Acceptance is not Fatalism

Our informal motto around here is “it’s time to fight back”. It’s time to fight back against headache disorders, including cluster headache and migraine. It’s time to fight back against people who tell us “it’s just a headache”, or doctors who claim that there’s nothing they can do.

But sometimes it’s hard to fight back. And sometimes there is confusion about what fighting back really means. After all, does “fighting” mean that I will be constantly living with discontent and anger?

I don’t believe that it means that at all. Why? Because “acceptance” is not “fatalism”.

Yes, I believe that most people should be able to find major relief from the headache symptoms they suffer now. Yes, I believe that there are dozens of helpful treatments. (See 10 Critical Mistakes First Time Migraine Patients Make)

But I also know that the road to relief can be long and difficult. So, on one level, I believe that “acceptance” is important.

We need to learn to be content with our situation as it is now. We need to learn how to live at peace. Because anger and internal stress will not relieve headaches.

We need to accept that neurological conditions can take time and effort to treat. Acceptance means does not mean accepting that you will have headaches forever. But it does mean that you will live well now, without waiting until everything is better.

Because acceptance is not fatalism. One of the biggest challenges in headache treatment is when family members, doctors – even we ourselves – start thinking that headaches are just “normal”. “Our lot in life”. “I’ll just have to live with it”.

No. It is time to fight back. Even if that means taking a break once in a while. We’re not going to be fatalistic and give up. We’re not going to lose hope.

So yes – find contentment and peace in the present. But never give up, and never lose hope. It really is time to fight back. Let’s fight together.