“Migraine makes your world and prospects feel very small.”
Lizzie shares her experience of living with migraine whilst navigating her studies and future career prospects.
Migraine makes your world and prospects feel very small especially when you’re navigating the hamster wheel that is your twenties. Since living with migraine, I lost my sense of autonomy and control over my body but with the support of my family and friends, I’ve been able to start running again. I’m aiming to complete my first half marathon this year!
My first migraine attack occurred when I began my internship in 2023. I had pain from the back to the front of my head, light sensitivity and was tired all the time. I had around one or two migraine attacks a month which I was able to manage. Initially, I didn’t realise I was experiencing migraine, instead I called them headaches. My symptoms progressed to dizziness, part of my eyesight would go, and I would feel nauseous to the point I would vomit.
Eventually, I got a job waitressing which became challenging as, even through the pain and other symptoms, I had to be bubbly all the time. That’s when the frequency of my migraine attacks increased to two to three times a week.
Working as a waitress became unsustainable. I knew I wanted a job where I could help people and have variety in my work. My mum was a foreign languages teacher, and this inspired me to consider teaching. I undertook volunteering to increase my experience and later applied to Exeter University to study a primary PGCE in 2025. However, when I felt a migraine attack coming on, I would leave to look for a dark room to sit in. It was difficult juggling studying with socialising and everything else that comes with being a student so eventually, I left my course in November 2025.
One positive thing which came from this is that I have recently taken up drawing. I’ve always loved drawing but prioritised academia when I started university.
Drawing allows me to put a humorous spin on migraine which can be difficult to put into words. Some pictures are sadder than others, but mostly, they bring me joy and always some sort of relief at being able to show exactly what it feels like without words.
Currently, I’m taking a break to figure out my next steps, but I hope to become a teaching assistant and rejoin my teaching course. It’s been quite difficult thinking about the future as my migraine influences what I can and cannot do but I now know when to take a step back in order to look after my health.
Since then, I came across The Migraine Trust’s website. Having depression triggered by my migraine attacks caused me to isolate myself. By reading other people’s stories and all the great content on social media, this makes me feel that The Migraine Trust understands what I’m going through and I feel less alone.
This led me to sign up to running the Swansea Half Marathon in June 2026. My dad’s answer to most problems is “Go for a run!” which can be annoying but true. When I run, I experience a sense of autonomy and control over my body. For me, running has been a lifesaver.
I listen to what my head is telling me and if I have energy, I’ll go for a long run but likewise if I don’t, I won’t push myself 100%.
This gives me the motivation to continue my training. If I didn’t live with migraine, I don’t think I would have signed up to running a half marathon!
Having the support of my family makes me feel grateful for the time I live in; both my mum and grandma had to navigate migraine throughout their lives. My grandma has sadly passed away but I think about how tough it must have been for the women in my family to manage and most likely in some situations, hide their condition whilst combining their home and professional lives. My mum was a full-time teacher, and I remember her having to lie down when she had a migraine attack. During these times, my dad stepped up and they both did amazingly well to keep things ticking over. I feel these days greater workplace and equality legislation means it’s easier to disclose that you have migraine and it’s more normalised to talk about it.
I have so much respect for my family, especially my mum and grandma as they have helped me to grow up with migraine awareness and made me an empathetic and understanding person. I just wish more people knew about migraine!
For others living with migraine, I say live with hope. Enjoy the moments when you don’t have pain as it gives you space to appreciate all the small things like looking at the sky, smelling flowers and not feeling sick. There are always options, whether that’s new medications or taking a new approach. Take life slower, be kind to yourself and don’t give up!
