our mind, body, heart, and soul. They are indicators of a problem that needs to be corrected, and point us in the direction of profound healing. Recognizing this empowers you to take full responsibility for your complete wellbeing. In this way, a migraine is just a reminder to get your shit together and take care of yourself.
Migraines, according to medical intuitive Louise Hay, represent "Dislike of being driven. Resisting the flow of life. Sexual fears, or fear of being close, letting someone in too close. Migraine headaches are created by people who want to be perfect and who create a lot of pressure on themselves. A lot of suppressed anger is involved..."
If that resonates with you as it does for me, then sit with it. Meditate. Look into yourself and see what comes up. Try Hay's affirmation: "I relax into the flow of life and let life provide all that I need easily and comfortably. I love Life!"
If this concept doesn't strike you, then leave it and move on.
Here are more suggestions for migraine management:
- If you're paying attention to your body (maybe keeping a health journal!), you can recognize the symptoms of a migraine before reaching full blown attack and taking measures to prevent or minimize its progression using easy, natural, effective methods.
- If you have ever suffered a migraine, you definitely don't want it to happen again - maybe you can use it as a wake up call to prioritize your health, and structure your lifestyle to eliminate them altogether while maximizing your wellness! Deep breathing, proper hydration, proper rest, and stress management are foundations of great health that can immediately upgrade your existence.
- If you are in the midst of the excruciating pain of a migraine, I pray for you to have the love and support of a competent family, friends, or nurse who can nurture you and administer treatment. Pain isn't fun, but receiving love and consideration is. Migraines can be so paralyzing that it is difficult to take care of yourself when they hit. If you have only yourself to depend upon, then that is all the more reason to take preemptive action before they advance.
After my first episode, I had migraines off and on over the course of a few years, until they magically disappeared! I didn't even do anything special to manage them; at that time, I did not know much about or value true health or real healing. I was doing yoga, meditating, and had just started living an honest life that brought me joy, rather than conforming to what was "expected" of me, and it was just enough upgrades that I didn't need migraines to remind me to take care of myself.
For many years, I almost completely forgot that I had ever had migraines at all...until about a month ago here in my blessed existence at the 
Thankfully I live with health master 
I gave thanks and said to myself "I should write a Steem post about this", but hadn't gotten around to it. I wrote it off to a freak occurrence, and started to forget about it - silly me not paying attention to my body or heeding warning signs!
Yesterday another migraine hit, and this one lasted much longer than the previous episode. But once again I was blessed to receive more love and support from not one but TWO competent, considerate nurses - 