Living with migraines for any reason is a difficult thing but some of mine are sound and self-laughter induced. This means a lot of fun is cut out of your life for the sake of your head. Many people think you are or have become anti-social when in actuality you want to join or remain much longer at the party, gathering, game or whatever the many types of events are that generate a lot of sound.

I am going to address sound first. It does not have to be loud but can just be continuous and constant or annoying to me. When referring to loud I cannot take it for a prolonged period of time. Let's say I am at home listening to music, if a favorite song or two were to come on, I could crank it up and listen but would have to return it to a more comfortable level or be prepared for punishment. This also includes loud spurts of sound like a show or pro game. Though the loud spurts are some-timey and not a definite kick off of the migraine. Then there is constant but not loud sound, such as would be heard at large gatherings like family barbecues or at a crowded beach. Lastly is an annoying sound. The squealing sound of a car belt is one that does it for me.

My other migraine trigger is if I laugh too much. That will darn near blow my head off. I am not able to watch extremely funny anything for a prolonged period of time or even talk with a very funny person for a prolonged period of time. My constant laughing will set my head off.

What does all this mean to a person. You learn to avoid a lot of fun things unfortunately, and those you do attend you leave early or find a quiet place to hideout in. Sometimes, causing you to be labeled anti-social and definitely after prolonged adjustments to this lifestyle, you learn to ignore others and do what is best for you.

This has cost me many associates and those I once called friends. It is very difficult for those who do not have these problems to accept and understand them. They truly have a hard time understanding how laughter can cause you so much pain or being with friends at a house party would be something you avoid or depart from early, when from all visual accounts you were having fun and did not appear ill or in pain.

Those of us that choose to empower ourselves by controlling the causes or triggers, pay a very dear price. Life is not nearly as much fun as we would like and friends back away for fear of hurting or causing us pain, from lack of understanding or willingness to understand. In either event the result is the same you are not having as much fun or social life but you do not have the migraines as often.

Part 2 migraines will address a very different cause for me to have migraines.