How to Help Someone With a Migraine Headache

The headache from a migraine attack can be severe, and is often joined by other challenging symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. People with migraine experience frustration, loneliness, guilt, and shame over having to take an unexpected step away from life.

Providing caring support to a loved one having a migraine episode can be a thoughtful way to help. Here’s how.

Resting in a dark, quiet place is one of the best ways to start treating a migraine episode.  Encourage your loved one to lie down, then help them make their surroundings as calming as possible.  

• Dim the lights: Sensitivity to light, or photophobia, is both a symptom and trigger of migraine. Both overhead fluorescent lighting and natural light can aggravate a migraine episode, so turn off all lights and close any curtains or blinds to block outdoor light.
• Keep the space quiet: Loud and repetitive noises often make migraine episodes worse. Guide your loved one to a space that’s not near many other people or outside noises like music, busy traffic, or construction.
• Offer noise-cancelling headphones: If you can’t keep the space itself quiet, you can get creative with noise-cancelling headphones to drown out sudden, loud noises in the environment.

Migraine attacks come with pain and discomfort that you can help ease. For someone with migraine, helpful comfort items might include:

• Water: If your loved one experiences nausea or vomiting, it might be hard for them to stay hydrated. Dehydration can worsen a migraine episode. Try to offer them water and encourage them to drink a little at a time.
• Light snacks: Anyone having nausea may appreciate bland foods, like crackers or toast, to settle their stomach. Be sure to avoid foods that commonly cause migraine episodes, like caffeinated beverages, chocolate, processed meats, aged cheeses, and foods with monosodium glutamate (MSG). 
• Hot or cold therapy: A heating pad or ice pack can go a long way in relieving head, neck, and facial pain during an episode. Many people prefer cold therapy, but if your loved one prefers heat, that may help, too. 

Many people with migraine have worked out a medication treatment plan with their healthcare provider to treat episodes.

This plan might include over-the-counter medications like:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen)
• Aleve (naproxen)
• Bayer (aspirin)

It may also involve prescription medications for migraine, such as triptans or gepants.

These medications typically start relieving a migraine episode within two hours and can even stop a migraine from progressing, but they work best when you take them at the first sign of symptoms.

Whatever your loved one’s treatment plan is, you can help them by dispensing the right amount of medication so they don’t have to open up packaging and check dosing instructions. 

A migraine episode isn’t “just” a headache: It’s a whole-body event that sometimes begins days before the most noticeable symptoms appear—and it may last up to another 48 hours after those symptoms go away. Understanding how your loved one is feeling can help you be a patient, supportive presence. 

• Believe them: Migraine is sometimes called an invisible illness because it doesn’t always give a person outward signs of disability. That means people with migraine and the severity of their symptoms are often misunderstood. If your loved one says they’re in pain, take them at their word.
• Listen: If someone says they need something to feel better, don’t argue or try to convince them otherwise. They know their migraine symptoms better than anyone.
• Ask questions: If you aren’t sure how to help, ask. Avoid broad questions like “What can I do for you?” and stick to “yes” or “no” questions like “Would you like an ice pack?” These are easier to answer. 
• Reassure them: Many people have to miss work or social events to treat their migraine, and often feel as if they’re a bad partner, parent, coworker, or friend. Assure your loved one that migraine isn’t their fault and that you’re not angry with them for having a health condition. 

During a migraine episode, some people appreciate gentle pressure, such as targeted acupressure, a light head or neck massage, or even hugging or hand-holding. This can provide physical and emotional comfort. 

Other people don’t want to be touched at all during an episode. They may rather be left completely alone, and that’s okay. Make sure you simply offer your physical presence, then happily accept their response (even if it’s a no).  

In addition to light, noise, and dehydration, other factors can trigger migraine attacks. These include strong smells, hot or cold temperatures, and stress.

Most people with migraine have several known triggers, but they’re different for everyone. It’s a good idea to ask if there’s anything else you can change about the environment to make them more comfortable. 

For example, you could turn on a ceiling fan or the air conditioning for someone sensitive to heat, or grab a blanket and a pair of slippers for someone triggered by cold temperatures.

It may not be easy to rest in a dark room knowing there are tasks to be accomplished, errands to run, and responsibilities to be attended to on the other side of the door. By taking over, you can make it easier for them to recover and easier for them to ease back into their routine when they start feeling better.

Think about what load you can take off, such as:

• Wash dirty dishes and clean up the kitchen
• Throw a load of laundry in the wash
• Take the kids to soccer practice
• Walk the dog

Avoid noisy tasks, like vacuuming, that could worsen their symptoms. Let your loved one know you’ve handled all these duties so they can rest worry-free.

Most migraine episodes resolve with home treatment in several hours to a few days, but migraine episodes lasting more than 72 hours may require other treatment. Consider helping your loved one contact their healthcare provider if they’ve had symptoms for more than 72 hours and none of their usual treatment strategies have worked.

Some symptoms of migraine also overlap with symptoms of other serious health conditions, like stroke and blood clots. If your loved one has any of the following, seek emergency medical attention:

• Fever
• Muscle weakness or numbness
• Vision changes
• Slurred speech
• Drooping face
• Confusion
• Loss of balance

With quick thinking, empathy, and compassion, you can help support someone with migraine as they manage their symptoms. Make sure they’re comfortable and have access to their medications. Listen to their needs, remove triggers and overstimulating things from the environment, and step up to handle their responsibilities.

Be aware of the warning signs of a more serious illness so you know when to seek medical attention if needed.