// Migraine Awareness Month #16: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”//

Which role fits you and why?

I think that I mostly fall into the category of “Lead”.

In all honesty, I don’t set out to be a leader, but instead, I just kind of fall into the position. I was president of my diocesan Jr. youth group (Jr. ACRY) for three years, was Drama Club president in HS, was an office in Phi Theta Kappa while I was at Union County College, have become a Senior advisor to the Jr. ACRY (I’m the Sr. ACRY’s appointed National Jr. ACRY advisor) and am Head Counselor for the first time this summer at camp.

Well, I’m HC for the first time officially this summer. Last summer, I did a lot of the HC’s job and for the past two summers I kind of took over the role of Program Coordinator, even though one wasn’t hired.

I’ve always been looked to as a leader, even if I’m not expecting it, or even if I don’t really want it. In all honesty, I was kind of groomed for it. My dad is a priest (making me a PK) so I was always aware of people watching me and remembering what I did. Because of that, whenever I was at camp or at events for the ACRY, I made sure to conduct myself in an upstanding way. Because of this, I think many people have come to see me as someone who is reliable and gets stuff done.

When it comes to my migraines, I’ve been a leader in this family by being the first one to take a holistic approach to my treatment. I’ve been on preventative medication for a few years, but I’ve refused to have the amount upped, and actually was able to have my dosage reduced after I started exercising more, therefore reducing my migraines.

Yoga has also been a big help, and it’s something I need to get into the practice of doing more. My mom has wanted to take such an approach for a long time (she has a list of medications longer than I care to think about for her migraines and high blood pressure and then for conditions caused due to the other medications she’s on. It’s just a vicious cycle.) and I hope that I’ll be a catalyst for change when it comes to her approach for treatment. If she wants to walk with me or do yoga with me or change some of her eating habits with me, and is able to go off of evenoneof her medications, I will be so happy.

Where do you fall on the spectrum of “Lead, follow, or get out of the way”?

National Migraine Awareness Month is initiated by the National Headache Foundation. The Blogger’s Challenge is initiated by www.FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.