# Childhood Head Injury and Migraines

> A childhood head injury causes lifelong migraines. The writer accepts this as the price of a meaningful life.
- Title: Childhood Head Injury and Migraines · Slate Magazine
- Summary: A childhood head injury causes lifelong migraines. The writer accepts this as the price of a meaningful life. The writer accepts chronic migraines as the…
- Keywords: childhood head injury, migraines, chronic pain, graduate school, healthy aging, seahawks, nfl, prudence, slatest, slate plus, Childhood, Head
- Source: Slate Magazine — https://slate.com/advice/2026/10/injury-advice-childhood-migraines-perspective.html?via=rss
- Author: Jenée Desmond-Harris
- Published: 2026-10-02T10:00:03.947+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: childhood head injury, migraines, chronic pain, graduate school, healthy aging, seahawks, nfl, prudence, slatest, slate plus
## Childhood Head Injury
The writer experienced a severe head injury as a child that likely caused chronic migraines.

> I get migraines, lots of them, likely as a product of a severe head injury as a child.
## Chronic Migraine Struggle
The writer tried many treatments but found none that reduced pain without severe side effects.

> I’ve tried just about every treatment anyone could offer, and I’ve never found anything that does more than make them slightly less painful, but that came with unbearable side effects.
## Migraine Impact
The writer faced suicidal thoughts during migraine episodes due to their frequency.

> At times in the past, dealing with preposterously frequent migraines made me almost suicidal.
## Graduate School Mentor
The writer’s graduate school mentor discussed healthy aging and the privilege of growing old.

> My graduate school mentor, who studied healthy aging, would regularly say something along the lines of “Growing old is a privilege too few people get”
## Head Injury Survival
The writer learned that most children who suffered similar injuries died immediately or shortly after.

> The vast majority of kids who get hurt as I did die immediately or shortly after.
## Lucky Survivor
The writer is one of the few who survived the childhood head injury.

> As one of the few who lived, I am one of the lucky ones.
## Current Life
The writer has an incredible wife and a smart, funny, sweet daughter.

> I have an incredible wife, and a smart, funny, sweet, cool-as-could-be young daughter.
## Work Challenges
The writer’s job requires preventing health issues but lacks days off for migraines.

> My job, where I have too few days off to take leave when I get migraines, involves attempting to prevent people from developing chronic or deadly health issues.
## Acceptance
The writer accepts migraines as the price of their meaningful life.

> I accept that price.
## Life Perspective
The writer sees migraines as a privilege after surviving a childhood head injury.

> My migraines aren’t going anywhere, but I have the privilege of being alive.
## Prudence Response
Prudence encourages the writer to lean into their life despite chronic pain.

> I hope the letter writer has incredible people and a meaningful life. I would encourage them to lean into those things.
## Migraine Mindset Shift
The writer describes a powerful shift in mindset about their migraines.

> Over time, I have come to see my migraines differently.
## Key takeaway

The writer accepts chronic migraines as the price of a meaningful life after a childhood head injury.