Chronic Migraine Management: An NLD and Neurodiversity Perspective
I’ve shared my migraine journey with you in past episodes—episodes 27, 43, 69, 70, 73, 80, 81, 83, and 94, to be exact—but it’s been a while since I’ve given an update. If you’d like the full backstory, those earlier episodes walk you through the beginning of my experience. This chapter is the next chapter of that journey: what’s changed, what I’ve learned, and how chronic migraine management intersects with living as a neurodivergent person with Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD).
The Long Road from “Just Headaches” to Chronic Migraine
When my migraines began eight years ago in college, I didn’t recognize them for what they were. I thought they were “just headaches” caused by the stress of being newly diagnosed with NLD, adjusting to campus life, managing homesickness, and trying to succeed academically and socially. I assumed that after graduation, they would fade.
I was wrong.
Even after college ended, the pain persisted. That’s when I started pursuing answers—neurology appointments, MRIs, a battery of tests. While no test explained exactly why I have migraines, I know from lived experience that NLD adds both emotional and physical stress to my life, and that stress is a major migraine trigger. Unfortunately, many doctors still don’t recognize the link between neurodivergence and migraine—something I hope future research will illuminate.
What’s Working (and When It Stops)
Over the years, I’ve tried roughly fifty treatments. About twenty of them have brought me some degree of relief—often for a while, until my body adapts and the effect fades.
AJOVY helped from August to November last year by reducing both frequency and intensity of my migraines, though not consistently. This month, I began Emgality injections, hoping for better results. Both treatments involve a once-a-month injection—uncomfortable, yes, but worth it for even the possibility of a pain-free day.
For breakthrough pain between injections, I take Nurtec, which helps when the other medications don’t fully hold. My doctors say my body may metabolize medications too quickly, which could explain why treatments stop working over time.
In addition to medication, acupuncture has been a surprising ally. It relieves muscle tension and seems to calm my nervous system. Missing a weekly appointment makes a noticeable difference.
My acupuncturist also introduced me to CBD gummies, which have helped me sleep more deeply—something that indirectly helps with migraine management. Another bedtime helper: the Sleepy podcast, where Otis reads classic bedtime stories in a slow, soothing voice. I listen every night, and sometimes in the middle of the night if I wake up.
I’ve also developed a few unconventional coping tools:
Peppermint oil on my temples, jawline, and behind my ears.
Chocolate (a trigger for some, but oddly helpful for me).
Hot showers to relax the head and neck muscles.
I’ve reached a point where I no longer question why something works—if it works, it stays in my toolbox.
What Research Says About Migraines and Neurodivergence
In my search for answers, I’ve found a few articles that validate my personal experience.
From “Neurodivergent Conditions and Migraine” by Mel Planet (2021):
The International Headache Society requires that a person experience at least five episodes of moderate-to-severe throbbing headache, lasting four hours to three days, before a migraine diagnosis can be made. Migraines often coexist with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and, I would argue, NLD. This comorbidity appears more frequently than chance would suggest, possibly due to shared brain chemistry differences such as serotonin or magnesium deficiencies, or heightened sensory processing issues.
For neurodivergent individuals, sensory sensitivities to light, sound, smell, and touch may trigger migraines more easily and prolong the pain. This is certainly true for me.
From “Autism and Migraine: An Unexplored Association” by Luigi Vitri:
Both autism and migraines involve atypical sensory processing—either hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity—and these traits can appear in early childhood and persist into adulthood. My theory is that the extra cognitive load of processing information with NLD might contribute to migraines: when my brain struggles to make sense of something, the effort itself can trigger pain.
From “The Connection Between ADHD and Migraines” by Chad:
Research suggests several reasons for the ADHD–migraine overlap, including hormonal fluctuations, mood and anxiety disorders, and neurotransmitter differences (especially dopamine). Children with both conditions often have greater academic and social challenges than their peers. The parallels with NLD and autism are striking—attention difficulties, social navigation challenges, and increased cognitive strain.
Triggers, Management, and Hope for the Future
Migraines have a wide range of triggers: changes in sleep, skipped meals, dehydration, stress, strong smells, weather changes, certain lights, and specific foods (like aged cheeses, fermented foods, or alcohol). For me, weather shifts, sensory overload, and stress are the biggest culprits.
Identifying triggers is only part of the battle—management requires coordination between specialists. Ideally, a certified headache specialist, a neurologist, and providers familiar with neurodivergence should work together to create a tailored plan.
I know people with similar neurodivergent profiles who have found relief by changing diets, finding the right prescriptions, or both. I’m still experimenting, and I hold on to hope that one day I’ll land on a combination that works long-term.
Living With Migraine and NLD
Chronic migraines are exhausting. They take joy, energy, and clarity from daily life. But they’ve also made me persistent, resourceful, and deeply empathetic toward others navigating invisible conditions.
If you live with both neurodivergence and migraines, know this: you’re not imagining the connection. Research is beginning to catch up to what we’ve known from experience—that our brains process the world differently, and sometimes that difference comes with pain. But difference also comes with resilience.
I’m still learning, still adjusting, and still searching for relief. And while I can’t make the pain vanish, I can share what I’ve learned so no one has to navigate this road entirely alone.
