This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: Episodic Migraine Without Aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is: 4-10 days/month
3. I was diagnosed in: Early high school
4. My comorbid conditions include: Hypothyroidism, Depression, Cold hands & feet
5. I take __0__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and __1__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: Don’t remember
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Extreme pain, heavy fatigue, nausea
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: Food cravings (mainly salt) or forgetting words
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Weather, hormonal, anything on the back of my neck (I can’t wear turtlenecks or heavy necklaces, for example)
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: My neck feels stiff
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: Cancelling plans
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: When it will end
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I wish I knew when attacks were going to happen, so I knew when I should or should not make plans. I also wish there was a cure.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: “So what?” or “My relative XYZ also has those,” followed by treatment advice that usually has nothing to do with Migraine.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: A sympathy buddy!
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Would it work? What are the side effects? Have I already tried something similar? What was the research this was based on? (many drugs are sold as migraine treatment when they were originally developed for something else)
17. My best coping tools are: Sleep & silence
18. I find comfort in: When I have an attack at home & can actually lay down instead of pushing myself. Also, my kitties who cuddle up with me when I’m feeling bad.
19. I get angry when people say: “It’s just a headache.”
20. I like it when people say: Anything that tells me they know how disabling migraine attacks are. It helps to be understood.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Show me somewhere dark & quiet where I can lie down & not be disturbed. Also bringing me my meds, water, or food (if I am able to eat) so I don’t have to walk. Don’t expect me to make decisions about anything when I can’t think.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “If that doesn’t work (referring to a treatment), there are plenty of other options we can try!”
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: There is no cure. It’s not going to go away. 🙁
24. Migraine has taught me: I am capable of pushing through more pain than I thought. It’s helped me in other areas (like a double foot surgery) where I wouldn’t let pain stop me.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Do all the research you can right away, and you can definitely improve things to a point.
27. The people who support me most are: My family
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It’s a disabling, genetic neurological condition. It’s NOT caused nor cured by lifestyle changes, food, or positive thinking.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: Stigma and lack of knowledge about Migraine has led to a lot of losses over the years, that may have been avoided if people understood more about this disease.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: It’s one of the most misunderstood diseases today. Most people don’t understand how disabling it can be, or how much it impacts your life. Please be a friend and take the time to learn and research before making assumptions & suggestions. Thanks everyone!
Reader-submitted stories solely 
represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres. Follow this link to learn how to share YOUR 30 Things about living with a headache disorder.