Overcoming Stereotypes
One of the largest issues surrounding men and migraines is the social stigma surrounding the men who experience them. Men are stereotyped as leaders and role models. Dating back to ancient civilizations, men have been the hunters and food gatherers, the head of the household who never falters. A man succumbing to a simple headache? Never!
The reality, though, is that migraines are not simple headaches. They are complex events that attack multiple systems in the human body. Neither their presentation nor treatment is simple, in either men or women, but men face an extra challenge: in addition to having to battle the migraine itself, men have to fight the cultural stereotypes against their needing help in the first place.
Male sufferers of migraines therefore have an additional emotional component to their pain. Men have to work harder than women to convince doctors, specialists, and even homeopathic practitioners of the validity of their migraine. Because migraines are less frequent in men, it often takes longer for men than for women to receive a diagnosis of migraine. Men can also succumb to frustration stemming from not being believed by family members and coworkers. Migraine can be a painful and exhausting condition, for both men and women, and men need to be aware of this social stigma as they reach out for support.
Contrary to popular belief, men do not have “all the answers” any more than women do. Women frequently ask a doctor, “Why do I suffer from migraines? What is the cause?” Men are less likely to ask this question of their medical practitioners but are no less deserving of an answer. Men need to keep the same headache diaries as women, and be equally proactive in helping to form their diagnoses.
Successful treatment requires successful diagnosis, and it is imperative that men break down barriers to their own emotional and physical well-being by learning to ask the right questions concerning their health. Rather than remaining stoic and silent, men must tell the doctor about all symptoms, regardless of their apparent relevance.
Men may also have trouble admitting to their doctors that they have a condition that requires medical attention. Men don't usually complain to doctors about symptoms that they feel they can live with and, as a result, may not tell their doctor about the symptoms that are most troubling. Simply having migraines does not commit a man to a future with migraines. The more open he can be with the physician, the greater the chance that the patient and doctor, together, can arrive at a solid diagnosis and treatment plan.
