I get migraines. Bad ones. And I’ve got company, as nearly 47 million Americans get them—75% of whom are women. I did not always suffer from migraines, but once I hit menopause, they reared their ugly head. Now, I often feel like I have a gremlin living in my head. (I do not—I’ve had a CT scan!) This gremlin appears at the most inopportune times, which makes me an unreliable friend who often cancels plans and misses the stuff that makes life fun
Before you send me suggestions on how to relieve migraines, let me just say I have tried everything. Name a medication. Tried it. Acupuncture. Tried it. Physical therapy. Tried it. Biofeedback. Tried it. A hospital in Chicago devoted to nothing but migraines. Tried it—and ended up with some really great stories that I would only share if I was drunk. But alas no drinking for me since, of course, it gives me a migraine. About the only thing that helps my aching head is laughter. Yes, a funny TV show or someone’s embarrassing story can take the edge right off, if only for a little bit.
So, what do I laugh about? Since my migraine usually drives me into a darkened room with sunglasses on, my options for the giggles can be limited. Yet, I persist in searching for ways to help my throbbing head. Currently, I am rewatching Amy Poehler’s TV show Parks and Recreation. I, as you may recall, am an Amy fan! Not just because we make the same facial expressions but because she is just so darn entertaining. On Parks and Rec, she plays Leslie Knope, a civil servant who believes in the effectiveness of good government even though each episode she is proven wrong. Oh, and her heroes are people like Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Condi Rice and, of course, Joe Biden. Hmm. I might be a bit like Leslie in my naivete that government can be good and helpful to its citizens. Anyhow, give me a Parks and Rec episode or some stand-up act on Hulu or Netflix, and I feel better.
Mark Twain said, “I think laughter is the best medicine. If you can’t laugh at yourself then you can’t laugh at life and the silliness of it all.” Apparently, laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts your mood, diminishes pain and protects you from stress. It also burns calories! Kids laugh all the time, adults not so much!
So, how do you get more laughter in your life? Smile! Yes, the woman who suffers from RBF is telling you to smile more. It invites other people to interact with you in a positive way. Count your blessings. When my head is pounding, it can be hard to do, but I can always find something good in my life to focus on. And finally, spend time with people who make you laugh even if it must happen in your darkened bedroom with your sunglasses on. A visit from a friend is just what I know I need. So, let’s all try to laugh a little today and see how quickly you can laugh that weight right off and maybe, just maybe, it will quiet any gremlins you have in your head. Laugh my peeps!