Hey there, did you know it's Migraine Awareness Week (#MigraineAwarenessWeek) from Sunday, September 24th, to Saturday, September 30th? I thought I would share some of my experiences with battling vestibular migraines and what I do to help myself.
Over the years, I have been taken out by debilitating vestibular migraines, perhaps a lesser known type of migraine but no less severe. While typical migraines are often linked with intense pain, vestibular migraines present a unique challenge - they manifest as dizziness and nausea, that can render you immobile and utterly disoriented.
Often, they would strike without any warning, leaving me literally unable to move for a day or two and dizzy for much longer. I always assumed it was vertigo but later discovered the more likely diagnosis of vestibular migraine. Previously, I didn't know the exact trigger but always assumed stress and extreme neck tension and imbalances due to bad posture. Moving into perimenopause I found that these migraines became more frequent, due to fluctuating levels of estrogen. Perhaps for me there always was a hormonal component to it. There's a link between hormonal imbalances and the onset of migraines in women, commonly surfacing around the menstrual cycle, perimenopause and menopause. According to Migraine & Headache Australia, and this was certainly my experience:
Menstrually-related migraine is when the estrogen drops, which occurs in the two days before the period starts and then the three days after the period.
I have found that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a lifesaver in balancing my fluctuating estrogen levels. At the time of writing I'm now on a higher dose of estrogen and haven't had an attack for some time.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Pilates has become a key tool when I sense the possibility of an approaching migraine. This includes gentle, attuned movements that focus on releasing tension in my neck and shoulders, coupled with mindful breathing. I slow everything right down to activate my parasympathetic nervous system.
Breathwork alone, can be an invaluable technique for migraine sufferers, offering a path to break free from the vicious cycle of stress and anxiety that is often a pre-cursor to, or accompanies an attack. Check out this post for techniques to try.
Do you suffer from migraines? Share your experiences below and let us all raise awareness this Migraine Awareness Week #MigraineAwarenessWeek.
If you're interested in moving together or learning some exercises to help with tension headaches and/or migraines, I'd love to chat with you.
Together in awareness and healing, Ali ✨ Moxie Pilates
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