When I started college, I expected late nights, heavy workloads, and constant stimulation. What I didn’t expect was how many small, everyday college habits would quietly become migraine triggers.
Some triggers were obvious. Others took months of trial and error to recognize. Living with chronic migraines in college has taught me that it’s rarely one big thing—it’s usually an accumulation. Here are the migraine triggers I didn’t expect, and how I’ve learned to manage them without completely missing out on college life.
I always knew sleep mattered, but college made it painfully clear just how connected sleep and migraines are.
Irregular sleep schedules, late-night studying, and early classes created a cycle where even one off night could trigger a flare. I’ve learned that I function best when I:
College stress isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s constant background noise: deadlines, expectations, pressure to do well, and trying to balance everything at once.
Even when I feel like I’m managing, my migraines often tell a different story. To help regulate stress, I:
I’ve learned that stress doesn’t need to feel overwhelming to affect my body.
Between lectures, studying, and social time, college is incredibly screen-heavy. I didn’t realize how much screens contributed to my migraines until I started paying attention.
Some things that help:
Reducing visual overstimulation has made a noticeable difference in how long I can focus..
The hardest part of managing migraines in college hasn’t been identifying triggers—it’s learning how to respect them without isolating myself.
Managing chronic migraines isn’t about avoiding everything that brings joy. It’s about understanding your limits, listening to your body, and creating a version of college life that supports your health instead of fighting it.
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