The way Jaime Sanders expresses herself is the key to managing her migraine. Whether it’s fashion, makeup, or hair, Jaime owns her unique identity, an identity which provides her an outlet for advocating for others with chronic illness. In this episode, hear why Jaime calls herself the Migraine Diva, and how it touches everything from her migraine advocacy to the need for self-care.

“I really try not to focus on what happened yesterday, or what needs to happen tomorrow,” says Jaime. “I need to reserve my energy for the 24 hours that I'm currently in.” 

Among the highlights in this episode:

1:07: Jaime describes her difficult morning with migraine, as intense pressure at the back of her head

1:57: Jaime calls herself “Migraine Diva” not to glamorize migraine but to hold on to her identity

3:25: Passion and prioritizing self-care are Jaime’s tips for looking and feeling good

6:19: Applying makeup is a painful struggle due to her trigeminal neuralgia

7:22: Joe is drawn to Jaime’s energy, spirit, and wisdom

7:46: The difficulty of self-care for people with a chronic condition

9:10: “I really try not to focus on what happened yesterday, or what needs to happen tomorrow. I need to reserve my energy for the 24 hours that I'm currently in,” says Jaime

10:37: How has being a Black woman who is also a migraine patient and advocate impacted Jaime’s mental health

14:41: Jaime is retraumatized having to retell her story, specifically the trauma of dealing with implicit bias and overt racism

15:12: Jaime hopes for more diverse representation in the migraine community

19:13: Joe discusses a shift in himself by acknowledging he has “a lot of privilege,” which allows him to gain a “rich understanding of a topic”

21:22: Joe shares a story around GHLF’s commitment to Black Lives Matter

22:47: “I want to really encourage organizations to seek out the black disabled advocates,” says Jaime

27:50: Jaime describes why she always fears a backlash when advocating for equality

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

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