How to help your wife with migraines

Helping your wife with migraines starts with believing her and reducing the load during attacks. Migraine can include severe head pain, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, aura, and exhaustion.

During an attack

Lower lights, reduce noise, avoid strong smells, bring water or a cold pack if helpful, and handle urgent household tasks. Ask whether she wants quiet, company, medication from her plan, or help cancelling commitments.

Be specific with help

"Let me know if you need anything" can be too much work during an attack. Offer concrete options: "I can take the kids," "I can cancel dinner," "I can bring your medication," or "I can make the room dark."

Between attacks

Make a plan together: where medication is kept, what red flags mean urgent care, who handles child care or meals, and what routines help reduce attacks. Support is not policing. Do not blame attacks on imperfect habits.

Watch the invisible recovery

Migraine recovery can continue after pain improves. She may still be foggy, tired, nauseated, or sensitive to light and sound. Plan for recovery time rather than assuming the attack is over the moment she stands up.

When to seek urgent help

Use emergency services for sudden extremely severe headache, new weakness, new speech or vision changes, confusion, seizure, fainting, head injury, fever with stiff neck, or symptoms that are different from her usual migraine.

Sources

• American Migraine Foundation: How to best support someone with migraine
• American Migraine Foundation: 3 ways to support your partner with migraine
• Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes