Patient Journeys

There was a time after college when C. had a migraine that lasted three weeks. "I was so miserable," she recalled. For the first time, she understood how chronic pain could push someone to the edge. That moment didn't lead her to give up. It pushed her to search for healing in a new way. It would take twenty years. Twenty Years of Pushing Through C.'s migraines began in college. They almost always came on the left side of her head with sharp, shooting pain behind her eye or above her brow. Sometimes she had nausea. Sometimes she lost her ability to function entirely. The Medication Journey Over the course of 20 years, she tried nearly every available migraine medication. She cycled through all of the triptans, including sumatriptan (Imitrex), Zolmitriptan, Rizatriptan, and others, taken at the first sign of symptoms. She also tried medications from newer classes, like Ubrelvy. She added anti-nausea treatments like Zofran when needed and experimented with nasal spray formulations. At times, she would combine medications, such as 800 milligrams of ibuprofen and Benadryl with a triptan, in an attempt to break the pain cycle. When those failed, she turned to steroids. Eventually, she tried preventative medication, starting with Amitriptyline, which worked for some time, until it didn't. She was then prescribed monthly injectable preventatives, first Aimovig, then Emgality, each from a different class of CGRP-related treatments, which she self-administered in her thigh. Even then, the migraines persisted. Medical Interventions She made regular trips to the neurologist for IV infusions to manage her pain. These infusions included fluids, Toradol, anti-nausea medication, Benadryl, steroids, and a blend of vitamins and minerals. Sometimes they helped reduce the pain for a short while. She also pursued non-pharmaceutical options. She tried acupuncture and behavior modifications to avoid triggers. The Reality of Chronic Pain Despite all this, C. averaged eight pain days a month for twenty years. If she didn't have to be somewhere, she was in bed with ice on her head and the blinds drawn. When she had no choice, she pushed through. Interviews, parenting, errands. Then she would collapse again when the task was done. She describes that time as living in survival mode. "I was there, but I was there with pain." Her kids learned that when the door was closed, mom wasn't feeling well. It was exhausting and sometimes heartbreaking. A Different Kind of Healing When C. began psychedelic-assisted therapy, migraines were not part of the plan. She came in wanting to do deeper emotional work. She had been in therapy before but wanted something more honest and more open. She made a clear decision to fully commit. That meant building trust over time, acknowledging her need for control, and allowing herself to enter the process slowly and deliberately. The Unexpected Shift A few months in, something unexpected happened. Her migraines began to shift. The usual triggers stopped triggering. Stormy weather, hormonal cycles, emotional stress. The patterns that had defined her life for so long stopped following their script. She noticed right away. Certain days that always used to bring migraines passed without pain. At first she was confused. Then curious. And then quietly hopeful. What Might Be Happening in the Brain One possible explanation lies in what we are beginning to understand about psychedelics and the brain. Substances like MDMA and ketamine appear to temporarily reopen critical periods of neuroplasticity. These are windows when the brain is more flexible and open to change. During these times, deeply entrenched patterns can shift. Emotional and cognitive habits that once felt locked in place can loosen. New learning can take hold more easily. We do not yet know for certain how this relates to chronic migraine. But it raises an interesting question. What if C.'s brain was caught in a neurological loop that repeated the same pain signals over and over again? What if that loop softened when her brain became more plastic? What if her nervous system, for the first time in twenty years, found a new pathway? This is only a hypothesis. More research is needed. But it is consistent with what scientists like Dr. David Olson at UC Davis and Dr. Gul Dölen at Johns Hopkins have shown. Psychedelics do not only alter mood. They may also stimulate neuronal growth and strengthen new connections in the brain. When combined with therapeutic support, they might help the brain reorganize itself in meaningful and lasting ways. The Emotional Work Matters Too It was not just the medicine. The therapy itself was deep and challenging. C. described nights awake, crying and thinking. Old memories came back. Long held beliefs were questioned. She felt unsteady at times. Unsure whether she was doing the right thing. The Power of Support Her husband's support became essential. He stayed steady, even when things felt uncertain. When she cried or expressed doubt, he listened. His message was simple and unwavering: "I am going to fight for you." That kind of presence makes a difference. Healing happens not only in altered states, but also in relationship. With a partner. With a therapist. With oneself. A Life Without Daily Pain Now, more than a year after her last medicine session, C.'s life looks different. She no longer uses injectable migraine preventatives. The prescriptions that once ran out quickly now last for months. Most months, she has one or two migraine days. Some months, none. When she does get a headache, one dose of sumatriptan is usually enough. She is not in bed anymore, missing time with her kids. She does not feel the same guilt. Her life is not perfect, but it is livable in a way that once felt impossible. If You Are Considering This Work When asked what she would tell someone else living with chronic migraines, C. did not hesitate. "If someone told me there was something that could bring them down by 85 percent, I would sign immediately. Very experimental. I do not care. I would do anything. I just never thought it was possible." Still, she is clear about what it takes. Psychedelic-assisted therapy is not easy. It asks you to feel everything. It can be uncomfortable and even destabilizing. But for some, it offers a path to relief when nothing else has worked. The AK Psychology Group Approach At AK Psychology Group, we use a three phase model that includes structured preparation, supported medicine sessions, and integration therapy to help turn insight into lasting change. All clinicians are trained in psychedelic-assisted therapy through Fluence and MAPS-informed programs. Our work is trauma informed, relational, and grounded in research. Clients are never rushed. We take time to build trust and clarity before considering any medicine session. The process includes detailed preparation and continued integration. We also offer our Psychedelic Workbook, a resource designed to support reflection and long term growth. Medicine sessions are held in private, calming spaces at our Union Square and Westchester offices. Preparation and integration therapy can also happen virtually. Two-Decades-of-Pain-One-Surprising-Outcome

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