My two teenage daughters have a habit of making the occasional “womp-womp” sound. It’s supposed to sound like a sad trombone, a “oh-no-you-lose” sound-bit from TV shows. It’s mostly entertaining when they do it, but sometimes, let’s be honest, it’s rude. The sound doesn’t change, just the context in which it’s delivered… and the mood with which I hear it.
Mood changes are human… we all have mood swings… good days and bad… up-beat hours and time feeling-down… but for people with migraine, mood changes can actually be tied to the migraine phases we’re going through.
Irritability, confusion, brain-fog, increased energy or a slump in energy, anxiousness, a generally ‘temperamental’ nature, are all migraine symptoms as it progresses its cascade of horror through our mind and bodies…
Some migraineurs suggest that mood swings are their “tell” – they recognize a migraine is coming by the shift in their emotional wellbeing.
Interestingly, a 2022 scientific paper I read (here: Depressive symptoms during the different phases of a migraine attack: A prospective diary study – ScienceDirect) counters the notion that people can feel a migraine coming. Their conclusion states:
“We now clearly demonstrate that during the migraine headache phase […] patients report increased depressive symptomatology. No evidence was found for mood changes as an early warning sign for an upcoming migraine attack.”
Depressive symptomology – in other words, people display signs of something like depression.
According to Medical News Today, “people with migraine may be three to six times more likely to experience depression compared to people who do not experience severe headaches.”
But does depression cause migraine – or does migraine make us depressed?
The two seem to go hand-in-glove… but which component is the hand… and which the glove…? No one is quite sure.
That they’re so closely related is no surprise… migraine stinks… it ‘ruins’ your life and is extremely painful. I’ve never met anyone who woo-hoo’d a migraine diagnosis. Sure, there’s brave people like my blogging friend Jennifer Barraclough, who published a book on migraine that includes a chapter titled “Silver Linings”… she’s right of course – a few exist, but she’s also being brave and kind and super-positive.
The thought of living with migraine (a complex neurological condition with no known cure) IS depressing.
It’s also likely that the triggers for the two conditions are often the same – a stressful environment, unresolved historical trauma, a disrupted homelife, perpetual anxiety, poor quality of food intake, insomnia, substance abuse…
Add to that the stigma that still seems to be attached to our low functionality and reduced work ‘output’. We’re often gaslit by doctors, or hassled by well-meaning people to sleep more, drink more water or try yoga… that doesn’t help either.
It’s also super-lonely to have migraines. To heal we have to stay in a quiet dark room all alone with minimal stimulation… in other words… sensory deprivation and isolation = healing AND torture!
Then there’s the risk of PTSD-style anxiety: “the last attack was really bad, and I threw up in the bushes and strangers bad-mouthed me (pun intended)… if I get sick again, will the same thing happen… should I just stay at home to avoid the drama… should I just stay at home like, forever….??”
But the reality is no one totally knows what the relationship is – it could be a behavioral connection, or there could be similar chemicals at play in both migraine attacks and depression, or, or…
My advice – if you can call it that from unqualified me – don’t suffer in silence – if you think that your mood (swings) are an issue – SEEK HELP. I’m not sure that it matters whether your discomfort is caused by hormonal, chemical, biological, or behavioral issues… or if it’s “all in in your imagination”… regardless; get curious and SEEK HELP.
Treatment options might include medication, talk therapy, relaxation techniques, biofeedback, meditation, or more.
Migraines are a mood-killer no doubt… they are certainly the sad trombones of my days… and they absolutely DO have an impact on my mental health and wellbeing – there’s no shame in recognizing the effect it has on you too.
Remember – you’re not alone – don’t give up!
Take care taking care, Linda xx
PS – Disclaimer – please remember that I’m NOT a health care professional, I only write about migraines from the perspective of a layperson. Be sure to speak to your doctor to ensure you receive advice that is suitable to your unique situation.
PPS – On LinkedIn, The Mental Wellness Society posted this poster of how our moods combine with our energy levels to create different emotions. It is a GREAT way of seeing how much the two interact, and how quickly we can slip from “relaxed” to “despair”… OR “content” to “ecstatic”:
PPPS – here’s a happy trombone video clip to make you feel better:
PPPPS – Here’s a few sites that I used to read up about this subject:
Migraine Symptoms and Mood Changes | Migraine.com
Chronic Migraine and Depression: What’s the Link
How to cope when migraines are affecting your mental health – Mayo Clinic Press
Migraine and Mood Disorders: Clinical Challenges and Solutions
PPPPS – If you like reading scientific papers, here’s two more about the ‘comorbidity’ of migraines and ‘mood disorders’:
Migraine Headache and the Risk of Depression – PMC
Migraine and Mood Disorders: Prevalence, Clinical Correlations and Disability – PMC
PPPPPS – just joking – that’s enough pee for one post!!
The Mindful Migraine 
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