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i hate that migraines control my life; you feel your mood change and you can’t do a thing about it

jones8900, my mood changes so bad. I become so mean to people who love me and truly want to help. I believe our severe pain makes us a completely different person during an attack, at least it does for me absolutely.

I totally agree. This happened yesterday to me but it happened before my migraine. I was swearing like a truck driver and just being a plain old biatch. My 20 year old was home and I just told her this, “I’m in a seriously bad mood, I think it has something to do with my migraines, I might slam some cabinets and swear and throw some things around but its not about you or Dad and I just want you to know that. I love you and that’s why I’m telling you. It will pass but in the meantime, I am severely out of my mind
bitchy, okay?” She was good with that. If I can recognize it, that’s a good thing.

My family can tell when a prodrome hits me. My husband tells me I’m acting like I”m ready to jump out of my skin, which is a pretty good assessment of how it feels. I don’t mean to be short or easy to anger, but if its a prodrome, I’m likely to say and do things I normally wouldn’t do… and I do them without even noticing what’s happening. Thank goodness I have a very understanding family. Living with Migraine as a 5th member of the family has changed us all in many, many ways…

I’m glad to know that my mood swings are not because I’m just going crazy. I’m usually a super chiper person and always have a smile on my face but there are times that I turn into a very mean person at the drop of a hat!

When I end up having my ‘cranky pants’ on my husband sits me down, stares me right in the eye and says “Go get something to eat right now and then go lay down”. Eating a quick carb + protein makes sure that it isn’t a blood sugar issue and it’s enough of a distraction that I’m able to realize that my mood is just my migraine prodrome. Thankfully I have my husband to help me recognize when I’m having a prodrome otherwise I would just shrug it off.

Thank goodness for understanding spouses – eh?!!

Feeling defeated. I am on day 6 of a migraine and I can’t help but feel battered and bruised. My spirits are low and I just feel like crying. I am at work today because I just can’t deal with the stress or pressure of missing another day. I know I need to miss work and take care of myself but sometimes it’s easier said then done. The guile trips, the cold shoulder, the silent treatment, it’s more than I can bare.

The mood changes associated with Migraine attacks can be hard on everyone – those around us, and US! Remember, it is up to you how you respond to the guilt trips and cold shoulders. Most of the time, it is a choice. I try to encourage members to remember that how you respond to these triggers says a lot about who you are as a person. Deciding how you will respond before you are in a position to need that response is also important. Do you know what also is helpful? Practice. Yes, practice. Practicing what to say and how to say it I found to be very helpful in maintaining composure and staying in the best mood that I can despite a challenging situation. Is that something you might be willing to try?

So I’m new here and this is my first post (I hope this forum has formatting). I wanted to post in the most appropriate thread for my ‘unique’ problem. Hopefully im not alone on this:

It seems that my level of consciousness (in respects to lucidity not fainting/sleeping) is directly related to my migraines. I have performance anxiety with public speaking. I also take beta blockers for the migraines and they do not help with my performance anxiety. However if I have a migraine (pain: 5/10) and must drag myself through a presentation my anxiety is almost completely gone. The worst my migraine gets the worst my memory gets, the more I cant remember what day it is or a sense of time. Everything is fuzzy and time drags on; If I’m able to abort the migraine it seems like a whole new day but that everything is a bit off. And oh, if my migraine is about 8/10 it seems My emotions completely shut down and I truly care about nothing.

Days that I don’t have a migraine I feel incredibly lucid. Probably due to the fact that most days I have a migraine so the contrast of headache-to-relief is tremendous. The amount of headspace is amazing and I can finally think clearly. If you have ever had a lucid dream, it feels like that at times.

I feel like im going a bit crazy here so I hope someone else can relate. Also the only medication I am on are beta blockers and the occasional aborting agent.

darkenvy,

Have you discussed this with your doctor? There are a couple of things that could be at play here. First, during a Migraine, levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, afe affected, so that can account for some of what you’re feeling. Second, you might want to ask your doctor if the beta blocker you’re taking could be causing any of what you’re feeling. Beta blockers are sometimes used to help public speakers and even in the treatment of PTSD because they block stress hormones. Disorientation is a possible side effect of beta blockers.

Hope some of this makes sense. The bottom line is that discussing all of this with your doctor makes sense.

Teri

I made an appointment with my doctor and I’ll bring it up. I’ve been meaning to speak with my doctor with trying something else as lethargy sometimes hits me withe the beta blockers. (some days I just don’t have my usual pep)

Sometimes, the tough part is deciding which is worse.. The Migraine or it’s treatment. Thankfully there are many to try. It’s sure worth a conversation with our doctors when the side effects cause a major problem in our lives.