Migraine Expressions

24 November 2023

New Migraine Book Reminds Us, We’re Not Alone

A new book is not only reminding us that we’re not alone, but also being used to raise money to fight migraine.

It’s not the only one of its kind, but let’s face it, it’s been a full 15 years since the beautiful Migraine Expressions was published (a book I would still recommend, by the way!). It’s certainly time for another chapter in the story.

This book comes from a different source – our friends at Miles for Migraine. You’re probably familiar with the Run/Walk/Relax events that has made Miles for Migraine famous for raising awareness and raising funds. If there’s a season for these events, it tends to be more February to April, with a few other events later on. But the organization has expanded quite a bit in recent years, offering many other events and support groups online and offline, as well as resources and training. All the while, they help provide funds for migraine treatment and research.

But off-season or not, this is the season for giving, and the new book Dear Migraine: Migraine and headache inspired essays, poems and art is out just in time for Christmas. You might want to get it for a migraineur, or perhaps for a close friend or family member, to help them understand. As it says in the official promo:

Inside these pages you will find works that illustrate pain and struggle, but also laughter, insights, and inspiration. The words and visuals in this book are by 64 contributors who have all been affected by migraine and headache diseases.
Dear Migraine

But besides the value of the book itself, proceeds from the sales will go toward the work of Miles for Migraine. That’s how you give twice! Give through the links in this post, and you’ll also support the work of this website. That’s giving three ways at once! I think that’s the best I can do for today. 🙂

A special thanks to all of those who contributed!

19 December 2012

Two Books that Should be on Every Migraineur’s Coffee Table

James Resources 5

If you could only choose two books to have on your coffee table, or to have handy when company comes over, what would they be? Here are my two suggestions for migraineurs:

Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine: Migraine Expressions is really designed to be a coffee table type book. It’s a large, colourful, beautifully designed hardcover.

Many people don’t understand the impact of migraine disease, and what a large community migraineurs make up. They don’t understand how migraine destroys life, and how much migraineurs want to fight back.

This book will give your guests quick pictures to look at that illustrate the agony of migraine, but it will also give them poems and prose to read if they’re relaxing for the evening. (Full review here. Migraine Expressions is available at amazon.com or amazon.co.uk.)
Migraine Art: The Migraine Experience from Within: At first this may sound like the same kind of book. And yes, both books are filled with full colour art showing migraine symptoms and the impact of migraine.
So why would you want both?

Migraine Art comes from a very different perspective than Migraine Expressions. Migraine Expressions gives a voice to the migraine community. Migraine Art, on the other hand, is scientific research.

If your friends think you’re the only one who has your crazy symptoms, they’re in for a surprise.

First, they’ll find the names of two doctors on the cover – Dr. Klaus Podoll (a physician and researcher) wrote the book along with Derek Robinson (long time migraine art expert). Plus there’s a forward by Dr. Oliver Sacks, famous for his migraine research and the work that became known to the world in the movie Awakenings.

Next, your friends will see page after page of documented, researched symptoms of migraine. They’ll see fascinating illustrations in each category. They will find out that most likely some people have symptoms even more strange than yours. (What is the strangest symptom, anyway? That may be a topic for another post!)

This is a medical reference book, so not for casual reading. But the scientific aspect is what makes it so different and valuable. At the same time it’s easy enough to flip through that your guests will find it interesting.

(Full review here. Available at amazon.com and amazon.co.uk)

One more note. Because of the topic, these books are at times harsh and graphic in their art and descriptions. So it may not be a book you’ll want your neighbour’s 6 year old flipping through.

But if you really want your friends to understand migraine, sometimes you have to be blunt. These books can do the work for you.

27 February 2012

Express Yourself! Contest WINNERS!

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Thanks for all your great entries! It was so important to add an element of randomness to the winners (thanks random.org) because it would have been so hard to choose the best one.

So with a little help we do have a winner! Three winners, in fact – and all three are from different countries. 🙂

We also had some great explanations, although I should say that I only took the images into consideration, not the text below them.

My Migraine Sketches
by Debbie Johnson

First prize goes to Debbie Johnson from Chicago, IL, USA! Her entry was entitled My Migraine Sketches. I love her picture. At first it looks like nothing… some doodles… then the more you look the more descriptive the image becomes.

Well done, Debbie! You are the winner of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera, the beautiful hardcover book Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey Through Life With Migraine, and a t-shirt from the Migraine Research Foundation!

The second prize goes to Cat from London, England UK. Her entry is The Migraine Beast. She gives a simple but powerful image of an oncoming migraine attack. Click the link to see the image and Cat’s explanation.

Cat will receive the a US$20 gift certificate for amazon.com, and a copy of Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey Through Life With Migraine.

Last but not least, our 3rd place winner is "the girl with the migraines" by Nicole W. of Ontario, Canada.

I have to admit, this was one of the simplest and yet most striking of all the entries. Add the title of the image, and you can see a woman who is being labeled and yet feels powerless to do anything about it due to the oppressive symptoms of migraine.

Nicole will also receive a copy of Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey Through Life With Migraine.

All three winners need to send me their full names, addresses and phone numbers (none of which will be published) so that I can send them their prizes as soon as possible.

To see all of the FANTASTIC entries, visit the Express Yourself! Contest home page.

Stay tuned for the next contest! And remember, if you have something you’d like to donate for the next contest, read this. Thanks again to the Migraine Research Foundation for their donation to this contest!

Congratulations Debbie, Cat, and Nicole! Enjoy your prizes!

20 February 2012

Express Yourself! Contest: A few more days to enter!

James Website news 0

There are just a few more days to enter the Express Yourself! Contest. The contest is open until the end of the day on Wednesday.

I’ve already talked about the very cool compact camera that I’ll be giving away. But don’t forget – there’s more!

First of all, the Migraine Research Foundation (which this site supports) has donated a t-shirt for the winner. And remember, if we have 50 or more entries, US$200 will be donated to the foundation.

But there’s more still! The winner (and if there are 20 or more entries – the winners – will also receive a copy of Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey Through Life With Migraine! This is a beautiful hardcover book of migraine art and poetry that will change the way you and your friends and family view migraine.

I have a full review of Migraine Expressions which you can read here.

If there is a second place winner, they will also receive a US$20 amazon gift certificate.

So tell your artsy friends who have headache, or migraine, or cluster headache – tell your photographer friends, those who like to draw – spread the word! Let’s see 50 entries telling the world about the reality of these conditions – and let’s see more winners and more $ going to migraine research!

See the rules here, and enter now!

Note: I will be away from the internet on the last day of the contest, and for a few days afterwards. Your entry will be accepted, but it may not appear online with the others until next week. So don’t panic. 😉

1 February 2012

Express Yourself! Contest

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I’ve decided that 2012 is all about creativity. So that’s where we’re going to start with our February contest!

This contest is all about visual art. We have a whole section of photos and drawings describing migraine and migraine aura.

This month you’ll have the opportunity to enter photos and drawings that describe migraine, cluster headache, or chronic headache. Here’s how the winners will be chosen:

I will choose my 10 favourites out of all entries.
Out of those, the winners will be chosen randomly using random.org.
If there are 19 or fewer people entering (1 entry per person please), there will be one winner. If 20-49 people enter, there will be 3 winners. If there are 50 or more entries, and additional US$200 will be donated to the Migraine Research Foundation.

Prizes?

Canon Powershot Digital Camera - 1st Prize!

Of course there are prizes! Since this is a visual art/photography type of contest, the winner will receive one of the highest rated point and shoot cameras on the market – the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera!

But that’s not all. The winner will also receive a free copy of the beautiful hardcover book Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey Through Life With Migraine.

The Migraine Research Foundation has also generously donated a t-shirt, which will also go to the winner.

As stated above, if there are enough entries there will be more winners. The second and third place winners will also receive Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey Through Life With Migraine. The second place winner will receive a US$20 gift certificate for amazon.com.

Read my review of Migraine Expressions here.

When??

This contest opens today! And it closes in 3 weeks, on the 22nd of February. The winners will be chosen and announced by the end of the month.

Other notes

Remember, only 1 entry per person will be considered. If you enter more than once, only your first entry will be accepted.

Yes, this is a global contest. However, there may be locations I simply can’t ship to. If that’s the case, another winner will be chosen. But I’ll do my best to get the prizes to you, wherever you are in the world!

I also have the right to reject entries I don’t feel are appropriate. Since the photos/art will be posted, I do want to keep them family-friendly. On the other hand, I realize that some of the art, because of the topic, may be "disturbing". Just don’t go overboard.

All entries that are accepted will become a part of our art collection at relieve-migraine-headache.com. New and original submissions to the site only please.

One more thing – be sure to follow the instructions carefully. You must enter your name and location on the first page, and your name and email address on the second page. If you don’t, your entry won’t be accepted.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead and enter! 🙂