Emotional Effect of Migraine

Migraines are well known to have tremendously painful effects on the body with one-sided headache, nausea and sensitivity to light and sounds. But migraine attacks may also affect a patient's emotions during the aura or the attack.

• Migraines: Smiling on the outside, crying on the inside.

Before the Attack

• According to the Migraine Aura Foundation, symptoms of migraine aura can include changes in emotions, such as confusion, irritability or anxiety.

Significance

• According to the PBS programme "Second Opinion," learning to recognise sudden mood changes can indicate that a migraine is coming. This would be the ideal time to take medication to ward off migraine pain.

Considerations

• "Second Opinion" also mentions that many people who suffer from migraines will be especially sensitive to the emotions of others, even if other people do not tell the migraine sufferer how they are feeling.

Relationships

• "Migraines For Dummies" details how people with migraines suffer in work and family relationships because they may have to drop plans because of migraines.

Speculation

• Migraines and major depression are thought to be caused by problems with the neurotransmitter serotonin. Many people with migraines also have major depression.