Migraine & Me: My Healing Journey
At the age of 13, I was diagnosed with chronic migraine. What followed was over a decade-long quest through the medical landscape, trying to find a way to heal myself. I saw neurologists, dietitians, chiropractors, and other specialists. I underwent treatments, tried various medications, and experimented with all the different ways to cure migraines. And nothing worked.
I was desperately searching for something to cure me… Throughout my young adulthood, I would fall in and out of depressive episodes. Writing this now, I wish I could have known what I know now: my chronic pain was not just something physical to be treated by a doctor—it was a complex mix of learned associations tied to my emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and life experiences.
This one belief changed the trajectory of my life:
Healing comes from within.
What I needed to "get better” wasn’t found in a doctor’s office, clinical trial, or another round of trigeminal nerve stimulation.
Let me explain...
A decade of chronic migraines had carved deep neural pathways in my brain, making pain a constant companion and a part of who I was.
My brain was always on high alert and had learned to associate triggers—like stress, anxiety, and certain foods/environments—with pain. My migraines intensified during periods of stress, creating a vicious cycle of
stress = pain = more stress = more pain.
One fateful day, as I sat in my car in the grocery store parking lot, I stumbled upon a podcast that would change everything. A woman shared her journey of healing chronic migraines through a mind-body approach. She talked about a concept I had never discovered before: neuroplastic pain.
After listening to that podcast, I found myself diving into a rabbit hole of research on the brain’s ability to unlearn pain (yes, you heard that right—unlearn pain). After all, I had tried every conventional treatment under the sun. What did I have to lose by exploring this new avenue? With a mix of skepticism and hope, I thought to myself, "I've exhausted every other option. Why not give this a chance?"
Little did I know that this moment of curiosity would be the first step on a life-changing path to my recovery.
Since then, I’ve been diving deep into every part of myself, uncovering layers, and changing deeply rooted patterns. Working with pain coaches, therapists, somatic teachers, and my own spirit guides.
And... I’m still on this journey today.
Healing is not a linear process. I’ve experienced setbacks in my pain recovery but each one teaches me something new about myself and builds resilience.
I started to understand that my pain is actually just trying to communicate with me—it is a message, not just a symptom. My pain tells me to SLOW DOWN and tune inward to listen to what my body needs.
One of the most important shifts came through practicing self-compassion and learning to soften my grip on the outcome. The moment I stopped hyperfixating on trying to "get rid of" my pain, it slowly began to lose its hold on me. I discovered that our bodies need to feel safe in order to heal—when we're constantly battling pain with fear and stress, we're actually reinforcing the very state that prevents healing.
Bit by bit, I’ve taken back parts of my health, happiness, and well-being that I thought were gone for good.
I’ve learned that healing from pain was never just about ‘fixing my body’ or ‘curing my illness’—it’s a journey that touches every part of who we are.
True healing means looking at our wholeness, not just one piece or symptom.
It’s about understanding that our pain, whether physical or emotional, is often connected to different layers of our lives. My healing journey hasn’t just given me my health back; it’s also reshaped my personal growth, my approach to life, and my sense of purpose in the world.
To all the chronic pain warriors reading this: I want you to know that there is hope. Your journey may be challenging, but I know you are incredibly strong. You are more than your pain, and you are capable of healing in ways you might not yet imagine. Trust in your ability to grow, adapt, and overcome. Your path to healing may be unique, but it is possible. Be kind and loving towards yourself, be patient with your progress, and never give up on the possibility of a better tomorrow.
You've got this, and you're not alone in this journey <3
