Migraine hurts in many ways beyond the physical pain
As part of Migraine Awareness Week we are publishing the results of our research into the many different ways migraine hurts. We found that high numbers of people living with migraine are not being believed or taken seriously, including in employment and when accessing healthcare. Over half of respondents to our survey say their mental health has been significantly affected as a result of living with migraine and sadly a third have had thoughts of suicide.
We have also released a new video to highlight the many ways in which migraine can hurt.
Our survey of 2,028 people living with migraine found that the impact of migraine goes far beyond the physical pain.
Despite so many people experiencing migraine, the condition is poorly understood. A key theme throughout our research was migraine being dismissed or invalidated, with many respondents referring to migraine being mischaracterised as ‘just a headache’.
Key findings include:
- 89% of people with migraine say their mental health has been affected as a result of the condition with 55% saying the impact is significant
- 34% said they have thoughts of suicide due to their migraine
- As a result of their migraine 80% participate less in social occasions, 59% have lost confidence and 48% feel isolated
- Impact on work is significant. 49% say migraine has a negative impact on ability to work and 27% say it has caused significant financial difficulties
- Those with chronic, hemiplegic or vestibular migraine were more likely to report significantly negative mental health impacts, including reduced confidence, and self-harm
- Many expressed feelings of guilt from letting colleagues down, fear of losing their job or shared experiences of employers who have dismissed their condition or not provided adequate support
While pain has one of the highest impacts on mental health, feeling guilty, worry about the next attack and unpredictable nature of attacks rank highly.
Inequity in access to positive care causes further challenges
43% of respondents said not having a treatment that works is one of the things affecting their mental health the most
38% said feeling like they are not being taken seriously by health professionals has a negative impact on their wellbeing
Two-thirds said new treatments would improve their mental health
“I don’t know what the answers are, but I do know that doctors really need to take migraines more seriously. I am saying this not only as a migraine sufferer, but also as a nurse. The negative impact on mental health is so closely related to migraine, symptoms of migraine and the treatment that is not available.”
"This research paints a stark picture of the reality for many who live with migraine. It is far more than just a headache. Not being taken seriously is having a significant impact on the lives of those with the condition. Many spoke of social stigma, as well as poor understanding of migraine, and it’s clear that these are contributory factors in the reduced overall wellbeing of people living with migraine. It is essential that we change the perception of migraine and increase understanding about the true impact of living with the condition.”
