Family Relationships
This Tip is Almost Too Easy!

November 2011 – Issue #009 – Family Relationships

Physical – Emotional – Intellectual – Social – Spiritual – Financial

Editors Note: I don’t know how your migraines affect your relationships but I have come to realize that my personal approach to dealing with my pain has a ripple effect into my close and family relationships. Here are some helpful tips to help cope with your family relationships by changing how you manage your pain. Sound tricky? Keep reading ...

The best tip I ever read was in Migraines for Dummies where they say to handle your home life – which translates to family members – give them a to do list! Yes that is why I said this tip is almost too easy!

Let the people you live with know what you need from them. You can have a list on the side of the fridge that say’s emergency migraine list:

1. Be Quiet.
2. Feed cat at 5pm
3. Walk dog at 6:30pm
4. Make dinner or feed the children by 5:30pm
5. Bring loved one a fresh ice pack every two hours whilst remaining perfectly quiet. Walk slowly into the room – its dark!
6. Bring hot water bottle every three hours
7. Refill water glass beside bed (please)
8. Check every three hours to see if I’m still breathing

Ok – maybe not that last one – but you get the idea. Oh – and make a list for the kids, get them involved too. Explain as much as you can, set up some headache rules. Don’t expect really young children to understand but make a point of trying to explain when you are well. Keep a routine in between attacks.

The book also says it’s helpful to educate your family and give them ample reassurance. Educate them on migraines and dispel any myths and misconceptions and find some good websites as references. You can forward them this email for starters.

Let them know that migraines are unpredictable and they are not caused by them. Some relatives can jump to the wrong conclusion if you cancel on a family gathering and assume that you just don’t want to be there. No matter how much education you give them, some of them will just believe that anyway. You can only do what you can do!

Do you have a question you’d like to ask the editor on this topic? If so please click here to Contact Me. I will respond as soon as possible.

This is a safe forum to express your troubles – tell your story – show your art - find solutions with new ideas - and get professional health advice . Just click on the links underlined above if you would like to contribute.

Remember that your contribution will help others too! We are not in this alone, even though it feels like it most of the time. Our stories and input can help each other.

My Question to You

Do your migraines impact on your family relationships? What is on your to do list? We’d love to hear from you. Click here to tell us.

Please click here if you’d like to see any of the books I’ve referred to or used throughout the website. Or come visit the Pain Relief Store to see what products I like to use.

Note to Self!

When you have a migraine coming on – do you a) get really angry that you are getting another migraine b) just take your medications and go to bed or c) be kind and gentle like you were taking care of a small 5 year old ...

If you’ve missed an issue click here to read the back issues.

And before I forget!

Please send this to your friends and family. It’s time to spread the word about Migraines and educate our loved ones! They can click on this link to subscribe as well.

Talk to you next month, until then, I wish you many Migraine FREE days.