Dr Aneez Neurologist

Migraine is an incredibly common condition. Perhaps you experience it yourself, or maybe someone you care about navigates its challenges daily.

Despite thousands of years of human evolution—a process that should, theoretically, cull disadvantageous traits—migraine still remains with us.
This begs a profound question: Is it possible that migraine is not simply a flaw, but a feature? What if the condition, in some primal way, helps us survive?
I am philosophizing here, stepping away from strictly evidence-based facts to explore a new perspective. Bear with me, because if we shift our frame of reference, we might discover that migraine is the most demanding, yet necessary, company you can have.
The Reluctant Guardian
Let’s call it the Migraine Companion.
The Companion arrives precisely when your system is most vulnerable or pushed to its absolute limits: when you are depressed, severely tormented by hunger, tired by relentless travel, or chronically stressed.
While it is felt as a cruel tormentor—a biological stop sign that is impossible to ignore—it is, in this new light, a powerful, self-regulatory mechanism. The profound disruption, the inability to complete your project, is the message itself: Stop. Rest. Re-evaluate.
In the relentless hustle of modern life, the needs of human brain is often overridden by sheer willpower. We push past the early signs of burnout, fatigue, and nutritional deficiency. The Migraine Companion is a prehistoric guardian that forces a systemic shutdown to prevent catastrophic collapse. It’s the ultimate, non-negotiable break.
Beyond the Headache: The Companion’s Influence
The scope of migraine extends far beyond the throbbing pain. The accompanying symptoms—the flashes of light, the deep fatigue, and particularly the shifts in mood and attention—are all part of the Companion’s intervention.
Remember that day you snapped at your coworker for a minor infraction? Or the inexplicable sadness that blanketed you for no discernible reason? By evening, when the head pain finally arrives, the Migraine Companion proclaims himself the true villain for your outburst.
The mood and attention problems often associated with migraine (part of the often-overlooked prodrome and postdrome phases) are critical to this perspective. They aren’t just secondary symptoms; they are early warning flags and lingering after-effects that prime the environment for systemic rest, making social interaction difficult and driving you into necessary isolation.
Managing the Relationship
Treating migraine then becomes a matter of managing this demanding relationship, rather than simply fighting a disease.
Yes, there are powerful pharmacological tools. Acute painkillers and specialized triptans can provide essential relief, allowing you to quickly dismiss the Companion when its timing is truly inconvenient. However, relying solely on medication is like muting the messenger without addressing the message.
The key lies in the nonpharmacological ways to deal with migraine—the techniques that work by understanding and respecting the Companion’s underlying needs.
 Sleep Hygiene: The Companion craves rhythm and consistency.
Dietary Consistency: It cannot tolerate prolonged hunger or rapid glucose shifts.
Stress Boundaries: It forces you to set limits that your willpower might ignore.
Some nonpharmacological strategies may work for you, and some may not, but the fundamental shift is recognizing that these are not just “wellness tips.” They are a neurological imperative dictated by an ancient system designed to protect you.
By choosing to heed the Companion’s quiet suggestions (fatigue, mood changes) rather than waiting for its inevitable, painful ultimatum, we begin to evolve alongside it, turning a burden into a powerful, albeit harsh, guide for systemic health.