06/16/2021
June is Migraine & Headache Awareness Month!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As a designer who is also a health advocate, it's important to me to use whatever platform I can to bring awareness and educate others on the lesser-known side of an otherwise common condition.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As you may know by now, my journey to becoming a designer began in 2019 when I developed a disabling neurological condition. I have no shame, and I don't want any undue sympathy by sharing this. But what I do want is to see change happen for this small corner of society.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Migraine is a complex neurological event that is fairly common and usually results in a severe headache. Most people are not aware that there is more than one type of migraine–including a rare form of this condition that can cause various non-pain symptoms on a huge spectrum between "just annoying" and "requiring hospitalization." Most often these symptoms appear like a stroke, seizure, or other neurological condition, and patients often go misdiagnosed for many years. The symptoms are unique to each individual, and are part of the everyday reality for around 30,000 people in the United States, including myself. This highly unpredictable and misunderstood condition is called hemiplegic (or complex) migraine.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Why is it misunderstood? In part, stigma. Migraine is often characterized as a headache (which is only one symptom) rather than a complex medical condition that can manifest in disabling ways. This rare disease is often misunderstood by professionals in the medical community due to a lack of research, awareness, and compassion.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It is one of my biggest hopes to see migraine research expand and move towards better treatments and testing in the future.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you want to learn more or get involved in some way, head to www.americanmigrainefoundation.org.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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