Migraines aren’t “just bad headaches.” They’re full-body experiences that can bring nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and days of pain. In this episode of the She Talks Health Podcast, host Sophie Shepherd interviews Diane Ducarme — migraine expert, founder of the Migraine Heroes app, and host of the Migraine Heroes podcast. Together, they unpack the differences between migraines and headaches, explore the root causes behind recurring migraines, and share practical tips for relief. Diane also reveals how liver health, hormonal balance, stress resilience, and the gut-brain connection all play critical roles in migraine management. You’ll learn: - Why migraines are more than just head pain - How stress, trauma, and perimenopause can worsen symptoms - The importance of liver and kidney health in both Eastern and Western medicine approaches - Practical strategies for tracking your symptoms and finding personalized solutions - How the Migraine Heroes app can help you understand and manage your unique migraine patterns ✨ Whether you suffer from migraines or support someone who does, this episode will give you tools, perspective, and hope.
Migraine Types
Migraine is not one condition. Aura, silent migraine, vestibular migraine, hemiplegic migraine and chronic migraine each have their own pattern, and knowing which one you live with changes what you track and what you try.
These episodes walk through how each type presents, how it differs from an ordinary headache, and what members found useful once they could name what was happening.
Start here
Why can migraine aura cause kaleidoscope vision, zigzag lines or blind spots without head pain? Explore what may be happening in the brain.
What if the world doesn’t need to spin for your brain to feel like it is? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores the unsettling experience of motion-triggered and vestibular migraines, where even the smallest movements can disrupt your inner balance. Through the lens of neuroscience and lived experience, you begin to understand why your brain reacts so strongly to motion and how to gently bring it back to safety. You’ll discover: 💫 Why motion: like car rides, screens, or scrolling, can overstimulate your brain and trigger a migraine cascade 💫 What vestibular migraines really are, and why they are so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed 💫 Simple, grounding techniques you can use to calm your nervous system and reduce motion sensitivity starting today This episode helps you reconnect with your sense of stability so your world can feel steady again, from the inside out. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on [migraineheroes.com](http://migraineheroes.com) **References: ** **Vestibular Migraine: Diagnostic Criteria (Lempert et al., 2012):** This paper establishes diagnostic criteria for vestibular migraine, defining its clinical features and its relationship to both migraine and vestibular disorders. _Read more[ here](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23142830/). _ **Vestibular Migraine (Dieterich, Obermann & Celebisoy, 2016):** This paper describes vestibular migraine as the most common cause of episodic vertigo, highlighting its clinical features and overlap between migraine and balance disorders. _Read more [here](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-015-7905-2)_. **Visual Vertigo and Environmental Motion Sensitivity (Bronstein, Golding & Gresty, 2013):** This paper explores visual vertigo, showing how complex visual environments and motion can trigger dizziness and disorientation through sensory mismatch. _Read more [here](https://europepmc.org/article/MED/24057825)_. **Disclaimer**: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks. We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and acephalgic migraine (silent migraine). Our discussions also extend to cervicogenic headaches, ice pick headaches, and pressure headaches, which often mimic migraine or contribute to overall migraine burden.
What if one side of your body stopped moving and it was a migraine? Discover the mystery of hemiplegic migraine and how balance returns.
All Migraine Types episodes
Learn why visual aura can feel like it is in one eye, how retinal migraine differs, and a simple way to observe what is really happening.
Jaw clenching may add to migraine load. Learn the signs, why mouth guards may not stop clenching, and a simple jaw-reset routine.
Why migraine can return after childbirth, what can make postpartum recovery harder, and which changes deserve medical attention.
How hormones, birth control, estrogen withdrawal, and migraine interact, including why aura matters when choosing contraception.
Why estrogen fluctuations, sleep disruption, hot flashes, and changing cycles can make migraine more unpredictable during perimenopause.
Jessica
42 years old, Canada
Self-reported migraine
At start:
5 days/month
After 13 months:
0 days/month
What changed
Her three-day migraine episodes gradually eased, with the biggest improvement in the past six months after nearly two years in the program.
'There's always hope and there's always progress."
Is it migraine aura, a scotoma, or blurred vision? Discover how to tell them apart and which visual changes deserve prompt medical attention.
Could your migraine medication be feeding the headache cycle? Learn how rebound headaches develop and how to recognize and break the pattern safely.
Ready to start your own story?
Find your migraine patterns