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Understanding Migraine
Being taken seriously: stigma and getting help
Why migraine is often minimized, and how to get the care and support you deserve.
3 min read · 9 research sources · Based on the Mastering Migraine courses by Dr. Adam Harcourt
Many people with migraine have been told it is “just a headache,” that they are exaggerating, or that it is caused by stress alone. Research confirms that migraine carries real stigma, which can delay care and add to the emotional burden 1.
You are not imagining it
Migraine is a recognized neurological disease with measurable brain changes 2 and one of the most disabling conditions worldwide 3. Yet many people never see a professional for it 4.
Becoming an active partner
Learning about migraine and practicing self-management skills are linked to better outcomes 5. Useful steps include:
- Keeping a headache diary so patterns become visible.
- Using standardized questionnaires such as MIDAS and HIT-6 to measure the impact on your life 6,7. See How progress is measured.
- Bringing a list of questions to every appointment. See Questions to ask.
Asking for a team
The best migraine care is usually a team effort: your primary care doctor or neurologist, and clinicians who can address the nutritional, hormonal, musculoskeletal and neurological factors that medication alone may not reach 8,9.
This article is educational and does not replace a personal evaluation. Talk with your clinician before making changes to medications, supplements or diet.
Research cited on this page
- Vilanilam GK, Badi MK, Meschia JF. Destigmatizing Migraine. Cureus. 2018;10(5):e2711. PubMed 30065904 · DOI
- Goadsby PJ, Holland PR, Martins-Oliveira M, et al. Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing. Physiol Rev. 2017;97(2):553-622. PubMed 28179394 · DOI
- Steiner TJ, Stovner LJ, Vos T, et al. Migraine is first cause of disability in under 50s: will health politicians now take notice?. J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):17. PubMed 29468450 · DOI
- Katsarava Z, Mania M, Lampl C, et al. Poor medical care for people with migraine in Europe – evidence from the Eurolight study. J Headache Pain. 2018;19(1):10. PubMed 29392600 · DOI
- Probyn K, Bowers H, Mistry D, et al. Non-pharmacological self-management for people living with migraine or tension-type headache: a systematic review including analysis of intervention components. BMJ Open. 2017;7(8):e016670. PubMed 28801425 · DOI
- Benz T, Lehmann S, Gantenbein AR, et al. Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of the German version of the migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018;16(1):42. PubMed 29523138 · DOI
- Rendas-Baum R, Yang M, Varon SF, et al. Validation of the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) in patients with chronic migraine. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014;12:117. PubMed 25080874 · DOI
- American Headache Society. The American Headache Society Position Statement On Integrating New Migraine Treatments Into Clinical Practice. Headache. 2019;59(1):1-18. PubMed 30536394 · DOI
- Rhee TG, Harris IM. Reasons for and perceived benefits of utilizing complementary and alternative medicine in U.S. adults with migraines/severe headaches. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;30:44-49. PubMed 29389478 · DOI
Mastering Migraine is an educational resource and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Always talk with your own doctor before changing medications, starting supplements, or beginning a new treatment.
