In this week’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Bernadette, a migraine advocate, digital creator, and somatic-informed certified educator who runs a chronic illness Instagram account called “chronicaccounts.” Bernadette is a former classroom teacher who now focuses on educating and supporting others to understand their life with migraine disease better.

Join Sarah and Bernadette as they discuss Bernadette’s journey navigating multiple misdiagnoses, leading to a delayed migraine diagnosis, pivoting from a well-loved career, and finding community. Hear how Bernadette’s migraine diagnosis journey ultimately led her to patient advocacy.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:44: Sarah explains how the word ‘debilitating’ describes migraine pain

04:00: Bernadette explains how she struggled with fatigue and trying to keep up with her peers

07:59: Sarah details the added stigma of being a woman living with a chronic illness

10:15: Sarah discusses how access can completely change one’s chronic illness journey

12:26: Bernadette explains how understanding that migraine is a neurological condition and a disability earlier could have changed her whole life

14:38: Bernadette describes how the term ‘disability’ came with relief

17:08: Bernadette explains how she was encouraged to take her entitled sick leave in the Netherlands

18:26: Bernadette details how she began her advocacy journey

20:02: Bernadette describes how the migraine stigma is so deep that we end up gaslighting ourselves

20:38: Sarah explains how despite living through the grief of leaving a teaching career, Bernadette is still teaching, just differently

Contact Our Hosts:

Joe Coe, Director, Therapeutic Area Growth and Integration at GHLF: jcoe@ghlf.org

Sarah Shaw, Senior Manager of BIPOC Community Outreach at GHLF: sshaw@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to TalkingHeadPain@GHLF.org.

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