Migraine at Work

Last week at the Integrated Benefits Institute National Conference I had the privilege of joining Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, M.D., FAHS on stage to shed light on an often-overlooked issue: migraine in the workplace. It was no surprise to hear from so many benefits and HR professionals who shared their personal struggles with migraine. Despite its prevalence, migraine remains largely unaddressed in many workplaces. A common question was, "why doesn't migraine appear in claims data, and why do so few employees complain about it if it's such a big issue?" There's 2 key reasons: 1) Stigma: Many employees are reluctant to discuss their migraine condition because it's still stigmatized in the workplace. 2)Off-label data is missing from claims reports: Migraine doesn't show in claims data because most people aren't using guideline-recommended or specific migraine treatments. As a result, migraine doesn't come up as a significant cost driver when in reality, it is the second leading cause of disability. A few people were also surprised to hear that Migraine at Work is a 501(c)3 non profit. Our goal is to make a difference, not a profit. For a confidential discussion about how migraine might be impacting your workplace and how we can help, feel free to reach out to Dean Barclay or me. We offer a range of free resources, tools, or premium solutions tailored to your organization’s needs.

Migraine is the 2nd leading cause of global disability, and this neurological disorder affects 1 in 6 of US employees. Learn about the significant costs of migraine on your organization at HAA’s "The Great Disrupters: Creating a Culture of Compassion for Chronic Pain at Work" on Thursday, June 20, 2 p.m. ET. Health Action Alliance National Safety Council Pfizer Twill Carl Cincinnato Paula K. Dumas Elizabeth Spencer DeStefano Coalition for Headache & Migraine Patients Kellie Pokrifka Dean Barclay RSVP today: https://lnkd.in/g2BmNVzT

June is Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, and to mark the occasion, we're offering virtual seminars on migraine management in the workplace. They cover recognizing triggers, supporting employees, and fostering inclusive environments. Join other leading organizations in prioritizing migraine awareness in your workplace wellness programs. Contact us by June 30th to book a session. Seminar topics include: - Migraine and Mental Health: Connections & Coping Strategies - Migraine 101: Symptoms, Triggers, & Treatment Options - Managing Migraine in the Workplace - Or a customized presentation for your specific workplace’s needs Reach out to Dean Barclay today for an obligation-free discussion.

bit.ly/mhamwebinar Free registration now for our webinar on Jun 11, 2024 2 PM Eastern (New York), complete with a Q&A with our hosts Carl Cincinnato and Paula K. Dumas to celebrate Coalition for Headache & Migraine Patients's Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. Register now! More about the webinar: We know firsthand how juggling migraine and work can be a minefield. There are so many questions: Should I tell my boss? Should I ask for accommodations? Am I required to disclose migraine? What are my rights? In the Migraine At Work webinar, you’ll gain insight into thriving despite migraine at work. We'll discuss practical topics such as: - Understanding why migraine is a significant workplace issue. - Initiating conversations about migraine with your employer. - Navigating the rights to accommodations and how to request them. - Weighing the benefits and drawbacks of disclosing your condition. There will also be time for Q&A and discussion with us. Empower yourself with knowledge and take control over your work life. Register now and take the first step towards creating a more supportive work environment.

https://lnkd.in/dXgGu6iN

Please don’t tell me that it could be worse. While perspective is important, these words completely invalidate everything I am going through. These words tell me that you don’t see my struggles as “enough.” Migraine is already such a highly stigmatized disease- I have heard that it’s “just a headache” or “just power through it” regularly. I have seen doctors so completely uninterested in finding me help that I have wasted money, time, and hope on numerous appointments. I have felt my friends fade away and stop inviting me places because my health is unreliable. I have lost so much, only for you to tell me that it’s not that bad. There is so much room for hope, and I fight for that hope every day. But sometimes I need to vent. Sometimes I need someone to listen to what I am saying and tell me that what I am going through is hard and that my feelings are valid. Just sharing that this is difficult relieves some of my burden. Just knowing that one other person sees this enormous pressure I am facing makes it a bit more bearable. I don’t need advice. I don’t need forced optimism. I just need to hear, “Wow, that must be hard.” Join in with a community of experts and patients who truly “get it.” Day 8 of the Migraine World Summit is available to watch for just 24 hours starting at 3 PM Eastern over at MigraineWorldSummit.com! #MigraineWorldSummit #Migraines #MigraineAwareness #ChronicPain richard lipton Elizabeth Leroux Kristen Steenerson, MD Dale Nyholt

Day 7 of the 9th annual Migraine World Summit is available starting at 3 PM Eastern for just 24 hours. Don’t miss out! Migraine is lonely. Imagine canceling plans and being forced to spend days alone in silent, dark rooms- anything to minimize the pain even slightly. Imagine trying to tell others about your suffering only to be met with a, “Just drink more water! It can’t be that bad.” Imagine being forced to withdraw from school, quit a job you love, miss out on your most important life events with loved ones. It feels like nobody could possibly understand this pain, neither the physical nor the emotional suffering. It feels like we are forced to live with this agony all by ourselves. But that’s not true. Everyone behind the Migraine World Summit can relate. Every volunteer has sacrificed something. Each expert has seen hundreds of patients living in this isolation. Every viewer has felt this to some degree. You’re not alone. This community can break this isolation. While we may not be able to solve each other’s physical symptoms, we can go through this together. Ask for help. Tell others that you are here for them. Together, this community is stronger than any symptom migraine can throw at us. #MigraineWorldSummit #Migraines #MigraineAwareness #ChronicPain Gretchen Tietjen Dawn C. Buse, PhD Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD PhD Amy Graham

Don't miss the Migraine World Summit interview "How To Manage Migraine Stigma at Work" with Dr. Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, M.D., FAHS and Dean Barclay. Dean works tirelessly on Migraine at Work with me, and Dr. Begasse de Dhaem has published a groundbreaking article on this topic in the Harvard Business Review. Watch this interview at bit.ly/mwssm and check out her article here: https://lnkd.in/enu4S4Js

It's Day 6 of the Migraine World Summit, starting at 3 PM ET and free to watch for just 24 hours! Which interviews have you loved so far? What have you learned? Have you ever wondered why one day something will trigger a migraine attack, but on another day that trigger has no consequences? The Migraine Threshold Theory helps to explain that. We each have a migraine threshold, an invisible line where any additional stimuli will push us into a migraine attack. Our triggers push us closer to this line, and our protectors allow us to get farther from this line. The Threshold Theory can help empower us by giving us some sort of control by relying on our protectors. Before a big event with many triggers, we can ensure that we get a good night’s sleep and de-stress. ‘Trigger tyranny’ describes how our lives can easily become consumed by trying to identify & avoid any possible trigger. We fear our next attack so we avoid foods we enjoy, social activities- basically anything that brings joy into our lives. We are plagued with guilt and blame ourselves. Even when we do everything “right,” we can still get a migraine attack. Avoiding an attack is never foolproof, but we can win back some control. It’s not our fault- it’s a neurological disease. #MigraineWorldSummit #Migraines #MigraineAwareness #ChronicPain Messoud Ashina Rebecca Burch Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, M.D., FAHS

There is no cure for migraine. No medication. No supplement. No lifestyle factor. No holistic therapy. There is NO cure for migraine. Migraine is a genetic neurological disease- it cannot be cured. Luckily, there’s still A LOT of room for hope. Our migraine attacks CAN go into remission, and it can be to a point that we never experience a migraine attack ever again in our lives. Every day we can take new, small steps into improving our health and getting closer to managing our migraine disease. We can use a combination of all of these methods- medications, supplements, lifestyle factors, complementary medicine, and so many others- and we can take control of our health. Does that mean all of us can easily achieve full remission? No! We can do every single thing “right”, and we can still get a migraine attack. Some of us may do everything by the book and still experience attacks every single day. Migraine is NEVER our fault. Recognize your efforts, regardless of whether you are seeing progress. That effort alone is worth celebrating. Learn more about these strategies as Day 5 of the Migraine World Summit goes live at 3 PM Eastern. Today’s interviews will be available for just 24 hours. Watch them now for free: http://bit.ly/mwssm #MigraineWorldSummit #Migraines #MigraineAwareness #ChronicPain Robert Cowan Rashmi Halker Singh MD FAHS FAAN Fred Cohen The Migraine Trust