Helping a loved one with migraine

The most useful support starts with believing the person. Migraine is an invisible neurologic disease, and many people already feel pressure to prove that they are truly ill.

During an attack

• Ask one short question: "What do you need right now?"
• Reduce light, sound, smell, and interruptions.
• Bring water, medication from their plan, a cold pack wrapped in cloth, sunglasses, an eye mask, or a bowl if nausea is severe.
• Handle time-sensitive tasks such as child care, pets, food, calls, transport, or cancellation messages.
• Do not pressure them to talk, explain, make decisions, or look at screens.

Between attacks

Help build a plan before the next attack. Ask where medication is kept, what symptoms are typical, what red flags mean urgent care, who to contact, and what responsibilities need coverage if they are suddenly unable to function.

Support routines without policing. Consistent sleep, meals, hydration, exercise, and stress management can help many people, but blame and surveillance make migraine harder to live with.

What not to say

Avoid "everyone gets headaches," "just drink water," "try harder," "you cancel too much," or "it is probably stress." Better: "I believe you," "I can lower the lights," "I can drive," "I can take over this task," or "Do we need your urgent-care plan?"

Know red flags

Call emergency services for sudden extremely painful headache, new weakness, new speech or vision problems, confusion, seizure, fainting, very high fever with meningitis symptoms, or head injury. Do not ask the person to drive themselves; use local emergency services for stroke-like symptoms, seizure, confusion, or severe sudden headache.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes
• Mayo Clinic: Migraine diagnosis and treatment
• NHS: Migraine
• American Migraine Foundation: Migraine resources and support
• American Migraine Foundation: Common myths about migraine