Migraines are so unpredictable, it is a real relief when you finally achieve some kind of stability.
It’s far better to limit yourself and stay pain free than to live in constant fear of the next migraine attack.
But it’s a mixed blessing. On one hand, it’s great to finally feel like you have some kind of control over your disease. On the other, living a regimented lifestyle may actually be making your disease worse.
Change is Good
Instead of studying today, I’ve been reflecting on some of the things I learned this week. Most notable is the idea that without constant changes we become stagnant down to the cellular level. Stagnation leads to aging and disease.
It’s only natural to be afraid of change. It’s even more reasonable to avoid changes when you believe that anything you do could send you back into a pattern of pain and suffering.
All you want to do is get into a comfort zone and stay there.
The problem is, the comfort zone doesn’t last. As I’ve learned this week, staying in the comfort zone actually prevents you from getting better.
So we need to be constantly seeking the next thing to try. We have to push ourselves, even just a little, to make sure our disease doesn’t get worse.
How to Make Changes
I’m not suggesting you need to jump back into a full-throttle life to improve your health. We both know that is just going to bring more pain.
Instead, you have to get out of your comfort zone in ways you haven’t tried before. Find new ways to push your limits, ever so slightly, and see what happens.
Maybe you need more sleep, or less. Maybe you need to meditate, or punch a pillow with all your might. Maybe you need more carbs, more fat, or more protein. Or less carbs, fat, or protein. Maybe you need to get out in the woods and breathe some fresh air. Maybe you need a specific nutrient, or a helpful food or herb. Maybe you need to stretch your body when you wake up in the morning, or before you go to bed at night. There are so many things you can try.
Small, incremental changes help your body understand that it is still alive. Small changes could trigger a migraine, or they might actually make your body healthier.
You will never know until you try. Please don’t be afraid to try.
What I Learned About Migraines Today
The more I think about it, the more I realize that fear is the biggest reason migraines “can’t be cured.” The fear of pain and uncertainty, the fear of the next migraine attack, the fear of choosing the unknown, the fear that something is really wrong with you — all these fears will keep you from finding the small steps that can take you to better health.
You have to keep testing your limits, or your world will continue to get smaller and smaller.
What limits are you brave enough to test today?
