Someone with chronic migraines may still show up to meetings, hit deadlines, and smile through conversations, all while managing nausea, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, or brain fog. And how do I know that? Because I experienced it. Until my very own body stopped functioning. 

Migraine is the 2nd leading cause of disability worldwide & the 1st among young woman (15-49 years)

I didn't invent this header, it comes from The Journal of Headache and Pain. Just like any invisible disability, it is very difficult for the environment of the person who suffers from chronic migraines to understand what really is going on.

During my time in big corporations—especially in banking—taking days off due to migraines was poorly perceived by upper management.

When an employee’s health-related costs are seen as outweighing their productivity, regulations—particularly in Switzerland—tend to resolve the issue quickly: termination. Swiss employment law follows the principle of ‘freedom of dismissal’; as long as the notice period is respected, an employer is not required to provide a valid reason.

Stressful work environments fuel the migraine crisis

Any proof you may ask? For three years, I wrote down every piece of data I could think of to understand what was really going on with my health as it seriously deteriorated, which led to multiple burnouts and a nervous breakdown.

The tricky part is that you still want to perform, help out, and be part of something bigger than yourself—but now you fear not only yourself, but others as well, knowing that inevitably there will be times when you won’t be able to show up, or/and others may take advantage by making business deals behind your back.

I paid the price. I used to think we all do, but life has taught me otherwise. Those who lie, deceive, and have more financial back-up will always win. 

So what do I mean by stressful work environments?

- Prolonged screen exposure and harsh lighting
- Long, inflexible working hours
- Constant notifications and cognitive overload
- Chronic stress, tight deadlines, communication gaps, and performance anxiety
- Limited recovery time and a culture that rewards "pushing through" pain

What hurt the most was the avoidant behavior. When an employee sincerely and honestly says, “I have a migraine,” depending on the intensity of the attack, it can require three to four days of recovery. After a crisis, the body has fought so hard that it is completely drained.

Lack of support overloads the nervous system, turning stress into a physical trigger. Over time, what’s dismissed as “just work stress” can become chronic pain that follows you long after the workday ends. You may work in the fanciest office, but if the culture within that office is not open to constructive communication, psychological safety, and mutual respect, the stress seeps into your body. Silence, fear of speaking up, and constant pressure become invisible triggers, amplifying tension and making migraines more frequent and harder to manage.

And when you are constantly dealing with an avoidant—someone who believes the problem will resolve itself—what choices do you really have?

Chronic migraines do impact your relationship with others

Chronic migraines are NOT a personal weakness; they are a neurological disease. You are not "playing the victim", you are in pain. If you speak up, you will be put aside; if you don't, it will show sooner or later, and you will be put aside. Again, experience-based observation. 

So you become a burden. And no one wants a burden, especially during difficult times. And there is no cure for migraines to this day. The data I humbly collected contradicted each other, and every time I thought I had pinpointed a solution, it turned out not to be one.

You are left with what I like to call damage control—being forced to acknowledge that, no matter how skilled you are, financial success may no longer be attainable, and you shift your focus to simplifying your life. The isolation that comes with damage control is what I am currently struggling with, but as Darwin once wrote, the species that survive are the ones that can adapt. And I strongly believe in our capacity, as human beings, to adapt to the worst. Change is another story, for another post perhaps. Same applies for apologies. 

To me, if the person who has deliberately hurt you to inflict pain and deceive you on purpose consistently refuses to face the truth, the healing cannot come from them. It comes from choosing distance, clarity, and self-respect, even when that choice feels heavy. Sometimes peace begins the moment you stop waiting for accountability from those unwilling to take it.