Migraine Magic

Imagine if the noise of your refrigerator gave you a migraine!

This week we meet Jemma, a 16 year old living with severe hyperacusis. The noise of everyday life causes Jemma extreme pain and triggers migraine attacks.

But Jemma is remarkably resilient. She's advocating for law changes to ensure people living with hyperacusis are accommodated in society, and promoting awareness to help those living with hyperacusis have a more fulfilling life and access the services they need.

We talk to Jemma about what her daily life is like, how she copes with and manages her schooling, and the battles she's faced so far. We also hear about her amazing achievements and plans in the advocacy space, and the latest hyperacusis research. Jemma also lets us know some great places to find support on hyperacusis and noise sensitivity. Join us now!

TRIGGER warning: Suicide is discussed in this podcast. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you need help (Australian residents) or your local helpline.

Instagram - hyperacusis_awareness
Facebook - hyperacusis awareness
Website - https://hyperacusisawareness.wordpress.com/

Hyperacusis Research
https://hyperacusisresearch.org/

Music by Lyndon Wesley

Are you curious about what goes on behind the covers of a magazine?

This week we hear from Amanda, Editor in Chief of My Chronic Brain. My Chronic Brain is a magazine created to help people living with chronic migraine.

Amanda shares how the magazine got started, explains how the team puts together each issue, and gives us an idea of what we can expect to find within the covers. She also explains how you can get involved in the project, and gives us a sneak peak into what to expect in the very next edition out September 15th. Join us now!

Amanda is the Editor in Chief of My Chronic Brain.
You can contact her at:-
Website - https://www.mychronicbrain.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mychronicbrain/
Facebook - https://www.instagram.com/mychronicbrain/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/mychronicbrain

Music by Lyndon Wesley
https://lyndonwesley.com/

Have you ever been afraid of getting a migraine attack? Do you get anxious worrying about when and where your next migraine attack will be? The more often you experience migraine attacks, the more likely it is that you will feel fearful and anxious about your next attack. 

There's a word for this fear - cephalagiaphobia - and today we discuss it and a simple word substitution game that you can play with your brain to help keep your fear (and migraine pain and symptoms) in check. We also let you know what's coming up for Migraine and Headache Awareness Week. Join us now!

Cephalagiaphobia as a feature of high-frequency migraine: a pilot study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686604/

Article - The right words matter when talking about pain
https://theconversation.com/the-right-words-matter-when-talking-about-pain-50450

Migraine and Headache Awareness Week 2020 Events
https://headacheaustralia.org.au/headache-week-2020/

Music by Lyndon Wesley

Do you know how a migraine coach might help you?

This week we're talking with migraine coach Shelley de Jong. Shelley introduces us to her migraine journey, and explains how she helps others break free from the pain of migraine. Listen in for more on what a migraine coach does, how Shelley got started, and how she's been able to help people successfully resolve their pain.

Instagram
@Shelley.deJong

Website
www.themigrainecoach.co.uk

Music by Lyndon Wesley

Pacing is a way to measure out activity to manage your life when you are ill. It helps you lead a more consistent lifestyle with more time for the things you enjoy. And, with consistent effort, pacing can usually help you to increase your tolerance for different activities and daily tasks.

Today we talk about:
- what pacing is;
- how to implement a pacing plan;
- how to be consistent, and
- how to gradually increase your activity levels.

Join us now!

http://www.cfsselfhelp.org/library/topic/pacing

Music by Lyndon Wesley

What exactly is self-care? How can we make it part of our lifestyle? And what are the benefits of including self-care as part of our ongoing health maintenance?

This week we take a quick look at the what, how and why of self-care, and give you 7 quick things to do to practice self-care this week. Join us now!

Music by Lyndon Wesley

The *More or Less* Definitive Guide to Self-Care - Anne Borges
Quote - viii

Adriane Dellorco - Yoga Migraine - www.yogamigraine.com
Yoga Migraine Better Sleep Challenge - www.yogamigraine.com/bettersleepchallenge
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yogamigraine/

headspace - Mediation and Sleep App - https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

Let's Meditate: Sleep and guided meditation
Google - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meditation.elevenminute&hl=en
Apple - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lets-meditate-guided-meditate/id1457163072
 

This week we meet Briar Hope!

When she was diagnosed with vestibular migraine, Briar discovered there wasn't a lot of support available for New Zealand migraine patients. So she's decided to change that.

Briar has started Migraine New Zealand, a patient advocacy group to provide support to New Zealanders living with migraine and develop greater community awareness about life with migraine. But Briar needs help from the migraine community both within NZ and overseas, to help get Migraine NZ off the ground.

Listen to Briar's migraine journey and find out what you can do to help.

Connect with Migraine NZ
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/migrainenewzealand
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/migrainenewzealand
Email - [email protected]

Music by Lyndon Wesley

Have you heard about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)? Nicola and Cornelius of Happyr Health in the UK are designing an app that uses CBT to help children with migraine.

Migraine doesn't only affect a child's physical health and well-being. It also has a deep effect on their relationships, social behaviour and emotional state. Migraine is often misunderstood by those around them, which creates additional stress and anxiety for the child to manage.

Happyr Health will use CBT, a talking therapy from the field of psychotherapy, to help children with migraine understand how their emotions, thoughts, behaviours and physical sensations interact and feed off each other. And they will do it in a playful way using a gaming app based around childhood creativity. The hope is that by providing an inexpensive CBT option for all children with migraine, it will reduce and even prevent migraine attacks for many of them.

Listen in to hear more from Nicola and Cornelius about this exciting development!

Happyr Health
Website - https://happyhealth.com
Email - [email protected]
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HappyrHealth/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/HappyrHealth
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/happyrhealth/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC76JqK-7ZzWAbGuUmvufSQ

Music by Lyndon Wesley
www.lyndonwesley.com

What are the precursors to child and adolescent migraine? Have you heard of the links between infantile colic, cyclical vomiting syndrome, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, benign torticollis of infancy and abdominal migraine with migraine in children and adolescents?

Today we discuss some of the ways to help identify whether or not a child may be experiencing migraine, and what to do if they are. We discuss traditional and alternative medicine and therapies, how to discuss migraine with your child, and how to best manage migraine in children - from lifestyle choices to supplements. We also talk about school accommodations that keep your child in the classroom as much as possible, and point you in the direction of some fantastic resources and support for families.

And, because it's such a big part of sport and general life, we also discuss the facts about concussion and learn how to recognise a post-traumatic headache. Join us now!

Links
American Migraine Foundation
https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/

Migraine World Summit - Migraine in Children and Adolescents
https://migraineworldsummit.com/talk/migraine-in-children-adolescents/

Support Groups for Families:-

Pediatric, Teen & Young Adult Migraine & Headache Disorders Parent Support
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pediatricmigraineandheadachedisorders

Parent support group of children/teens suffering with migraines
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119659064749168

Migraine and Headache Australia Support Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HeadacheAustraliaSupportGroup/

Music by Lyndon Wesley
www.lyndonwesley.com

Trigger warning: Some of the discussion in this episode may be a trigger for some people. Please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you need to talk.

Today we talk with Marie Dagenais-Lewis. Marie is a TV director, journalist, public speaker and chronic illness advocate. She grew up with MHE (Multiple Hereditary Exostosis) and lives with Hemiplegic Migraine and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Join us as Marie talks candidly about what it was like growing up with MHE, why communications and media can be such an optimal career and powerful advocacy tool for the disabled, and just what her scary hemiplegic migraine symptoms are and can be. Marie also talks about her safe social network for chronic illness - the R.A.R.E. Community, and her artwork (which she also uses as a form of advocacy).

R.A.R.E. Community
www.rareadvocatesrepresentingeveryone.com

Instgram
https://www.instagram.com/r.a.r.e.advoc8/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/R.A.R.E.Advoc8

Threadless (for art)
www.rarebymariedl.threadless.com

Music by Lyndon Wesley
www.lyndonwesley.com