#migraine — Public Fediverse posts

A study showed Mast Cell Activation Syndrome patients had higher rates in all but 1-2 of 19 neurological disorders studied.

Among 14 psychiatric disorders additionally studied, female MCAS patients reported higher rates in all and male MCAS patients reported higher rates in 8 disorders.

“MCAS subjects have significantly elevated odds ratios for many neuropsychiatric disorders and may see improvement of symptoms using MCAS-targeted therapies, suggesting that mast cell dysregulation affects the brain and peripheral nervous systems and contributes to neuropsychiatric symptoms.”

PubMed: Prevalence and treatment response of neuropsychiatric disorders in mast cell activation syndrome

Local hosted copy

Well that was unpleasant, entire Sunday spent feel dreadful with a cold that turned into a #migraine

Managed to get some painkillers this morning and have had some marmite and coffee which seems to work for me, but hardly slept

Permettre la prise en charge de l' #emgality (injection contre la #migraine) en France

https://petitions.lecese.fr/initiatives/i-900

#CESE

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1179268/ A personalized elimination diet changed the gut microbiome in people with migraine #bacteria #Blood #brain #Calcitonin #diet #Food #Gene #GutBrainAxis #Health #Immunoglobulin #Interleukin #Interleukin6 #Microbiome #migraine #Nutrition #pain #Research #Sleep #UK #UnitedKingdom

https://www.europesays.com/ie/664666/ A personalized elimination diet changed the gut microbiome in people with migraine #bacteria #blood #Brain #Calcitonin #diet #Éire #food #Gene #GutBrainAxis #Health #IE #Immunoglobulin #Interleukin #Interleukin6 #Ireland #Microbiome #migraine #Nutrition #Pain #Research #Sleep

Day 8 of vertigo + migraine. This morning it waited to pounce until I had been up and awake for a while. So I'm counting that as a win.😵‍💫🫩
#vertigo #migraine #ChronicIllness

Day 6 of vertigo + migraine and all the associated symptoms. I feel so bad for #SunshineSadie - our walks are necessarily too short for her. I'm mostly ok if I stay very still and quiet and move slowly when it's necessary. I hope it's resolved soon.
#vertigo #migraine #ChronicIllness

Migraine, Perception, and Creative Flow

Living Inside A Migraine

When pain, perception, and medication reshape daily life

I’ve been dealing with a migraine for nine days. This isn’t just a headache—it comes with aura, Alice in Wonderland syndrome, and persistent vertigo with nausea. My perception gets distorted, my thinking slows down, and basic tasks become difficult. The medication helps with the pain, but it brings its own side effects, and overall, it’s been hard to function.

In the middle of this, something unexpected happened.

A Brief Shift in State

Unexpected focus and creative flow during disruption

While I was heavily medicated, I had a period of intense creative focus. For a few hours, I was able to paint with a level of freedom that I don’t usually reach. It felt like my usual mental filters were lowered. I wasn’t second‑guessing decisions or holding back. I just worked.

The result was different from my normal work—more direct, less controlled, but also more expressive.

This raised a question for me: what actually changed in that moment?

Changes in Perception

How migraine and medication alter access, not ability

Triptans, the medication I use for acute migraine attacks, act on serotonin receptors. They’re not psychedelics, but they do affect how the brain processes signals. Combined with the migraine itself—especially aura, which already alters perception—the overall effect is a shift in how I experience space, color, and thought.

That shift isn’t comfortable. Most of it is disorienting and unpleasant. But within it, there was a brief window where my usual patterns loosened. And in that space, creative work felt easier.

Access, Not Creation

The work was already there—the conditions just changed

It’s important to be clear: the migraine didn’t “create” anything. The creativity was already there. What changed was how accessible it felt. The conditions removed some of the internal constraints I usually work within—habits, expectations, and self‑editing.

That’s not something I want to rely on. The cost is too high. But it does point to something useful.

If a change in mental state can affect how I access creativity, then there may be other ways to reach similar openness without the physical toll. It suggests that part of my creative process is limited not by ability, but by structure—how tightly I control the outcome, how much I filter while working.

There’s also a broader connection here. Decades ago, I had experiences with psychedelics that shifted how I saw the world and myself. Those experiences helped me let go of a lot of fear and rigidity. I don’t return to them now, but the perspective they opened up has stayed with me.

That perspective has been important in dealing with chronic migraine. The pain itself isn’t optional, but my response to it isn’t fixed. Over time, I’ve learned to manage the mental side of it—how much resistance I bring to it, how I interpret it, and how I move through it. That doesn’t eliminate suffering, but it changes its intensity and impact.

The recent experience fits into that same pattern. Even in a difficult state, there was a moment where something shifted—not into relief exactly, but into clarity of a different kind.

For me, the takeaway isn’t about the medication or the migraine. It’s about access.

The kind of creative flow I felt isn’t something external that I need to recreate through extreme conditions. It’s something internal that I was briefly able to reach under unusual circumstances.

Openness and Letting Go

When the boundary between experience and experiencer softens

There’s also a quality in that state that’s familiar from meditation. It’s a kind of openness where the usual sense of separation starts to fade. Instead of feeling like an observer acting on an experience, there’s just the experience itself—no clear boundary between the one perceiving and what’s being perceived. In that space, the need to control or interpret loosens, and the work unfolds more directly, without the usual distance between intention and action.

Working with Pain

Perspective, resistance, and what can shift

Another layer to this is perspective. The difference between being overwhelmed by the experience and moving through it often comes down to how it’s held. I wrote previously about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as a framework for navigating chronic pain from migraine and lupus. What stands out to me now is how practical that framework is—not as philosophy, but as a way of adjusting perspective in real time.

When The Pain Takes Over

A reminder that practice isn’t always accessible

Pain is present. That part isn’t optional. But the added weight—resistance, fear, frustration—can shift depending on how tightly I hold the experience. That said, this isn’t always accessible. There are moments when the pain takes over completely. Last night was one of those times. I woke up in the middle of the night in severe pain after my first medication didn’t work. I couldn’t find my stronger medication, didn’t have my glasses, and ended up searching through cabinets, drawers, and bags in a panic. I knew that without it, I might end up in the ER—where the treatment helps, but comes with hours of discomfort and side effects. I was overwhelmed, in tears, and scared.

In moments like that, there isn’t much space for perspective or practice. But experiences like this also make something clear to me: without meditation, without the framework I’ve built from Buddhist practice, I would likely be living in that state of panic much more often. My commotion woke up my husband, who came in—calm, steady, not caught in the panic I was in. He found the medication, and he cleaned up the mess I had made searching as I went back to bed. That contrast stood out. It reminded me that while I can’t always access those tools in the moment, they still shape how I move through these experiences over time.

Returning to Openness

Creative flow, meditation, and another way of relating to experience

It’s not easy to stay open in the middle of persistent pain. In those moments, it’s hard to remember that the pain will pass—that it isn’t permanent. Pain forces attention into the present, but not calmly or intentionally. It can narrow everything down to urgency and survival. At the same time, it can act as a kind of teacher. It shows where resistance builds, where fear takes hold, and how quickly the mind tries to escape what’s happening. When I’m able to step back, even slightly, I can see it less as something to fight and more as something that reveals how I relate to experience.

What I keep coming back to is this: the experience changes depending on how I meet it. Not completely, not all at once, but enough to matter. And in those moments of openness, there is less separation—and a little more space for things to be as they are.

I painted this over six hours while medicated for a migraine, drifting in and out of focus. The haze loosened my usual self‑judgment, and the work shifted into something more fluid and intuitive. It’s not complete, but the evolution itself tells the story.

Enhancing Caregiver Support: Cultivating Mindfulness Practices

Discovering Sacredness

We are all unique beings of energy, existing briefly before returning to the cosmos. Each of us plays a part in the symphony of life, contributing to our journey through the universe. Every experience is sacred and filled with the wonder of existence. By adopting this perspective, we discover the universe’s secrets, and each encounter unveils a new aspect of life’s beauty. To understand our connection to everything, we must let go of judgment and fear, recognizing the divine essence within ourselves and our place in creation. Let us begin a journey of self-discovery, moving through time and space as we allow our true selves to grow freely and naturally.

Embracing Present-Moment Awareness: Finding Magic in the Ordinary

Remember that the ordinary is truly sacred, and within you, it shines its brightest. Embrace present-moment awareness to infuse each moment with enchantment, for it is in these fleeting seconds that life reveals its most profound beauty. By pausing to fully embrace each moment, we invite the magic that envelops us, awakening our senses and rejuvenating our souls. This conscious practice allows us to breathe in the richness of our surroundings, enhancing our appreciation for the simple things, like the warmth of sunlight on our skin or the sound of laughter echoing in the air. As we cultivate this mindfulness, we create a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us, transforming the mundane into the miraculous and igniting a spark of joy that resonates in every heartbeat.

Cultivating Present-Moment Awareness: Releasing attachment

To cultivate present-moment awareness, consistent practice is required. Our lives have become encumbered with social media and fear-mongering that pushes us towards anxiety about the future, while we remain constricted by the unchangeable past. We need to return to the present moment with cues such as the breath or heartbeat, which serve as gentle reminders of our existence right here and now. When we embody present-moment awareness, we ultimately lose attachment to the ego, shedding the burdens of societal expectations and self-imposed limitations. We release attachment to who we think we are and instead experience life as the witness, calmly reflecting on the beautiful mystery of creation. This shift in perspective allows us to embrace the richness of our experiences, nurturing a deeper understanding of our connection to the world around us, fostering peace and gratitude in our everyday existence. By staying grounded in the present, we can navigate our lives with clarity and purpose, appreciating the fleeting moments that make up our lives.

Ways to Cultivate Present-Moment Awareness

1. Mindful Breathing: Take a few moments each day to focus on your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for a moment, and exhale slowly. This practice centers your mind and brings you into the present.
2. Body Scan Meditation: Lie down comfortably and mentally scan your body from head to toe, paying attention to any sensations. This practice heightens awareness of your physical presence.
3. Nature Walks: Spend time in nature and consciously observe your surroundings. Notice the colors, sounds, and textures around you, immersing yourself in the beauty of the moment.
4. Gratitude Journaling: Write down three things you are grateful for each day. This practice shifts your focus to the present and enhances your appreciation for the small joys in life.
5. Mindful Eating: When you eat, savor each bite. Notice the flavors, textures, and aromas of your food. This practice helps you appreciate nourishment in a meaningful way.
6. Digital Detox: Set aside specific times to unplug from technology. Use this time to engage in activities that allow you to connect with yourself and your surroundings without distractions.
7. Meditation: Establish a daily meditation practice. Even a few minutes of focusing on your breath or a specific thought can enhance your ability to remain in the present.
8. Grounding Exercises: Practice grounding techniques, such as feeling the ground beneath your feet or identifying five things you can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch in your environment.
9. Mindful Movement: Engage in yoga, tai chi, or any gentle physical activity where you concentrate on the movements and your body’s sensations, fostering a deep connection with the present.
10. Limit Multitasking: Focus on one task at a time, whether it’s working, eating, or conversing. This practice enhances concentration and presence in each activity.

By integrating these practices into your daily routine, you can cultivate a greater awareness of the present moment, enriching your life experience and fostering a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.

Remember to be patient with yourself. If you are dealing with hardship, such as health problems or caring for others, these practices can be overwhelming. During such challenging periods, it’s essential to acknowledge your limits and accept that it’s okay to prioritize self-care. Sometimes it is better to remove practices that are not currently serving you instead of adding new priorities. The key is to focus on what truly nurtures your well-being and contributes positively to your life. We do not want to overstress ourselves, but learn to find the functional middle ground. Striking this balance allows for personal growth and fosters resilience, leading to a healthier approach toward handling life’s obstacles. Remember, the journey to healing and balance is not a race; it’s a gradual process that requires gentleness and self-compassion.

Mindful Coping Strategies for Health Challenges

Navigating health problems, whether your own or those of a loved one, can be incredibly challenging. Here are some mindful strategies to help you cope during these difficult times:

1. Practice Self-Compassion: Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would for a friend in a similar situation.
2. Breathing Exercises: Utilize deep breathing techniques to ground yourself. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. This simple practice can help reduce stress and anxiety.
3. Mindful Journaling: Take a few moments each day to express your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Writing can serve as an emotional release and help clarify your feelings about your situation.
4. Seek Support: Connect with others who understand what you’re going through. Whether it’s a support group or simply friends and family, talking about your experiences can provide comfort and reduce feelings of isolation.
5. Limit Information Overload: While it’s important to stay informed, excessive research about health conditions can lead to anxiety. Set boundaries around how much time you spend gathering information.
6. Establish a Routine: Create a daily routine that includes time for self-care. Whether it’s a leisurely cup of tea or a short walk, having structured time can provide stability.
7. Engage in Gentle Movement: Participate in gentle physical activities like yoga or stretching. These practices can help release tension and promote relaxation.
8. Mindful Listening: If caring for someone else, practice active listening. Be present and fully engaged when they speak, fostering feelings of connection and support.
9. Limit Distractions: Set aside time when you are fully present, free from distractions like phones or television. This can help you focus on the moment and your feelings.
10. Nurture Moments of Joy: Find small moments that bring you joy, whether it’s listening to music, enjoying nature, or savoring a favorite meal. Acknowledging these moments can enhance your well-being amidst difficulties.
11. Gratitude Practice: Reflect on aspects of your life that you are grateful for, even during tough times. Writing down three things each day can shift your perspective.
12. Professional Support: If feelings of stress or anxiety become overwhelming, consider seeking the help of a mental health professional. Therapy can offer guidance and coping strategies tailored to your situation.

By incorporating these mindful strategies into your life, you can cultivate resilience and find moments of peace, even amid challenges. Remember to be gentle with yourself and recognize that it’s okay to ask for help when needed.

Caregiver Support and Mental Health Resources

1. National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC)

   Website: www.caregiving.org

   Provides support and resources for caregivers, including research, tools, and advocacy.

2. Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)

   Website: www.caregiver.org

   Offers information, support groups, and resources to help caregivers take care of themselves.

3. AARP Caregiver Resources

   Website: www.aarp.org/caregiving

   Features a wide range of resources, from articles to community partnerships for caregiver support.

4. Caregiver Action Network (CAN)

   Website: www.caregiveraction.org

   Provides educational resources, webinars, and a community for caregivers.

5. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

   Website: www.nimh.nih.gov

   Offers information on mental health conditions, coping strategies, and finding help.

6. Mental Health America (MHA)

   Website: www.mhanational.org

   Provides resources for mental health support and information on various conditions.

7. Psychology Today – Find a Therapist

   Website: www.psychologytoday.com

   A tool for finding mental health professionals in your area.

8. Crisis Text Line

   Text: “HELLO” to 741741

   A free text service that connects you with a trained crisis counselor for immediate support.

9. Support Groups Central

   Website: www.supportgroupscentral.com

   Offers online support groups for caregivers and those dealing with mental health issues.

10. Alzheimer’s Association

    Website: www.alz.org

    Provides support for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s, including resources and community support.

11. Caregiving.com

    Website: www.caregiving.com

    A community for caregivers to share experiences, advice, and find support.

12. BetterHelp

    Website: www.betterhelp.com

    An online platform for professional counseling, connecting individuals with licensed therapists.

By using these resources, caregivers can find the support and mental health assistance they need to manage their responsibilities and well-being better.

This Reiki-infused meditation gently shifts our awareness to the present moment. This practice allows us to consciously embrace each day, experiencing its beauty without worrying about the future or getting caught up in the past. Whether you start your day with this meditation or need to recenter yourself throughout the day, you can experience the essence of each moment.

#aging #anxietyRelief #caregiver #caregiving #cargiverSupport #chronicIllness #copingSkills #dementia #elderCare #flow #grounding #healing #jsutForToday #meditation #meditationForBeginners #meditatiopn #mentalHealth #migraine #mindful #mindfulness #moments #nature #practice #resilience #resources #sacredness #simpleLife #stressAnxiety #stressRelief

ko-fi.com/post/Try-tak... More videos are coming now that I have an editor again! Here's one for everyone. Enjoy! #BodyworkWithAera #SelfCare #Migraine #ChronicPain

Try taking your ear downtown w...

No sé qué pasó pq estoy posteando poco y escribiendo menos, pero la semana pasada el #blog tuvo una barbaridad de visitas.
A los seguidores y a los que distéis con él por casualidad, #GRACIAS

#blogger #bloguera #Bloguers #Mastoblog #Mastobloguers #Mastoblogger #salud #health #Lupus #LES #SEL #EncefalomielitisMialgica #MyalgicencEphalomyelitis #Sjögren #Sjögrens #Fibromialgia #fibromyalgia #migraña #migrañas #migraine #migraines #Raynaud #raynauds #RaynaudsDisease #natura
https://domandoallobo.blogspot.com

There are 9 spots left for $35 flat rate ticket pricing for all of my classes in 2025! Sign up here: Hopp.bio/Aera #Online #SelfCare #Massage Classes #heds #MCAS #lymphaticDrainage #migraine #Tmj #ToS #chronicpain #Bodyworkwithaera

Aera | Hopp

The 20 ‘most painful' health conditions, according to the NHS
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/the-20-most-painful-health-conditions-according-to-the-nhs/ar-AA1kSjMR?cvid=0891b67d26254255841cf61460de207b&ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&ei=7

#Pain
#NHS
#Endometriosis
#SlippedDisc
#Appendicitis
#BrokenBones
#Shingles
#FrozenShoulder
#ClusterHeadaches
#ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome
#CRPS
#HeartAttack
#KidneyStones
#Arthritis
#Gout
#SickleCellDisease
#SickelCell
#Fibromyalgia
#Migraine
#Sciatica
#TrigeminalNeuralgia
#AcutePancreatitus
#StomachUlcer
#PáinAfterSurgery