Bringing Community and Awareness to Migraine Disease

BY KYLIE PETRARCA, ASSOCIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION FOR MIGRAINE DISORDERS

Did you know that one in seven people live with migraine disease? Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that is NOT just a headache.

The typical symptoms of a migraine attack include head pain, nausea, vomiting, and light and/or sound sensitivity. However, many people experience additional symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, fatigue, neck pain, yawning, difficulty concentrating, sinus pain or pressure and more. People may be diagnosed with episodic migraine which means they have less than 15 headache days per month or they may have a chronic form, meaning they have 15 or more headache days per month and on at least 8 days of the month, the person has migraine-like features. Migraine alone is the second leading cause of disability in the world and the number one leading cause of disability in women who are 15-49 years old.

The Association of Migraine Disorders is a non-profit organization, founded in 2012, with a mission to expand the understanding of migraine by supporting research, education and awareness. The organization is dedicated to being a trusted and comprehensive resource for people living with migraine and clinicians who diagnose and treat people with migraine, and provides educational content via videos, blogs, webinars, printed materials, and so much more.

To raise awareness about migraine disease, the Association of Migraine Disorders created Shades for Migraine, a global awareness campaign. Each year people living with migraine, along with their friends, families, significant others, and coworkers post pictures on social media wearing sunglasses on (and around) June 21. Participants use the hashtag #ShadesForMigraine and challenge others to take part to make the campaign go viral.

Sunglasses are a visual representation of photophobia, also known as light sensitivity, that many people with migraine experience. This program is an opportunity for people to share their connection to migraine disease, in the hopes of spurring more conversation. After its launch in 2017, Shades for Migraine quickly caught on around the world and people from all 50 states and at least 59 countries have participated.

To foster engagement and fun competition, each year the Association for Migraine Disorders have a photo contest where its followers can vote for their favorite images from people who participated in the campaign. Besides bragging rights, there are prizes for the top 10 most popular images.

In 2020, the organization began a Community Leader program where volunteers educate and connect with people in their community to raise awareness about migraine and introduce people to a world of resources. The Community Leaders help distribute sunglasses and materials at workplaces, healthcare centers, schools, churches, sporting events, or beaches, talk to the local media, help fundraise, and more!

The Association for Migraine Disorders has some exciting events planned for Shades for Migraine this year - it will be attending the FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska and the International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico!

If you or someone you know lives with migraine, you can visit the organization at an event near you, follow it on social media or become a Community Leader and help pass out sunglasses to people in your school, community or headache center.

“This is such an amazing cause and being an ambassador made me feel like part of something bigger which after 14 years of chronic illness taking things away was nice to have back.” —

LEARN MORE ABOUT MIGRAINE DISEASE, VISIT MIGRAINEDISORDERS.ORG

TO STAY UP TO DATE ON SHADES FOR MIGRAINE, VISIT SHADESFORMIGRAINE.ORG