5 ways to manage migraines at work

Migraines can cause sufferers to sometimes miss work; if colleagues do not know the difference between a headache and a migraine, this can lead to resentment, toxic attitudes and stigmatization. Ignorance of the seriousness of migraines can affect your productivity and happiness at work.

Workers suffering with migraines have a difficult challenge, not only in managing their condition, but also in educating their work colleagues about exactly what having a migraine attack entails. Here are our top tips for managing migraines whilst at work.

1. DECIDE WHO TO TELL

Be careful about who you wish to share your medical condition with. There is no need to tell everybody in the office that you suffer with migraines. With all the misinformation and ignorance regarding migraines, declaring you have the condition to the entire staff will create  more problems than it solves. You might create a false perception that you are seeking attention, or wishing to excuse yourself from trying as hard as your colleagues. Tell only a select few people you trust, as well your superiors, who will need to accommodate to the times when you need to withdraw from work to deal with your condition

2. CLEAR YOUR WORKSPACE

Arrange your workspace in such a way that all potential triggers are removed from your immediate environment. You know which triggers you are most sensitive to; ensure that you remove as many of them as possible at your work desk. This may include replacing fluorescent light bulbs with softer lighting, positioning your computer screen at just below eye level to avoid neck strain, setting your screen to night light, making sure you have enough water at hand to prevent dehydration: keeping yourself as comfortable as possible at all times.

3. FIND ANOTHER MIGRAINEUR

If you work in a medium to large sized company, there is a high probability you will find another person who also suffers with migraines. Try seeking this person out, so you can help support each other. Nobody else will understand your condition better than one who also suffers with migraines. You can help each other be as comfortable as possible whilst at work, allowing each of you to have a safe space to deal with all migraine related issues. If you cannot find anyone at work, the next best thing is to connect with other migraine sufferers online; there are a plethora of support groups to be found.

4. RESEARCH AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

Be aware of the baggage which comes with being a migraine sufferer: you will unwittingly be an ambassador for the disease to all your colleagues who do not have migraines. They will ask you questions about every aspect of the disease, its causes and its treatments. Though of course you will probably be better educated about migraines than most people, it is always a good idea to research as much as you can. Being able to answer migraine questions accurately will help your colleagues understand and empathize with what you are going through, giving you the good will to be flexible at work whenever you are in or around an acute phase of an attack.

5. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Migraine sufferers are protected by the ADA (American with Disabilities Act), but it is often on the migraineur to ensure their workplace is properly accommodated to their needs. The ADA itself is not so clear-cut on whether every migraine sufferer is eligible for protection either, so it is best for migraine sufferers to educate themselves about their rights, and not be afraid to push for those rights, whenever they might apply.

Nobody else will understand your condition better than one who also suffers with migraines.