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I was pleased to see an article about writer Hillari Dowdle's experiences with migraines in the June 2008 issue of Body & Soul magazine.
Body & Soul has a nice focus on whole living and alternative medicine for both body and mind. Given this I started reading the article with high hopes. As so often happens when we read about migraines in popular media, my expectations went largely unmet. The article relied far too heavily upon antiquated stereotypes.
The article started out promising in its discussion of the author's experiences with migraines and her exploration of acupuncture and craniosacral therapy for treating them. She also interviewed neurologist and pain specialist Dr. John Claude Krusz, who is my doctor and unquestionably an expert in the field. So far so good.
Things took a sharp turn downhill when the article turned to her discussion of how facing her emotional issues helped her have fewer migraines. To suggest as this author does that every time she has a migraine it is her body's way of reacting to a "bad decision" is irresponsible and insulting.
Migraine is a neurological condition. Attacks may be triggered by stress, consumption of particular foods or beverages and many other factors, but one will not experience a single migraine without the genetic predisposition for the disease.
I agree with the author that we should treat ourselves kindly and take good care of our bodies and minds. I encourage people to not only learn as much as they can about traditional medicine, but also to explore alternative medicine and seek out therapy for help dealing with the often devastating effects of living with migraine disease and the depression that so often accompanies it. I rely heavily upon a combination of traditional Western medicine, psychotherapy (including cognitive behavioral therapy) and alternative treatments to manage my own health conditions.
However, I find it naive to suggest it is possible to reverse the effects of a neurological condition by working on your emotional health. By suggesting this the article ultimately does little more than reinforce a common stereotype that migraineurs are hysterical, overly emotional people who could have less pain in their lives if only they'd get a grip on their moods. Anger can certainly exacerbate a migraine attack, but it is simply one of many relevant factors. Promoting this message under the guise of advocating holistic living does all migraineurs, the author included, a grave disservice.
If you're interested you can read the article online. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it after you've had a chance to read it, even if you disagree, so please leave me a comment.
Fighting Migraines
Technorati Tags: news, doctors, media, body & soul magazine, john claude krusz, rant, prevention, alternative medicine, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, anxiety, depression, migraines, chronic illness, health, somebody heal me
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Content by Diana E. Lee.
6 comments:
i agree with you -- i often run into similar articles in the mainstream media about migraines and stress. apparently if i weren't so STRESSED OUT, i wouldn't have any migraines. ;)
I can understand your response to this article. I have similar responses - especially when I hear people say things like, "If you're feeling sick, change your lifestyle - reduce stress". But I think that the writer did a good job pointing out that it's a "journey" -- and that although we might see cause and effect, it's not a dotted line. No doubt everyone - healthy and those with pain and illness - would benefit from less "toxic" stress. But that ain't happening. We can't avoid stress and it's foolish to try. In fact, trying to do so can become stressful in itself. But those of us with illness and pain benefit even more from exploring those optionsthat help us to manage our response to the stimulus that comes at us. Yes people with migraines have a genetic pre disposition. I have multiple sclerosis and a host of other AI diseases -- and I can only guess why. But I do know that there are triggers that make me feel worse -- and stress is only one of them. So I pay attention to that which I have control over - my response. But that's a tough thing to change. It is a journey.
I'm willing to buy that migraines are a way to help me lead a healthier life. Meaning, the same lifestyle changes I have to make to help control my triggers - eat regular, healthy, well-balanced meals; stay well-hydrated; keep a regular sleep schedule; etc - are good general health things to do.
That said, I can't buy into the deep-seated emotional explanation this author gives for migraines. We don't see much mainstream press given over to the "emotional reasons" behind other diseases (diabetes, heart disease) like we do for migraines, do we? So why single us out?
That's not to say there aren't some practitioners who won't blame emotional issues as the basis of *all* major health problems - there are - but they don't seem to get as much press with other types of diseases as they do with ones traditionally seen as "psychological" diseases.
The time has come - no, the time has PASSED - for the world to recognize migraine as a neurological disease with a genetic basis. Instead of asking "why me?", why not ask "how will this help me lead a healthier life?"
-MJ
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. When I sat down to write this I started to wonder if I was being touchy, so it's nice to see that others are noticing something similar. :)
i was also insulted when i read that my "anger issues" are a prime cause of my migraines. EVERYONE HAS ANGER, and could likely benefit from studying themselves with the help of a competent therapist. to suggest that this is a prime cause of migraine is just absurd. as someone else posted, "why are migraineurs singled out, when diabetics or MS sufferers are given a pass with their diseases"? enough is enough of blaming the victims!
Hi, I have a friend who says the reason I have migraines is because I don't love Jesus. In fact, he says ALL illnesses come about because of the lack of willingness to accept Jesus into our hearts. He says that he never gets sick and never gets depressed or angry because he loves Jesus and has taken Jesus into his heart. Well...I'm sorry, but this feels, sounds, smells just like the "blame the victim" crap to me. I'm tired of being blamed for my migraines on ANY level. You know what? Often when there is a storm coming, and then it rains, my migraine suddenly goes away completely and I feel GREAT! How is that MY doing????
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