Have You Ever Felt Trapped in a Migraine?

There are many times I feel bored during a migraine attack. There are so many other things I’d rather be doing with my one precious life. However, sometimes, especially if it’s a particularly painful headache or if the other neurological symptoms are severe, I don’t feel bored; I feel trapped.

The sensory triggers that lead to migraine isolation

Usually, I need to avoid screens during migraines. When I can’t work or even enjoy the wonders of the internet due to my migraines, it makes me feel cut off from the world, like I’m a prisoner of my own neurology. This migraine isolation often leads to feelings of panic and anxiety that I’ll never catch up on work or be able to support myself. Plus, I can get "FOMO" (fear of missing out) about all the things happening in the world that I can’t currently participate in.

Speaking of FOMO, sometimes, I need to stay home and, as much as I like my house with its cozy couches and two dogs who love to cuddle me when I’m not feeling well, I can feel trapped inside. On a nice day, if I can’t tolerate sunlight, I feel trapped in my dark room. The sensory deprivation can feel heavy, like it’s holding me down in the dark—which translates to a darker mood.

Coping with cognitive symptoms and aphasia

I also feel especially trapped when I can’t rely on my mind. I get aphasia sometimes with a migraine, and, regardless, I am not at my best thinking speed when I have a headache or nausea. Since I depend on my mind for work and love to engage my mind for leisure activities like reading or hanging out with my kids and playing games, it’s particularly distressing when I feel like a thoughtless lump instead of my usual quick self.

Strategies to find mental freedom during an attack

If all hope is lost, and I know I’m going to have to rest in order to get better, I actually feel less trapped. Rest and medication are the only things I can do to make my way through the migraine, so, once I ease into the reality of the situation, I feel less panicked and more resigned.

To prepare for the feeling of being trapped in a migraine, I cultivate a comfortable home with lots of options for when I need to zone out and reset. I have the dogs, my meds, and my headache hat. I can usually tolerate either an audiobook or having a familiar comfort TV show on while I recover—even if I can’t look at the screen for very long or at all. I set up on the couch or in bed with my big cup full of electrolytes and my ice pack and try to accept rest, which is something I’m not particularly good at doing but clearly need to do more often.

Reclaiming your life after the postdrome phase

A lot of the time, I don’t know if I’m over a migraine until the next morning. When I wake up and know I’m out of the worst of it, even if I have a postdrome or some lingering neurological symptoms like light sensitivity—I’m thankful. I sleep with my windows open most of the time, so when I wake up, I look at the trees outside my window, breathe in the fresh air, and feel thankful for these moments of freedom.