1% Thursday: Understimulate

This week:  Create a way to cut down on outside stimulation during a migraine attack.

Noise, smells, lights, movement… it’s all around us.  Often we’re not even aware of it – in fact, if we were consciously aware of all of it, it would be difficult – no, impossible – to live a normal life.

But migraineurs tend to be especially sensitive – not only during an attack, but especially during an attack.  Your skin may become more sensitive to touch (cutaneous allodynia), you may be more sensitive to light, to the slightest noise, even to things like clutter in the room, movement, smells – and so on.

Our goal this week is to concentrate on cutting down the stimulation when you have an attack.  Here are some things to think about:

• Is there a place you often go during a migraine attack (ie your bedroom)?  How can you cut down on the stimulation here?  Examples:  Heavier curtains, a blind, cut down on clutter, cooler colours, keeping it clean but free of heavy chemicals, etc.
• What can you do to cut down on stimulation wherever you are?  How about an eye pillow?  Investing in some good ear plugs (these are supposed to be excellent ones)?
• Are there other places you can make/request improvements?  The lighting at work?  Use of strong chemical cleaners around the house?

Obviously thinking through all these things can be a big task (and can mean a greater than 1% difference!).  But just try to write down 1-2 priorities, and accomplish at least one.  Hopefully it will make a big difference during that next attack.

What is 1% Thursday?

Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better.  Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge.  Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!