When Stephanie Weaver plans a vacation, her first thought was: “What if I get a migraine attack?” The possibility causes her so much fear that she will go through a schedule with her therapist if this is the case. She grabs several medication, a hat to protect her eyes from light lights and Ziploc bags to make an emergency bag. “I know that I have to deal with everything that comes,” she said.
Weaver, who is in the 1960s and lives in Southern California, has to fight most of their life with unpredictable migraine attacks, and they have influenced their mental health. “I cannot trust that my body will behave and the fear that goes with these feelings has never disappeared,” she said.
The connection between migraines and mental illnesses
According to a survey to combine migraines and mental health from 2022 from American Migraine Association, migraine disease and mental health have a strong impact. Although migraine diseases and mental disorders are separate diseases, they are correlated. Your connections are not fully understood, but the relationship is probably the result of several factors. These can include abnormal brain structures, genetics, sex hormones and stress.
Up to half of the people with chronic migraine disease has an anxiety disorder compared to around 19% of the general US population. And 25% of people with chronic migraine disease have a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTBS) that is assumed that they affect 5% of the general population in the US health problems associated with migrainhoods, to have three times higher probability of having bipolar disorders, and an increased tendency towards suicide (thoughts to take their own life).
Childhood trauma also plays a role. People who experienced trauma early in life have 48% more often headache disorders. The more traumatic events a person experiences as a child, the more likely it is that they have a migraine disease.
This creates a vicious circle in which problems with mental health can lead to migraine attacks, and migraines can lead to mental health problems. “If someone has to do with chronic pain or chronic headaches, it is very understandable why they can also have mental health problems,” Rashmi Holleker Singh, Md, Fahs, Faan, a neurologist specializing in the Mayo clinic and member of the health council of Healthingwomen.
Migraine disease affects more women than men
A study by the National Medical Library says that more than twice as many women (43%) suffer from migraine attacks compared to men (18%). This is partly due to the fluctuation of estrogen in the body of a woman. “About a third of women who lead to migraine experience at the time of puberty. Menstruation and perimenopause are times when migraines can really be a problem,” said Haler Singh.
Racial discrimination plays a role
Compared to white people, people with color are less likely to treat migraine attacks and mental illnesses. Many BIPOC do not receive any proper treatment due to distrust compared to the health system and racist and socio -economic discrimination in healthcare.
And it becomes less likely that they are also diagnosed with migraines. In fact, the American Migrain Foundation found that only 47% of the blacks and 50% of Latinos receive a migraine diagnosis compared to 70% of white people.
If patients have no diagnosis, they are less likely to receive the treatment they need. And that means that you feel less better both mentally and physically.
Two invisible diseases
People with migraines and mental illnesses often have difficulty receiving support they earn. This is partly because migraines and mental disorders are invisible diseases, which makes it difficult for others to understand what they are going through. In contrast to other visible diseases, people cannot always see signs of migraines and mental illnesses to the outside world.
It is important to remember that you cannot control. Halker Singh said her patients are often worried about how their migraine attacks affect other parts of their lives, including their relationships with their relatives.
Get the right treatment
Fortunately, many treatments are available for mental illnesses and migraine disease. And some of the treatments for every condition are the same, including some overlapping medication such as SSRIS and SNRIS (two types of antidepressants), cognitive behavioral therapy, other forms of psychotherapy and relaxation techniques.
Halker Singh helps her patients create a comprehensive treatment plan, including the search for the right medication. “We have so many great options,” she said. It also ensures how they can prevent attacks. And when a patient has to deal with her mental health, she refers to a specialist in mental health.
Similarly, Weaver pursues a whole body. “Finding a therapist who works with people with a chronic illness, visited a meditation course and learned something about my specific triggers helped everyone with my fear,” she said.
Use for better care
In the survey on migraine and mental health connections, 87% of people with migraines and 94% of health service providers (HCPS) believed that mental health would improve with better migraine control. For this reason, it is important to have an honest conversation about your mental and physical health with your provider.
Haler Singh said it could even be a good idea to get a second opinion. If you ask another HCP to check your diagnostic and treatment plan, especially if you think it does not work well, this can make up the difference. Finding an HCP who hears your concerns and works with them to find the treatment suitable for you is the key to help you feel better.
This educational resource was created with the support of Pfizer.
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