Feeling Frustrated!

I have to admit that I am perplexed, even frustrated.  I know from looking at statistics that over 38 million people in the US suffer from migraines.  In fact, the World Health Organization classifies migraine disease as being among the most disabling illnesses, comparable with quadriplegia, dementia and active psychosis.

Migraine does not just impact the individuals who suffer from migraines but also impacts their families, their friends, and their co-workers.  Migraine has a signifiant and dramatic impact on one's life financially, socially, vocationally, physically and emotionally.

So the question I, and many others, are asking is "If so many people suffer from migraines, either directly or indirectly, why do we have so few signatures on a petition from the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA) which is asking for Congressional Hearings on the impact of migraine and headache disorders?  There are currently about 7,000 signatures; however, 20,000 are needed in order to present this to Congress.

This quite simply and bluntly makes no sense at all to me.  We cannot afford to assume the passive patient role or the victim role when it comes to migraine advocacy.  We need to make our voices heard.  There is an opportunity here before us to get our Congress to investigate the impact of migraine, just as they have many other diseases.  There are people, including patient advocate Teri Robert, who are planning to hand deliver this petition to Washington D.C.

This is a gift and opportunity which is within our grasp and means.  However, we must take advantage of it.  It isn't a lengthy or involved process.  All it requires is for each of us to go to the link below and enter our name, email address and zip code.  That's it!  Really, how easy can that be?

Please don't let this opportunity slip through our fingers!  If you've never asked friends or family members to do anything for migraine advocacy, now is the time to do so.  Forward this link to everyone you know and ask them to make a difference in your life by signing the petition.

http://act.allianceforheadacheadvocacy.org/5624/urge-congressional-hearings-on-impact-migraine-headache-disorders/