I’m 26 and I Hate Going to Bars: Another Stupid Aspect of My Migraine Life
It’s a little pathetic but true. I had barely enjoyed one year of being legally able to enjoy the nightlife scene with my friends when I was diagnosed with chronic migraines. I am certainly not asking for sympathy (there are obviously many worse things in the world), and I’m not saying I’m antisocial. I just wanted to see if any other migraineurs felt like I do.
When I don’t have a migraine and my friends want to do something, I have to admit I am so discouraged when their plan is to go to bars. In my migraineur opinion, bars are so chock full of migraine triggers, it’s not even worth it.
- Smoking: It’s fairly easy for bars to find ways around the anti-smoking laws in our county, and second hand smoke is absolutely a trigger for me.
- Alcohol: I have stopped drinking altogether, so if I go out, I always get water. Drinking water for hours on end is a boring way to pass the time, and it’s especially obnoxious as the people around you get increasingly inebriated.
- Noise: Sounds are a HUGE trigger for me. If the music or TV’s are too loud at a bar, I absolutely have to leave before I get sick.
- Lights: The one good thing is that most bars are dark. However, strobe lights are a big migraine trigger. And when I’m drinking all that water for hours on end while my friends are getting drunk, I generally get bored and start staring at the TV (not good for migraineurs to do for hours on end!)
I hate sounding like such a party pooper. But it’s a little frustrating watching your 20’s pass you by without participating in the majority of social activities. I am endlessly grateful to my dear friends who plan outings with me that do not involve drinking or bars!
Please join me in my venting: Do any other migraineurs or spoonie friends feel like this too? Did I miss any triggers in my list? What kind of migraine-friendly social activities do you enjoy?
