Thank you soooo much for the opportunity to talk to you Amber - you are such an inspiration (and very easy to chat to!) Thank you for sharing so many voices through your series and giving us all a lovely reminder that we are not alone in this diagnosis! Linda xox
It’s been an incredible meeting to have with you Linda, both via your blog page on linked in then on here! From so far across the waters too! I do hope we get to meet IRL some day too….😎
A really inspiring listen. I can relate to a lot of what Linda was saying. I have lived with chronic pain most of my life. I too tried diet changes that did nothing for me except for the no caffeine after breakfast. I too was discharged from a medical professional with ‘there’s nothing more I can do for you’ . Things changed for me around the time of menopause but I hadn’t actually associated that change with hormones, something new to think about. I’m definitely a people pleaser but didn’t consider myself a perfectionist until a good friend told me kindly that I am. I will take away a lot from this - thank you Amber for your work and connecting us all x
It's funny how we don't associate ourselves with certain terms - I NEVER would have said I was an anxious person (I'm just rational about the risks in life as a trained project manager, and OK, a little bit hyper-focused on them more recently because of the migraine triggers) - but then several people dropped comments around about the same time that made me realize that even if I don't like the term, my migraine-brain is definitely anxious and risk-focused... now I accept that I am a bit or a worrier (rather than a warrior) and I'm OK with the idea... even if I still don't really associate with the label!! Thanks for listening, Linda xx
I had no idea how anxious I was - I remembered being anxious as a teenager and hadn’t realised my coping mechanism with that was learning to numb out so I didn’t feel anything. I’d become highly anxious about money, the next attack, where and how I was going to live. Totally oblivious to my debilitating worries or the role they played with migraine.
When I reduced attacks to 2 week long episodes a month, one would trigger depression and the other would trigger anxiety.
It was only years later that I read eating anti inflammatory foods helps reduce anxiety as well as inflammation. I wasn’t aware of that but I now haven’t been anything more than mildly anxious (I’d say a little/low level is healthy) for a couple of years, not depressed since December 2022.
I think it's a chicken-and-egg situation... when we live with pain we grow nervous about accidentally triggering an attack, so we are mindful (or fearful) - the anxiety is a self-protection mechanism which makes sense... until it becomes a part of the problem and actually makes things worse!! Sigh. hang in there! Linda xx
Oh I’m so glad this has inspired and deeply relates. I believe in the power of Sharing our stories for this along with missed insights that encourage deeper reflection. I look forward to you sharing more about where this takes you on the hormonal side of things, I’m hearing menopause is creating dramatic shifts for those of us who’ve lived with chronic and invisible illness for decades. How are you finding the journey of letting go of perfectionism?
Yes, I'm really grateful to you both for sharing and creating this. I think I'm turning a corner - still setbacks and ups and downs and my baseline is nowhere near where it was 13 years ago but it's better than it was at other points of my journey.
Listening to other people’s stories, tuning into our own insights - as well as potentially theirs - alongside taking aligned action with what it is we truly want is a big step in the direction of where it is we want to go.
I’m always intrigued by the role our belief system plays in our journey. What do you believe is possible for you?
Such a good question. I explored the question of what wellness would look like for me with my therapist last week and I got clearer on that. The next step is aligning my beliefs with that. It's definitely harder to picture being completely well and full of energy after so long and trying so many things. So that's something I need to work on.
I hear you on that score! Several years ago I got clear on my beliefs - as if out of nowhere I woke up with the realisation that “I matter. My health matters”. So I imbed those into my everyday.
Within a few months I realised what i truly wanted; to get well.
I got pretty far however 4 years in, I realised I couldn’t picture myself completely well all throughout the month! I was addicted to the pain and suffering.
I no longer feel addicted now but keeping that vision of what’s possible clear (especially when we live in a world that tells you it’s not possible) I personally found very challenging.
This is so helpful - thanks so much for sharing. I can relate to the “My health matters” piece - feeling a sense of “I deserve to be well” and a longing to let go of the struggle.
This is so inspiring. Telling your nervous system you see safe through small actions and reconnecting with Linda... learning to say no... I resonate with all of this. I don't suffer with migraine but I have been on a chronic fatigue journey for 13 years.
Glad it helped and resonated - you are safe, it is just easy to forget when you are unwell for so much of the time... 13 years, sigh, that's a long time... glad that you noted elsewhere that you feel like you've turned a corner, hope it keeps getting better from there, Linda xx
Isn’t Linda’s journey incredible? So glad you came across it and were able to resonate. Gosh, 13 years. Where abouts do you feel you are in your journey now?
So glad you loved it! Linda is an introvert - not that I think you’d know with how well she comes across - but just to say she was nervous! Thankfully, found me so easy to talk to. So I feel sure you will too🙂
oh thank you! I really was!! Amber is super lovely to talk to though, and once I get on a roll it gets easier! thanks for watching, and supporting Amber's podcast series! Linda xx
Migraine girl met with me yesterday and you would not know she was nervous either! She was incredible, her story is a whopper and she shares with us all how to live well with Migraine. What an incredible advocate.
Absolutely LOVE this series Amber. This interview was awesome!
Hilariously, I misheard less Linda as one word lesinda and thought it was a medical term. I loved what you had to say Linda, it was so insightful and accessible. I need to take a leaf out of your ten-minute yoga/tai chi book. I thought how you described getting that into your day was incredibly useful.
Wasn’t it amazing! I love how Linda made it all accessible from her bed! Super cost effective too. I am in awe of Linda’s journey 💜 her blog is brilliant - well worth subscribing to🤩
Thank you soooo much for the opportunity to talk to you Amber - you are such an inspiration (and very easy to chat to!) Thank you for sharing so many voices through your series and giving us all a lovely reminder that we are not alone in this diagnosis! Linda xox
It’s been an incredible meeting to have with you Linda, both via your blog page on linked in then on here! From so far across the waters too! I do hope we get to meet IRL some day too….😎
A really inspiring listen. I can relate to a lot of what Linda was saying. I have lived with chronic pain most of my life. I too tried diet changes that did nothing for me except for the no caffeine after breakfast. I too was discharged from a medical professional with ‘there’s nothing more I can do for you’ . Things changed for me around the time of menopause but I hadn’t actually associated that change with hormones, something new to think about. I’m definitely a people pleaser but didn’t consider myself a perfectionist until a good friend told me kindly that I am. I will take away a lot from this - thank you Amber for your work and connecting us all x
It's funny how we don't associate ourselves with certain terms - I NEVER would have said I was an anxious person (I'm just rational about the risks in life as a trained project manager, and OK, a little bit hyper-focused on them more recently because of the migraine triggers) - but then several people dropped comments around about the same time that made me realize that even if I don't like the term, my migraine-brain is definitely anxious and risk-focused... now I accept that I am a bit or a worrier (rather than a warrior) and I'm OK with the idea... even if I still don't really associate with the label!! Thanks for listening, Linda xx
I had no idea how anxious I was - I remembered being anxious as a teenager and hadn’t realised my coping mechanism with that was learning to numb out so I didn’t feel anything. I’d become highly anxious about money, the next attack, where and how I was going to live. Totally oblivious to my debilitating worries or the role they played with migraine.
When I reduced attacks to 2 week long episodes a month, one would trigger depression and the other would trigger anxiety.
It was only years later that I read eating anti inflammatory foods helps reduce anxiety as well as inflammation. I wasn’t aware of that but I now haven’t been anything more than mildly anxious (I’d say a little/low level is healthy) for a couple of years, not depressed since December 2022.
My son actually gave me a postcard ‘Be a warrior not a worrier’ - I think perhaps I am anxious around certain things
I think it's a chicken-and-egg situation... when we live with pain we grow nervous about accidentally triggering an attack, so we are mindful (or fearful) - the anxiety is a self-protection mechanism which makes sense... until it becomes a part of the problem and actually makes things worse!! Sigh. hang in there! Linda xx
Oh I’m so glad this has inspired and deeply relates. I believe in the power of Sharing our stories for this along with missed insights that encourage deeper reflection. I look forward to you sharing more about where this takes you on the hormonal side of things, I’m hearing menopause is creating dramatic shifts for those of us who’ve lived with chronic and invisible illness for decades. How are you finding the journey of letting go of perfectionism?
Yes, I'm really grateful to you both for sharing and creating this. I think I'm turning a corner - still setbacks and ups and downs and my baseline is nowhere near where it was 13 years ago but it's better than it was at other points of my journey.
That is really good to hear.
Listening to other people’s stories, tuning into our own insights - as well as potentially theirs - alongside taking aligned action with what it is we truly want is a big step in the direction of where it is we want to go.
I’m always intrigued by the role our belief system plays in our journey. What do you believe is possible for you?
Such a good question. I explored the question of what wellness would look like for me with my therapist last week and I got clearer on that. The next step is aligning my beliefs with that. It's definitely harder to picture being completely well and full of energy after so long and trying so many things. So that's something I need to work on.
I hear you on that score! Several years ago I got clear on my beliefs - as if out of nowhere I woke up with the realisation that “I matter. My health matters”. So I imbed those into my everyday.
Within a few months I realised what i truly wanted; to get well.
I got pretty far however 4 years in, I realised I couldn’t picture myself completely well all throughout the month! I was addicted to the pain and suffering.
I no longer feel addicted now but keeping that vision of what’s possible clear (especially when we live in a world that tells you it’s not possible) I personally found very challenging.
This is so helpful - thanks so much for sharing. I can relate to the “My health matters” piece - feeling a sense of “I deserve to be well” and a longing to let go of the struggle.
“I deserve to be well” - What a great mantra for you!
I’ve found mantras to be an anchoring practice. Helping me make decisions and are something to hang on to when times get tough 🙃
A longing to let go of the struggle…. My goodness, it sounds like you are in a powerful place🤩
Keep me posted of what comes next!!🙏
I’ve found all this take me to places no man has ever been before and I have no intention of being here on my own!👯♀️👯♀️
Really appreciate your encouragement and just "getting it"! Will do 💜
This is so inspiring. Telling your nervous system you see safe through small actions and reconnecting with Linda... learning to say no... I resonate with all of this. I don't suffer with migraine but I have been on a chronic fatigue journey for 13 years.
Glad it helped and resonated - you are safe, it is just easy to forget when you are unwell for so much of the time... 13 years, sigh, that's a long time... glad that you noted elsewhere that you feel like you've turned a corner, hope it keeps getting better from there, Linda xx
Thank you Linda ❤️
Isn’t Linda’s journey incredible? So glad you came across it and were able to resonate. Gosh, 13 years. Where abouts do you feel you are in your journey now?
This was so incredibly good!
So glad you loved it! Linda is an introvert - not that I think you’d know with how well she comes across - but just to say she was nervous! Thankfully, found me so easy to talk to. So I feel sure you will too🙂
She didn’t seem nervous at all.
oh thank you! I really was!! Amber is super lovely to talk to though, and once I get on a roll it gets easier! thanks for watching, and supporting Amber's podcast series! Linda xx
You didn’t come across as nervous at all and as an introvert I fully understand how this must have been for you putting yourself out there
thank you - I think I'm passionate about the subject so that helps! xx
Migraine girl met with me yesterday and you would not know she was nervous either! She was incredible, her story is a whopper and she shares with us all how to live well with Migraine. What an incredible advocate.
Absolutely LOVE this series Amber. This interview was awesome!
Hilariously, I misheard less Linda as one word lesinda and thought it was a medical term. I loved what you had to say Linda, it was so insightful and accessible. I need to take a leaf out of your ten-minute yoga/tai chi book. I thought how you described getting that into your day was incredibly useful.
Brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Wasn’t it amazing! I love how Linda made it all accessible from her bed! Super cost effective too. I am in awe of Linda’s journey 💜 her blog is brilliant - well worth subscribing to🤩
Where’s her blog, on LinkedIn? She’s not on here is she? 💕
https://themindfulmigraine.blog/
Thanks for sharing that lovely 🥰