Self-demand, perfectionism and emotional sensitivity could play a relevant role in the way people experience migraine, according to specialists, in a context where scientific evidence is growing that links psychological factors with this neurological disease.
Health psychologist Sandra Ferrer, co-founder of Migralia, explained that in consultations it is common to find patients with high levels of responsibility and control, whose nervous system remains in a constant state of alert. “This generates hypervigilance that directly influences the perception of pain,” he noted.
Various studies support this observation. Research published in 2023 in Belgian Neurological Act found that people with migraine—especially those with aura—have greater sensory sensitivity than the general population. In turn, works published in 2024 in Scientific Reports identified cognitive patterns marked by high standards and self-criticism in these patients.
“Negative events”
Adverse experiences in childhood are added to these factors. A study with more than 20,000 participants showed that those who faced multiple early negative events are at greater risk of developing chronic diseases, including migraine. This combination can lead to deregulation of the nervous system, increasing sensitivity to pain and making emotional management difficult.
For his part, biochemist Albert Ferrer warned that self-demand, when associated with a constant perception of threat, can become a chronic stress factor. “The nervous system learns to react even to safe situations as if they were dangerous,” he explained, while highlighting that this process can be reversed through training and therapeutic approaches.
Current scientific evidence indicates that migraine does not depend solely on physical factors, but on the interaction between biological, psychological and social aspects. In this sense, specialists assure that understanding these elements could improve the treatment and quality of life of those who suffer from this condition.
