College students can have meaningful social and academic experiences while navigating migraine. A patient advocate gives guidance and tips for this phase of life.
Migraine is a complex health condition that often causes debilitating symptoms. Besides throbbing head pain, migraine can bring on extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and mood changes. Sensitivity to light, sound, and smell is also common. Migraine attacks can last for hours or days at a time.
College students with
A small 2024 study of students with migraine attending Irish universities identified several barriers students face. Some were unaware of university accommodations that might be available to them. Many downplayed the seriousness of their migraine condition to avoid social stigma.
According to a global systematic review, almost
The transition from high school to college can bring on new challenges, as one’s living situation, routines, and responsibilities might all change. But there are steps college students can take to support their success while managing migraine.
Migraine University, a resource of the National Headache Foundation, offers resources to help students manage this shift. The site covers topics like how college Letters of Accommodation differ from high school 504 plans, how to prepare for the transition, and how to find local supportive care.
Healthline spoke with Lindsey de los Santos, who has lived with migraine for over 30 years. A former educator and current migraine patient advocate, she offers guidance on how college students can manage migraine.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
It’s important to note that if migraine is significantly affecting your ability to function at school, you have the right to request reasonable medical accommodations per federal law.
It can help if you’re working with your doctor to support those accommodations. Your doctor may have forms. Migraine at School is primarily focused on younger students, but they have a healthcare plan you can actually fill out with your doctor.
[Editor’s note: Migraine University has resources on how to request accommodations in a college setting.]
Think about going to your advisor and your professors early so they know from the beginning. Then it doesn’t seem like an excuse because they know what’s going on. That constant communication will help.
Some things students might ask for are extended time on assignments. If you’re having an attack, it may be hard to complete that assignment. You may also not be penalized if you have to miss class.
You might not be able to change the classroom lighting, but there are migraine glasses available. There are also some other resources you might consider using in that classroom setting.
I would also think about your seating [to allow you to leave class when needed]. [You may] be under all those terrible fluorescent lights, and you just need a break. I think that could actually be a really small — and easy — accommodation.
Many people with migraine are sensitive to light, and so either avoiding light altogether, using devices like a screen protector, or adjusting the brightness on your smartphone or computer may help.
When I think about long study sessions, especially, or if you’re getting up, you’ve had a rough night, or you’ve had a busy night, and you just feel like you could get an attack, that’s a great time to consider these options.
The average college student has a lot to balance, so we can be empathetic to that. But I think the first thing you have to do is make a commitment to really take care of yourself. Because if we’re not doing that, triggers can really compound and lead to a pretty big attack.
Taking care of yourself includes:
- not skipping meals
- staying hydrated
- getting quality sleep
I understand that all of this can be difficult for a college student. But you really just have to do the best that you can and make that commitment.
If you’re able to, get in some exercise. That can help with stress relief, which is another thing to think about as a college student. So really first of all, just taking care of yourself.
Follow up with your healthcare professional so they understand what’s going on in your life. They can support you by helping you manage your medications. You can also share with them other things that you’re trying for treatment.
I also think it’s important to listen to your body. You may want to go out, but sometimes you might have to step back and say no. That could prevent a long attack. So I think it’s really important to just listen and think about what’s going to be the best decision for me.
Also, give yourself grace. You don’t have to do it all. It is truly OK to pick what’s most important to you and focus on those things. So, whatever groups you want to be in, hopefully, your studies are important to you. So for that balance, choose what matters most and focus on that.
That one can be tricky. It can differ from person to person and also from day to day. There might be a day when you want to go to a party and you end up with a terrible attack. There might be another day that you don’t. So it’s back to just really taking care of yourself and listening to yourself.
If you need to sit out, smaller get-togethers might be more helpful. That might alleviate some of the extra noise and the light from different places that could be busier.
Also, think about activities that are smoke-free or in places that will help you avoid some of those triggers. We want to avoid the loud noises or certain sounds, the lights, the smells — the things that are going to trigger us. But again, what can we do? We can do those smaller get-togethers.
You can be involved in different groups that you’re interested in. You might even try out intramural sports because then you’re kind of doing two things: building friendships and relieving some stress.
I think we have to be willing to let them into our migraine story and our journey so that they understand what’s going on. We can’t fault them for not knowing. So, starting with your roommate, who could also be your friend, I would have a conversation with them.
If you don’t know them, share what you have. Share that migraine is a neurological condition that you didn’t cause to happen, but it’s what you have. And there are some things that we can do to prevent an attack together.
At that point, you could create a migraine-friendly space in your room with your roommates. That can include the lighting [or other] things that could be triggering.
Maybe you’re using lamps instead of overhead lights. Then maybe they’ll also be a little more empathetic about the sound they’re using. Maybe they’re not blasting the radio; maybe they’re really thinking, “What does my roommate need from me?”
I think that it’s really important to have those conversations because they want to help you. They also want you to be well, as do your friends. It’s often hard for someone with chronic migraine because they may feel friendships are changing because they keep canceling. It’s important to have that conversation and say, “Look, this is not about you. I am just struggling with my migraine attack.”
Through transparency, I think we develop empathy and understanding. So I think if the people in our lives know what to expect, then we’re going to have better and stronger relationships. And you need that support system.
I would encourage a college student who may be learning to be their own advocate. They’re speaking for themselves now, and so it’s for them to really have the confidence and to understand the importance of speaking up for themselves. When we don’t do that, people make assumptions, and then things kind of compound.
So it’s better to go ahead and advocate and let others know about migraine. You might be surprised to find others who have migraine, and you might inspire them. I found that, too, in my life.
I have some resources on my website, Migraine Road.
College students can use resources provided by their schools to get academic accommodations for migraine. Maintaining open communication with professors and friends can help create more migraine-friendly classroom and home environments.
As a person living with migraine, a college student should become comfortable with self-advocacy as the school community works toward environments free of stigma and barriers.
Lindsey de los Santos is a patient advocate and writer specializing in migraine. She has completed advocacy training with the American Migraine Foundation and Miles for Migraine. She has had the honor of being interviewed by Self, HealthCentral, and GoodRx. Lindsey started the website, Migraine Road, to be a place of encouragement and support for people living with the condition.