When I started college, I thought the hardest part would be the classes, making friends, or figuring out how to survive on dining hall food. I didn’t expect chronic migraines to end up playing such a big role in my first year.
Migraines aren’t just “bad headaches.” They’re the kind of thing that can completely shut you down—lights feel too bright, sounds feel too loud, and even thinking feels like work. Trying to balance that with classes, deadlines, and a brand-new environment was… a lot.
In high school, I got really good at powering through discomfort. In college, that stopped being an option. Migraines don’t care if you have a midterm or if attendance is mandatory. When one hits, it hits.
At first, this was frustrating and honestly kind of upsetting. I hated feeling like my body was holding me back. But over time, I realized that listening to my body wasn’t me giving up—it was me being realistic. Ignoring symptoms just made things worse, and learning when to stop became necessary, not optional.
College has this unspoken pressure to always be doing something—studying, networking, going out, being busy. Living with chronic migraines forced me to redefine what productivity actually means.
Some days, productivity looked like getting through all my classes. Other days, it looked like staying in bed, emailing a professor, and letting myself rest without feeling guilty about it. That was a hard mindset shift, but an important one. Rest isn’t laziness, and taking care of yourself isn’t falling behind.
One of the hardest parts was explaining my migraines to other people—especially professors. Since migraines are invisible, it sometimes felt awkward asking for understanding or flexibility.
But learning to advocate for myself was huge. Reaching out early, using accommodations, and being honest when I wasn’t okay made college more manageable. It also taught me that asking for help doesn’t mean you’re incapable—it means you’re trying to succeed in a way that actually works for you.
Living with something that other people can’t see makes you more aware of how much you don’t know about what others are dealing with. Someone missing class, canceling plans, or seeming distant might be dealing with way more than you realize.
Chronic pain made me more patient and more empathetic—and honestly, more forgiving of myself too.
I don’t have migraines “under control,” and I probably never will in a neat, perfect way. But my first year of college taught me that I can adapt. I can still chase my goals, just not by ignoring my health.
College taught me a lot academically, but learning how to live with chronic migraines might be one of the most important lessons I’ve learned so far
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