7 Ways to Deal with Migraines at Work
Having a migraine is bad enough, but it is more distressing when it occurs at work. You are required to deal with severe pain in a professional way that will not affect your work. Migraines can be intensified by exhaustion, stress, noise, and bright light, among others. Migraines can turn the job place into a harsh environment considering that you have to attend to your duties and, at the same time, deal with debilitating pain. However, there is no need to worry since some experts, such as BTX migraine center, are burning the midnight oil to provide an effective alternative treatment to migraines. Besides, offering an alternative treatment method, tips suggested by BTX migraine center can help reduce the mildness and recurrence of migraine attacks.
According to a medical study, cross to 90% of migraine sufferers are unable to take their duties normally during migraines. These leads to a loss of millions of workdays annually.
When a migraine strikes at work, many people get confused about whether to tell or not tell. The decision to share the problem with your seniors depends on how you relate with them. However, a significant number of people prefer keeping quiet and suffer alone. They struggle to fight throughout the day without even letting their colleagues know what they are undergoing. It is prudent to let your boss know what is affecting you. This way, he cannot draw his conclusions about why you are underperforming or wearing sunglasses at work.
How to Deal with Migraines at Work
- Educate selectively: If your boss or a colleague must know about your problem, be wise to help them understand it. Let them help you find a solution to the problem. Don’t act as if you are giving excuses because you came late or you are underperforming at work. On the other hand, talk to co-workers who can cover for you as you cover for them when they have a personal issue to attend to.
- Don’t advertise: some myths and misconceptions surround migraines. Despite a lot of migraine awareness, some people still have misconceptions about its cause. Some people may think you are too weak to deal with your issues. Also, some organizations don’t want to hire people with chronic conditions that lead to higher insurance premiums. Share your problem with people whom you interact with freely.
- Take a lot of water: this is one of the tips suggested by BTX migraine center. Proper hydration is requisite to migraine prevention. Carry a water bottle to work or relocate near to the office water cooler.
- Take charge of your environment: ease a tension headache by replacing fluorescent bulbs. If you are working at a desk, make sure you raise your monitor to eye level. This will go a long way in ensuring that your neck isn’t strained. If it’s a shared office and you can’t control the lighting, go for lenses specifically designed for migraine patients. Besides, try discreet earphones to distract noise.
- Make a ‘Best Migraine Friend’: look for a colleague who also suffers from migraines. People who share a particular condition understand each other better. Befriend then and let them become a friend in misery. They will definitely cover you up and update you on any new migraine remedy.
- Understand disability: if your migraine escalates to the point that you are no longer a productive employee, approach your doctor. Besides, let your boss know that you are suffering from chronic migraine disability. Go ahead and read more about your rights and discuss new employment terms with your employer.
- Act quickly: if you feel a migraine attack approaching, go for the most appropriate medication. Responding fast gives migraine medication a chance to work fast compared to when you wait for full-blown pain.
It is possible to work in a competitive workplace despite suffering from chronic migraines; all you need is supportive colleagues and quick action in case of an attack.