Ghosts, Goblins, and the Migraine Monster

October is a fun month full of Fall activities such as walking through colorful crunchy leaves, maneuvering through corn mazes, choosing pumpkins, and baking pies. There are a variety of opportunities for gathering with family and friends. Whether or not you observe this "holiday," the bold decorations, party paraphernalia, scary movies, and trick or treat are all around us. However, the best tradition of all is watching Charlie Brown's ,The Great Pumpkin. Now that is a real treat.

For me, alongside the fun of The Great Pumpkin, there is the menacing Great Migraine Monster who has his own set of tricks in mind. He insists upon aggravating me and playing with my mind constantly. He wears various costumes and disguises to trick me into thinking all is okay. When my body goes into sensory overload and my headaches begin, I quickly face the truth that I have been duped yet again. Boo.

As much as I hate to admit it, this Monster scares me at times. Sometimes his sick games of torment work on my nerves. He is relentless at trying to ruin my plans for a good time. I can never go anywhere where he is not. If I try and ignore him, he makes it more miserable for me to cope. I take all sorts of medications and treatments just to keep him quiet, but he likes to be the head monster showing all the other ghosts and goblins how to be the most frightful!

Around every corner he lurks, and without fair warning, I am sure to get sabotaged. I go to bed and settle myself down for a peaceful night's sleep only to be awakened a few hours later to find him hammering on my head or drilling at my temples or stabbing my eyes with a hot poker. Where the heck did he come from? Was he hiding under my bed? This is not a fun way to begin my day.

All the other cute, little costume characters seem harmless compared to this M Monster. Even if I am nice to him by taking good care of myself with proper nutrition, hydration, and rest; apparently that is not good enough for him. I am so tired of his shenanigans.

I have even tried dressing myself in different costumes, and guess what? He still finds me! Ridiculous. But one thing is for sure, when he comes trick or treating at my door, he will not get ANY treats from me----not even the disgusting, stale candy that no one desires anyway. Instead, I will promptly shut the door on him and pray he stays away from me for a long while.

Do you have a Halloween monster who lurks around your every corner and brings conflict and menace to your life? Maybe he disguises himself as pain, depression, anxiety, anger, addiction, or lack of self-control? Does he take away your interior peace? Does he keep you from experiencing true joy?

Well, kick that monster to the curb this Halloween after you acknowledge who he is. Don't allow yourself to be ruled by him. Give yourself permission to face him no matter how uncomfortable that may be at times. Seek help in learning how to co-exist with him if need be. Sometimes that is the best we can do.

Go ahead and eat some of your favorite candy, bob for some apples, and dress up for fun. A little lightness can go a long way.