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As told to Erica Rimlinger<\/em><\/p>\n It was the big day: my first Zoom event at my new job. I woke up with my mind buzzing with details. I set my intention: I\u2019d create a safe space for everyone in the breakout room I was moderating and the event would be a success.<\/p>\n I jumped right into juggling the daily demands of being a working mom. My husband was out of town, so the first step was to make sure the babysitter was set to help with my 4- and 6-year-old after I brought them home from school. <\/p>\n I\u2019ve got it, I thought, my Superwoman cape flapping in the breeze. It\u2019s nothing I can\u2019t handle. <\/p>\n And then, as the morning sun streamed through my office window, I felt the first twinge of a headache that responds to bright light and reminds me I\u2019m human.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always had headaches, but I\u2019ve also always had an amazing ability to keep it together until it\u2019s OK to unravel. I remember pulling all-nighters in high school and acing my exams only to have a complete meltdown in the car on the drive home.<\/p>\n Growing up with a mother who is a self-transformational guru \u2014 and later getting immersed in the work myself \u2014 I have familiarity with self-care tools that have helped me cope with the biggest stressors in my life.<\/p>\n But after having my children, my mindfulness practice got set aside, like so many other self-care habits. And my slight tension headaches grew into debilitating migraine attacks.<\/p>\n Like any difficult relationship, I had to get to know these migraine attacks very well before I could understand them \u2014 and then use my knowledge to make them go away. I learned they make me sensitive to light and loud noises. I\u2019ve noticed my attacks are tied to my hormonal health. And I\u2019ve also figured out that I can usually stave off an attack if I drink enough water, eat well, sleep well and manage my stress levels.<\/p>\n None of which I\u2019d been able to do that day.<\/p>\n While each migraine attack has its own individual \u201ctell,\u201d a little warning bell that rings softly at first, I can miss it \u2014 if I choose. I noticed my light sensitivity but told myself I had no time to give to a migraine attack that day. I would push through the pain. I, like many women I know and admire, prided myself on my ability to thrive under pressure.<\/p>\n But, despite my willpower, the headache grew throughout the morning into the afternoon, intensifying with each ball that was added to what I was juggling. It seemed to compress these details into lasers of pain that pierced my eyes and brain.<\/p>\n I had a call in 15 minutes but I could no longer even sit at my desk. I crawled to my bed, phone in hand. When I felt able to muster the effort, I searched for medicine. I was out. I texted my boss. <\/p>\n \u201cAre you OK to handle this call without me?\u201d I asked. \u201cI feel a migraine attack coming on.\u201d Thankfully, she told me to turn off my phone and go to sleep.<\/p>\n I did just that and woke up at 3:00 p.m. I panicked. School was going to end in 15 minutes, and the babysitter wasn\u2019t on the list of authorized people to pick up my kids. I contemplated getting up to walk the five minutes to the school to get them myself, but with each slight movement my nausea got worse. I was stuck.<\/p>\n Jessica and her family, 2022<\/small><\/p>\n I called my husband out of an important off-site meeting and he arranged for the babysitter to grab the kids and to get me medicine. I hung up the phone, vomited and fell back asleep.<\/p>\n Hours later, I woke up to the sound of happy little voices settling into bed. I lifted the pillow off my face ever so slightly to look at my phone. It was 8:20 p.m. The new shirt I\u2019d bought with my company brand colors was still hanging in my closet. I\u2019d missed the event. I\u2019d missed bedtime. I\u2019d missed it all.<\/p>\n In the end, the kids were fine and the event was a success. But I was left with a lot to process during my post-migraine fog. I was scared of what would have happened if the babysitter hadn\u2019t been there. I was worried about what would have happened if my team hadn\u2019t been able to step in. Thankfully, my babysitter and my colleagues had come through for me. But, I realized, I hadn\u2019t come through for myself. <\/p>\n By not prioritizing taking care of myself, I\u2019d created the perfect storm of not being able to take care of any of my priorities. It hit home for me: Self-care isn\u2019t a luxury, it\u2019s a necessity.<\/p>\n Since that day, I\u2019ve made a conscious commitment to my own health and wellness. When I feel that light sensitivity creeping in, I know to hit pause, reassess and give my body what it\u2019s requesting. I\u2019ve reinstated my mindfulness practice, which has helped me to be present. You can\u2019t worry about the future or the past if you\u2019re living in the moment. And on particularly busy days, I add taking care of myself to the top of my list of intentions.<\/p>\n Like everything else, it takes practice to learn how to fully listen to your ever-changing body and I\u2019m still working on it but the little changes I\u2019ve made are having an impact. I haven\u2019t had a migraine attack since.<\/p>\n Have a Real Women, Real Stories of your own you want to share? <\/em>Let us know<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n Our Real Women, Real Stories are the authentic experiences of real-life women. The views, opinions and experiences shared in these stories are not endorsed by HealthyWomen and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthyWomen.<\/em><\/p>\n