The thing is, migraines are not uncommon. It’s the third most common disorder in the world, with approximately 10 million people in the UK living with it – a million of whom live with chronic migraine (ie experiencing headaches on at least 15 days per month, with eight of these having migraine symptoms, for at least three months). Migraine affects many more women than men, with around 35% of women aged 15–49 getting them compared to just 16% of men (a fact that may be linked to hormones).

Perhaps the biggest mental burden is the fear of migraine returning. For days after, you might worry about doing something that could bring on the pain or worry that you can feel it developing. When asked ‘How does migraine make you feel?’ most people answered ‘anxious’. Other adjectives used included depressed, hopeless, lonely and angry.

“This research paints a stark picture of the reality for many who live with migraine. It is far more than just a headache,” says Robert Music, chief executive of The Migraine Trust. “Not being taken seriously is having a significant impact on the lives of those with the condition. Many spoke of social stigma, as well as poor understanding of migraine, and it’s clear that these are contributory factors in the reduced overall wellbeing of people living with migraine. It is essential that we change the perception of migraine and increase understanding about the true impact of living with the condition.”

If you live with migraines, and they are severe, getting worse, lasting longer than usual or are more frequent than once a week, please contact your GP.

The Migraine Trust can help you to live with migraines and offers information, resources and support.

If you or someone you love needs to talk, call Samaritans on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or go to samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.

A third of migraine sufferers have thought about suicide, so why do we still think of it as ‘just a headache’?