Member Stories and Migraine Science episodes about Stress.
55 years old, New Zealand
Self-reported migraine
At start:
13 days/month
After 3 months:
3 days/month
What changed
Went from a migraine six days a week to about one a month, with enough stability to compete again and get married.
"I actually can be normal again."
Does even a ponytail hurt during migraine? Discover why your scalp becomes so sensitive—and how to gently calm your nervous system.
Could blood pressure be fueling your migraines? Discover how circulation and nervous system imbalance may trigger pain without obvious warning.
Do you feel unusually irritated before a migraine? Discover why it may be an early brain signal and how to respond before pain escalates.
Do you feel wiped out after migraine pain ends? Discover why the “migraine hangover” happens—and how to help your brain recover.
Do you always put others first? Discover how people-pleasing and self-suppression can overload your nervous system—and trigger migraines.
What happens when your baby wakes you multiple times a night… or your work schedule constantly disrupts your sleep—and suddenly your migraines become harder to manage? In this episode of The Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores the powerful connection between broken sleep and migraine attacks. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, healthcare worker, or shift worker, you’ll learn why disrupted sleep affects the migraine brain so deeply—and what you can realistically do to support your nervous system. You’ll discover: 🌙 How disrupted sleep impacts your brain, stress hormones, and migraine threshold 🌙 Practical ways to support your nervous system even when your nights are unpredictable 🌙 A simple daily adjustment that can help your body recover faster from broken sleep cycles This episode blends neuroscience and practical lifestyle strategies to help you better understand your body and reduce overwhelm during demanding seasons of life. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on [migraineheroes.com](https://www.migraineheroes.com) **References:** - **Why We Sleep (Walker, 2017): **This book explores the science of sleep and its profound impact on brain function, emotional wellbeing, physical health, learning, and longevity. _Read more[ here](https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/why-we-sleep-9780141983769)_. - **Sleep and Brain Waste Clearance (Xie et al., 2013):** This landmark study shows that sleep promotes the clearance of metabolic waste products from the brain, supporting the idea that sleep plays a critical role in brain restoration and neurological health. _Read more [here](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1241224)._ - **Sleep and Migraine (Rains, 2018):** This paper reviews how comorbid sleep disorders should be assessed and treated in people with migraine. _Read more [here](https://europepmc.org/article/MED/30095163)._ - **Headache and Sleep (Kelman & Rains, 2005):** This study examines sleep patterns and sleep complaints in a large clinical sample of migraineurs. _Read more [here](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15985108/)._ - **Melatonin and Migraine Prevention (Gonçalves et al., 2016):** This randomized clinical trial compares melatonin 3 mg, amitriptyline 25 mg, and placebo for migraine prevention. _Read more [here.](https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/10/1127)_ **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 pushing through isn’t strength but the very thing quietly building your next migraine? In this episode of **Migraine Heroes Podcast**, host **Diane Ducarme **explores the fine line between resilience and overload and why your body doesn’t respond well to force for too long. You’ll discover: 💡 How “pushing through” can create a ripple effect in your nervous system, gradually lowering your migraine threshold 💡 The subtle signals your body sends when it needs adjustment—not more effort 💡 How to make clear, in-the-moment decisions: when to continue gently, when to scale back, and when true recovery is the smarter move This episode invites you to shift from force to awareness so you can move forward without triggering the very thing you’re trying to avoid 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on [migraineheroes.com](http://migraineheroes.com) **References: ** - **Migraine Overview (Goadsby et al., 2021):** This comprehensive review presents migraine as a complex neurological disorder, covering its epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. _Read more [here](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-021-00328-4)._ - **Migraine: From Pathophysiology to Treatment (Goadsby et al., 2023):** This paper explores how advances in understanding migraine biology have led to more targeted and effective treatment strategies. _Read more [here](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-023-11706-1)._ - **Cutaneous Allodynia in Migraine (Quintas et al., 2022):** This review examines how allodynia contributes to migraine progression and affects diagnosis and treatment response. _Read more [here](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.831035/full)._ - **Migraine in the Workplace (Stewart et al., 2021):** This study explores how migraine impacts work performance, absenteeism, and overall productivity. _Read more [here](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-021-10715-2)_. - **Productivity and Economic Burden of Migraine (Dodick et al., 2021):** This paper analyzes the impact of migraine on quality of life, productivity loss, and employer costs._ Read more [here](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10194-021-01243-5)_. - **Global Burden of Neurological Disorders (Steiner et al., 2024):** This study quantifies the global burden of neurological conditions, including migraine, emphasizing their major contribution to disability worldwide. _Read more [here](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422%2824%2900038-3/fulltext)._ - **Advances in Migraine Prevention (Martinelli et al., 2026):** This paper emphasizes the importance of early and proactive migraine management to prevent disease progression. _Read more [here](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(25)00477-6/abstract)_. - **Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Migraine (Chen et al., 2024):** This paper reviews how multi-target approaches in traditional medicine may modulate migraine pathways, including inflammation and neurotransmitter balance. _Read more [here](https://www.dovepress.com/mechanism-of-traditional-chinese-medicine-in-treating-migraine-a-compr-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR)_. **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 your migraine doesn’t come out of nowhere but quietly whispers before it strikes? In this episode of **Migraine Heroes Podcast**, host **Diane Ducarme** helps you tune into the early signals your body sends before a migraine fully unfolds. By understanding these subtle cues, you can move from feeling caught off guard to feeling prepared, grounded, and in control. This episode blends neuroscience with practical, body-based awareness so you can respond earlier, not later. **You’ll discover:** 💡 How to spot the early warning signs of a migraine attack even the ones most people overlook 💡 What’s happening in your brain during the pre-migraine phase and why it can feel so unpredictable 💡 Simple, immediate steps you can take to ease the process and potentially reduce the intensity before it escalates This isn’t about fear or hypervigilance. It’s about learning your body’s language so you can act with clarity, not surprise. If you’ve ever felt like your migraine “just hits,” this episode will help you see the signs that were there all along and what you can do with them. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on [migraineheroes.com](http://migraineheroes.com) **References: ** - **Migraine Pathophysiology (Charles, 2018): **This review explains migraine as a complex nervous-system disorder rather than a simple vascular headache, covering genetic, anatomical, physiological, and pharmacological mechanisms. _Read more [here](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(17)30435-0/abstract)_**.** - **Premonitory Symptoms of Migraine (Kelman, 2004): **This study focuses on early warning symptoms that can appear before migraine pain, such as fatigue, mood change, food craving, and neck stiffness. _Read more [here](https://europepmc.org/article/MED/15447695)._ - **The Premonitory Phase of Migraine (Maniyar et al., 2014):** This paper shows that brain activation can be detected before the headache phase, especially in regions such as the hypothalamus and brainstem, supporting the idea that migraine starts before pain begins. _Read more [here](https://academic.oup.com/brain/article-abstract/137/1/232/363839)._ - **Biological Insights from the Premonitory Symptoms of Migraine (Karsan & Goadsby, 2018):** This review looks at what premonitory symptoms can reveal about migraine biology, including thirst, yawning, lethargy, and sensory sensitivity before headache onset._ Read more [here](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-018-0098-4)._ - **The Migraine Generator Revisited (Schulte & May, 2016):** This paper revisits the “migraine generator” idea and argues that hypothalamic changes may drive the migraine cycle through altered connectivity with the brainstem. _Read more [here](https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/139/7/1987/2464241)._ **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.
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