4 Patterns I See in Women with Chronic Migraines
That Most Doctors Miss
Let me paint a picture for you.
I am going to lay out a patient journey that you might be able to relate to.
You might even think I am talking about you directly.
By the time she finds me, she’s exhausted.
Not just from the migraines—but from trying to explain them.
She’s done the scans, the bloodwork, the food journals, the hormone panels.
She’s been told it’s stress, anxiety, PMS, maybe perimenopause.
She’s been given meds that helped a little—or not at all.
And somewhere along the way, she started wondering…
“Is it just me?”
It’s not. And if this sounds like you, I want to share something that may shift the way you see your migraines completely.
Because when I evaluate women who’ve been living with chronic migraines—especially the ones who’ve “tried everything”—I don’t just look at the head.
I look at the system.
And there are four patterns I see over and over again—patterns that most providers miss entirely.
Let’s walk through them.
1. A History of Trauma That No One Connected to Their Symptoms
Sometimes it’s a concussion.
Sometimes it’s a fall during childhood.
Sometimes it’s a C-section, a car crash, or even just years of powering through life with clenched teeth and a high pain threshold.
But every time, there’s been a moment the body absorbed something it never fully released.
And here’s the thing most people don’t understand:
Trauma—especially physical trauma—doesn’t always scream right away.
It whispers.
It shifts posture. It tightens muscles. It locks the nervous system into hyper-alert mode.
It’s like trying to live in a house where the foundation shifted slightly. You can still function—but the doors stop closing properly, the walls start to crack, and one day… it feels like the whole thing is off.
Migraines can be one of the first signs that the body hasn’t felt safe in a long time.
2. Signs of Vagus Nerve Suppression (Even If Labs Look Fine)
The vagus nerve is like the body’s off-switch—the command center for rest, digestion, and healing.
When it’s functioning properly, you feel calm, clear, connected.
When it’s not… your system stays revved up.
Here’s how I spot a sluggish vagus nerve in real life:
Cold hands and feet even in warm weather
Digestive issues that flare with stress
Anxiety that feels “in the body” more than the mind
Trouble winding down, even when exhausted
Migraines that hit harder after social events, travel, or poor sleep
It’s like your body’s trying to hit the brakes… and the brakes aren’t responding.
You don’t need more willpower—you need a system reboot.
3. Chronic Hypervigilance (That’s Become So Normal, You Don’t See It Anymore)
This one’s big.
Most of the women I work with are highly capable. High performers. Caregivers. Leaders.
They’ve learned how to push through pain and keep moving because, honestly, what’s the alternative?
But under that strength is a body that’s constantly scanning for threat.
Not in an obvious way—but in subtle ways that build up:
Clenching your jaw at rest
Always sitting with your shoulders slightly raised
Startling easily
Waking up tired, even after 8 hours of sleep
Feeling like your nervous system never truly “turns off”
It’s like your internal fire alarm is overly sensitive—and every little spark sets it off.
The brain isn’t trying to be dramatic.
It’s trying to protect you.
But over time, that hypervigilance becomes the very thing that fuels chronic pain.
4. A Nervous System That’s “Holding It Together” Until It Can’t
Here’s the pattern I see most clearly on our nervous system scans:
She’s compensating.
She’s surviving.
But her system is holding on by a thread.
And then something small tips it over.
It might be a virus, a stressful week, a poor night of sleep, or a minor neck tweak.
Suddenly, the migraines go from occasional to daily.
Brain fog becomes constant.
The body stops bouncing back like it used to.
Why?
Because the nervous system can only hold dysfunction for so long before it says,
“I’m done.”
When that happens, it’s not about chasing the latest trigger.
It’s about finally addressing the system that’s been breaking down in the background.
Here’s the Good News:
These patterns don’t mean you’re stuck forever.
They mean your nervous system is sending a signal.
Not just of pain—but of overload.
And once we understand what’s happening underneath the symptoms—we can actually do something about it.
It’s not just in your head—and no, you’re not crazy for still searching for answers.
Want to see what your nervous system has been trying to say?
That’s exactly what we do in the Migraine Mastermind—a 30-minute virtual session where we uncover the patterns, connect the dots, and build your personalized Migraine Optimization Plan.
Book your session here:
👉 www.migrainemastermind.com
Because you don’t need another surface-level solution.
You need someone who sees the whole picture.
As I always say…
Fix your neck. Fix your life.
Be blessed,
Dr. Brandon Brown
The Migraine Doc & The Specific Chiropractic Centers of Richardson Tx