About Me: My Migraine Journey
Hi, I’m Morgan, and if you’re here, chances are you know what it’s like to live with migraine. Maybe you’ve felt alone, overwhelmed, or like no one truly understands what you’re going through. I see you—I’ve been there too. This is my story, and I hope it reminds you that you’re not alone.
The Early Days: Diagnosis & A False Start
My first migraine attack hit when I was 12 years old. It was terrifying. Fortunately, I was quickly diagnosed and started on a preventive medication. Within six months, my attacks slowed down, and I went back to living like a normal kid.
Until everything changed at 15.
High School: Stress & The Attack That Changed Everything
At 15, life came at me fast. My family moved states in the middle of high school, and as a competitive tennis player, I struggled to keep up with California’s elite competition. Socially, things were even worse—I faced intense social stress, bullying, and isolation.
Then, the worst happened: A multi-week migraine attack that wouldn’t let up. The pain was relentless, a throbbing, all-consuming force that made even the simplest tasks impossible. Light and sound became unbearable, exhaustion took over, and I could barely think straight. It stole my ability to function. School, friendships, and my sport slipped away.
I needed a fresh start just to survive, so I switched high schools (again) midway through my junior year. The transition was incredibly difficult—leaving behind familiar routines and attempting to start over in a new environment while battling chronic pain felt overwhelming. But the change in atmosphere, while challenging, gave me the space to breathe. The reduced social stress, combined with re-starting a preventive medication, helped me slowly regain control over my health. My attacks became more manageable, decreasing to just a few per month. For the first time in years, I felt like I had a path forward. I set my sights on college, determined to build a future that wasn’t defined by my migraine.
College: The Thunderclap That Never Ended
By my junior year of college, I was an aspiring medical doctor, an honors student-athlete, and working in two research labs. Then, migraine changed my life again. During a tennis tournament, I was hit with a thunderclap headache—an explosion of pain so severe it felt like my skull had shattered. The worst part?
It never stopped.
Desperate for relief, I turned to acute medications and painkillers almost daily. But instead of helping, they led to medication overuse headache (MOH)—a cruel cycle where the very medications meant to relieve my pain actually made my attacks worse. I didn’t know what MOH was. I had no idea I was making my nervous system more sensitive, not less.
The more I tried to break free, the worse the withdrawal symptoms became. My health deteriorated so quickly that I had no choice but to drop out of college and move back home. For years, I was trapped in a cycle of unbearable pain with no real escape, as treatment after treatment failed to provide an ounce of relief.
The breakthrough didn’t come until CGRP monoclonal antibody treatments entered the picture. At first, I was skeptical—after so many failures, why would this be different? But slowly, the daily pain began to ease. It was the first real hope I’d had in years.
The Lost Years: Searching for Answers
For four and a half years, migraine controlled my life. I spent countless nights in hospitals, dozens of weeks in infusion centers and injection clinics, and countless days in doctors’ offices, trying every treatment imaginable.
No matter what we tried, my pain and symptoms never let up. I was completely disabled. I couldn’t walk around the block, hold a conversation, or see friends. I watched from the sidelines as my peers graduated, started careers, and built lives, while I remained stuck, barely surviving.
The hardest part wasn’t just the physical pain—it was the emotional toll of feeling left behind, forgotten. But even in those darkest moments, I clung to the belief that something—some treatment, some breakthrough—would eventually give me my life back.
The Breakthrough: Finding My Way Back
In 2018, everything changed: I started CGRP monoclonal antibody injections. Progress was slow, but for the first time in years, my symptoms started to improve. Determined to reclaim my future, I re-enrolled in university.
I graduated in the middle of the COVID pandemic and found a flexible, remote job that finally gave my nervous system the rest it needed. Then, I discovered Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), and combined with a low-stress lifestyle, my recovery skyrocketed.
I started exercising again. I felt like myself for the first time in years. And that’s when I had a realization:
Medical school wasn’t going to work—I needed a life that supported my health. Instead, I followed my passion for neuroscience and applied to graduate school, driven by my experience with migraine and a desire to help others understand their brains.
Where I Am Now: Thriving & Managing Migraine
Today, I’m in my third year of my Neuroscience PhD, and I’m finally living life (mostly) on my own terms:
- I surf, play pickleball, and lift weights—things I never thought I’d do again.
- I date, maintain friendships, and manage migraine alongside it all.
- I still get attacks, I still struggle, and I still wish migraine was a smaller part of my life.
But most importantly?
I’m living.
Why I Created Life With Migraine
Community and belonging are essential in the migraine journey. Knowing you’re not alone, that others understand your struggles, and that support is available can make a world of difference.
If you’ve ever felt alone in this journey, I hope this space reminds you:
- You are not alone.
- You are powerful.
- You are capable of living a life that brings you joy.
As a neuroscience PhD student, I’m passionate about sharing science-backed insights, practical strategies, and evidence-based tips to help you live well with migraine. I invite you to share your story, connect with others, and be part of this incredible community—because together, we are stronger.
Thank you for being here. 💜