If you're the loved one of a migraineur or a migraineur putting together a holiday wish list, consider these ideas for migraineur-friendly holiday gifts this season.
Donate to the Migraine Research Foundation. A donation of any amount (the higher the better, of course) to the
Migraine Research Foundation in the name of your favorite migraineur is a wonderful and special gift. After all, our hope is that there should one day be a cure. If we had a cure for migraine disease everything else would be gravy. All of the MRF's costs are underwritten, so 100% of your donation goes directly to migraine-related research.
Choose an essential book. I always recommend people who have recently been diagnosed or who are just starting the journey of taking control of their migraine disease start with
Teri Robert's book, Living Well with Migraine Disease & Headaches. It's an essential for every migraineur. Other good options include:
The Migraine Brain by Carolyn Bernstein & Elaine McArdle
The Woman's Migraine Toolkit by Dawn Marcus
10 Simple Solutions to Migraines by Dawn Marcus
Migraine Expressions edited by Betsy Blondin
Tools for exploring mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction are awesome tools for managing life with chronic illness and pain. Here are some suggestions of great gift ideas any migraineur interesting in exploring this topic would appreciate:
Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
How to Be Sick by Toni Bernhard
Break Through Pain by Shinzen Young
Relaxation Body Scan & Guided Imagery for Well-Being by Carolyn McManus
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
Grab some awareness apparel. Migraineur
Cat Charrett-Dykes designed a ribbon for chronic migraine awareness (a purple ribbon with a red stripe on it). She has set up a
Cafe Press shop to allow us to purchase merchandise featuring the awareness ribbon. Any profits she makes from the sale of these items will be donated to the National Headache Foundation. The
"Fuck Migraines" cap is a personal favorite! Teri Robert has a
Help for Headaches Cafe Press shop you should check out, too.
Avoid food gifts. Most migraineurs have specific food triggers they must avoid at all costs. Unless you are intimately familiar with a migraineur's triggers (ie you have prepared meals for her/him), skip the food gifts.
Avoid fragrances. While some migraineurs aren't bothered by distinctive scents, many are. It is impossible to predict which ones will be unbearable for which people. Unless the migraineur in your life specifically requests perfume, bath products or home fragrances, skip these items.
Offer your help. Most migraineurs would appreciate your offer of accompaniment to a doctor's appointment, a ride, a meal, child care, etc. when dealing with a migraine. Give the migraineur in your life a homemade gift certificate for a favor they can redeem next time migraine puts him/her in a bind. Most of us would love someone to offer their help even though we don't feel comfortable asking for it.
What gift suggestions do you have to add? What would you like to receive? Please share in the comments.
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DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site constitutes medical or legal advice. I am a patient who is engaged and educated and enjoys sharing my experiences and news about migraines, pain and depression. Please consult your own health care providers for advice on your unique situation.
