Things I wish my all my bosses and co-workers had understood about migraine headaches

Dear friend,

1. When I wear earplugs in the lunchroom, at bus duty, and when we go out to recess, it is  because the students are so loud they hurt my ears.  Continuous loud noise triggers a migraine.  I do not put the neon plugs in to draw attention to myself or to make you ask, “Are you okay?”  I am just trying to quietly protect myself.  (No, I don't have a hangover.)

2. Sames goes for when we go into a faculty meeting and there are plentiful fluorescent lights.  I do not don my ridiculously huge sunglasses in order to draw attention to myself. I do not think I am a rock star. I merely want to get in and out of there without triggering a migraine.

3. Perfume, cologne, and scented lotion triggers a migraine.  The worst offender is Bath and Body Works.  I beg you not to wear fragrance so I can avoid getting a migraine.

4.  If I don't smile and make chit chat with you it is probably because an attack is starting.  I am trying not to make it obvious, but I just can’t help it. I really don’t want to offend you.

Much love,

She who wishes you could really understand