When headaches start shaping your decisions — what you say yes to, where you go, how you plan your day —they're so much more than "just a bad day." They're controlling your life. And you deserve better than living around your pain.

Migraines affect 40% of the global population, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood and dismissed health conditions; many sufferers wait YEARS before seeking help, enduring an invisible illness that disrupts work, sleep, relationships, and daily routines — often without validations or answers. If you've tried everything for relief with no lasting results, this episode is for you.

Recording this episode between Thanksgiving and Christmas isn't a coincidence. The holiday season—with its disrupted routines, travel stress, and dietary changes—creates the perfect storm for headaches and migraines. But these triggers aren't unique to the holidays; they show up during weddings, graduations, vacations, and any major life event. Understanding them now can help you year-round.

In this episode of Get Back to Your Life®, VSI Neurologist and migraine specialist Dr. Ella Akkerman breaks down what's actually happening in your brain during a headache or migraine, why certain types require completely different treatments, and how small daily disruptions can trigger a painful cycle. Drawing on both her clinical expertise and her own experience with migraines, Dr. Akkerman offers clarity, compassion, and a realistic path to relief.

You'll learn:

• The science behind different headache types— tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches—and why identifying yours changes everything

• How hormonal fluctuations (especially during perimenopause and menopause) can amplify migraine patterns

• Why the holiday season creates the "perfect storm" for headaches—and how to protect yourself

• Practical prevention strategies beyond medication, from hydration to stress management

• When it's time to see a neurologist and what treatment options actually work

Whether you're dealing with occasional tension headaches or chronic migraines that disrupt your daily life, this conversation offers validation, answers, and actionable steps toward real relief.

Key takeaway: You don't have to live with headaches in this era of breakthrough treatments. But the longer you wait, the harder they become to treat.

If headaches are interfering with your daily life, expert help is available. Visit VSIspine.com to request an appointment with a neurologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating complex headache conditions.

Subscribe to Get Back to Your Life® for more physician-led guidance on taking control of your health.