Actor and singer Kristin Chenoweth is among the most recent celebrities to publicly announce that she lives with migraine. By taking this courageous step, she has made the migraine room bigger, contributing to awareness and discussion of migraine around the world, and helping others with the condition feel less alone.

Chenoweth has discussed how she first noticed migraine symptoms, including seeing auras, feeling nauseated, and experiencing pounding headaches. She noted in 2019 that she went public with her diagnosis in an effort to “ignite a movement to end the stigma around migraine,” adding, “We need to spark a new national conversation about the burden of this condition.”

Members of MyMigraineTeam often discuss the stigma associated with migraine. “It is indeed total nonsense that migraine comes with its stigma,” one member said. Another noted, “The wound that comes with having to go through this invisible disease is deep and slow-healing. … Stop accepting the stigma, misunderstanding, and degradation that come with a disease like this. Stand up and say no.”

Chenoweth has also talked about how dietary choices and sleep habits impact her migraine symptoms.

Diet and sleep are common topics on MyMigraineTeam. “Making some lifestyle changes: cutting caffeine, adding more exercise, trying to get a normal sleep schedule,” one member said. Another added, “I found out that I am sensitive to gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, and the list goes on and on. Once I was on this ‘new normal’ diet for about three months, the effects were unbelievable. I was used to having three or four migraines a week, but got down to having them once or twice a month!”

Members Make the Community Stronger

Since MyMigraineTeam launched in 2016, the network has grown to more than 68,000 members strong — that's a big room! Just as Kristin Chenoweth’s announcement amplifies the voices of those with migraine, each new member on MyMigraineTeam makes our community stronger.

Several members saw Chenoweth speaking out on the issue and applauded her efforts to bring more awareness to migraine. “Kristin Chenoweth also suffers from migraines, and actively talks about them,” one member noted. “She was a guest speaker at the Migraine World Summit this year, and what she said was powerful.”

Without a migraine community, it can be easy to feel isolated, as if you're the only one struggling with migraine symptoms like head pain, photosensitivity, and fatigue. Whether you have spoken directly with other members or not, by joining MyMigraineTeam and reading shared experiences, you have become part of the community.

Here are a few easy actions you can take to welcome and support other members:

• Hug or like someone's post.
• Say hello to a new member.
• Answer a question in Q+A.
• Add someone to your team.
• Consider other ways to get started on MyMigraineTeam.

Together we make a stronger community!

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyMigraineTeam, over 82,000 people living with migraine come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.

Share your migraine journey in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.