Join us in making this the year you take control of your migraine
Living with migraine can sometimes feel powerless, but it’s important to remember that there are steps you can take to better manage your symptoms and take control of your disease. Whether it’s consulting a headache doctor or keeping a food journal to better understand your triggers, taking action can improve your life with migraine in real, measurable ways. Join AMF and our #MoveAgainstMigraine community in resolving to make 2019 the year you take control of your migraine. Here are five resolutions proposed by our members that can make life with migraine better, plus resources and actionable steps to make these goals attainable.
1. Stay away from red wine
Taking control of your diet to manage migraine is a great resolution for the New Year. Many people living with migraine report that their symptoms appear when they eat certain foods. Food triggers are a common phenomenon: learning more about how certain foods affect you and removing them from your diet makes a difference for many. Download our free meal planning toolkit to examine your eating habits and commit to maintaining a balanced diet this year that reduces your risk of food-related migraine attacks.
Alcohol is a common migraine trigger, while red wine is the most-cited culprit. One member made it a goal to “keep a strict diet plan for inflammatory response.” Anti-inflammatory medications are commonly prescribed to treat migraine, and a diet that supports this provide additional relief.
2. Start practicing yoga, even if it’s only for 10 minutes a day
There’s evidence that regular exercise can reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Yoga is a great way to start! Exercise not only reduces stress, a common migraine trigger, but also helps regulate sleep and combat obesity, which contributes to migraine. Health coach and migraine activist Caroline Alvo shared her tips about how exercise “attacks migraine from all fronts” and how to start exercising if you live with migraine that inspired many of our members to make exercise a goal in 2019.
3. Find a headache specialist
Many factors determine how effective a migraine treatment will be for an individual, including the type of migraine you have and key components of your lifestyle. That’s why it’s so important to work with a doctor who can design a custom treatment plan for you. Our directory of headache specialists can help you find an expert in your area. Once you’ve made an appointment, read about the different treatments available and learn how to prepare for your first visit to a headache specialist.
4. Reconnect with People
It can be difficult for people living with migraine to maintain relationships with friends and family. A strong support network can make a big difference, but a lack of understanding from those around you can generate stress and anxiety, making matters worse and making life with migraine even harder. This free guide to talking to people in your life about your migraine can help you build and strengthen your support system. Kimberly realized her pain got worse when she isolated herself and shared with Move Against Migraine that her goal in 2019 is to reconnect with people she loves.
5. Remain hopeful in the face of adversity
Migraine is a severe, disabling disease, and on a bad day it’s easy to feel dejected about your diagnosis. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, to join our community of 13,000 migraine warriors who understand, and to advocate for yourself and seek real solutions. Remember the aphorism – “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional”. Whether your goal is to stay hopeful or you need help staying committed to your other migraine resolutions, our group is here for you to provide the support you need to live your best life.
The American Migraine Foundation resolves to continue supporting the millions of people living with migraine. Read our doctor-sourced articles about migraine and treatment, use our interactive map to find a headache specialist near you and follow us on social media for the tools that you need to make 2019 a year of fewer migraine attacks.
