The Migraine-Free Holiday Guide You Didn’t Know You Needed
Release Date: 11/17/2025
“Sinus Headaches" That Are Actually Migraines
Migraine Freedom Your Way
Think you have chronic sinus issues alongside your migraines? You might have been misdiagnosed. In this episode, I break down why up to 90% of "sinus headaches" are actually migraines, why nasal swab tests often show bacteria even when there's no infection, how the trigeminal nerve creates sinus-like symptoms, and why antibiotics seem to work (spoiler: it's just time passing). Plus, I share the real solution: addressing the inflammatory network dysfunction driving both your migraines and your "sinus problems." What You'll Learn: ✅ Why up to 90% of "sinus headaches" are actually...
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The Over-the-Counter Trap: When Pain Relief Becomes the Problem
Migraine Freedom Your Way
You know the drill: Pop two ibuprofen at 6 AM. Save your prescription meds for the "really bad" days. Hope the over-the-counter stuff is enough to get you through. But what if the medication you're using to save yourself is actually keeping you stuck? On this episode of The Migraine Freedom™ Your Way podcast, I'm sharing the uncomfortable truth about over-the-counter pain medication-why daily use is masking (not ending) your migraines, and how my clients broke free from the OTC trap. In this episode, you'll hear: Why rationing prescription meds leads to OTC overuse and dependence The...
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Why Your New Year's Resolution is Already Dead (And How to Bring It Back to Life)
Migraine Freedom Your Way
If you’re already feeling behind on your New Year’s resolution, there’s a good chance it’s because no one ever taught you how to build a foundation strong enough to hold real change. Especially when migraines are involved. Every January, the cycle repeats. You decide this is the year things will be different. You promise yourself you’ll finally get your migraines under control. And for a short while, you’re motivated. You’re doing the things. Trying again. Then life happens. You get tired. You miss a day. The migraines hit. And suddenly it feels like you’re right back where you...
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If I Can Only Do ONE Thing to End My Migraines … What Should It Be?
Migraine Freedom Your Way
If you live with migraines, overwhelm often becomes part of the pain. Not just the headaches, but the constant pressure to do more. Change your diet. Fix your hormones. Heal your gut. Balance your nervous system. And somehow do it all while you’re already exhausted. In this episode, I’m answering one of the most common and most honest questions women ask: “If I can only do ONE thing right now to help my migraines, what should it be?” This conversation is for the woman who doesn’t have the energy for a perfect plan. The woman who isn’t lazy or failing - just...
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The Two Dates That Changed Lori’s Life: A Migraine Story You Need to Hear
Migraine Freedom Your Way
If you live with migraines, you know that the pain is only part of the story. There’s the constant anticipation of the next one. The quiet fear that creeps in when you make plans. The mental math of Will I be okay that day? What if I have to cancel again? In this episode, you’ll hear Lori’s story, whose life revolved around that daily uncertainty for years. She was always waiting for the next migraine to arrive. And like so many women, she also carried guilt around prioritizing her own health. Even when she found the Freedom From Migraine Method®, fear and doubt held her back....
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New Year, New Nervous System: 3 Things to Leave Behind for Migraine Freedom
Migraine Freedom Your Way
Every year teaches me something different, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s always reveals the deepest truth: women living with migraines aren’t craving a fresh planner or a tidy home… they’re craving a nervous system that finally feels safe. This episode is about releasing the fear, frustration, and beliefs that have kept you stuck - and stepping into 2026 with a completely different foundation. These are the three things every woman with migraines should leave behind in 2025 so you don’t carry them into a new year. I’m breaking down the patterns I see every...
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Six Minutes. Nine Women. One Message You Need This Christmas
Migraine Freedom Your Way
Every year teaches me something different, but this holiday season felt especially profound. It reminded me how deeply migraines impact women during moments that are supposed to feel magical - warm meals, twinkling lights, family gathering, children waking up early with excitement. For so many women, this week isn’t joyful… it’s something they have to survive. This is a message of grounded hope for anyone whose pain feels front and center right now. If you’re listening during one of the busiest weeks of the year, it tells me one thing: you’re ready for real change. In this...
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The Biggest Lessons I Learned From Women With Migraines This Year
Migraine Freedom Your Way
Every year teaches me something different, but 2025 felt especially powerful. It reminded me of the emotional side of migraines that often gets overlooked, and helped me reconnect with what women are truly carrying beneath the surface. These are the lessons that shaped me this year. I hope they help you feel seen, understood, and supported. In this episode, I break down the deeper patterns I saw again and again in the women I serve - the fears they hold, the burdens they carry, the gaps in their education, and the transformations that happen when they finally receive the guidance and support...
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She Almost Gave Up – Until Cheryl Spoke
Migraine Freedom Your Way
Most women don’t realize how powerful one honest story can be until someone shares theirs at exactly the right moment. That’s how Sue’s journey began. She had been searching for answers, bouncing between doctors, and trying to make sense of symptoms that left her anxious, isolated, and afraid. Nothing was clear. Nothing was consistent. And the question that haunted her was simple: “Why can’t anyone tell me what’s actually happening to me?” Her world was getting smaller until one woman’s courage opened a new door. In this episode, you’ll hear how Cheryl, a Freedom From...
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Feeling Low Lately? Your Brain Chemistry May Be Trying to Tell You Something
Migraine Freedom Your Way
For so many women, there’s a silent, confusing moment you don’t talk about: the moment you’re not sure if what you’re feeling is depression… or another migraine creeping in. And the truth almost no one tells you? For most women, it’s both. Not because you’re broken. Not because you’re too emotional. Not because you “can’t handle life.” But because inflammation is running the show, it affects both your brain chemistry and your pain. In this episode, I break down the science behind why migraines and depression so often overlap, why medication alone rarely fixes the root...
info_outlineThe holidays are meant to feel joyful — but for so many women living with migraines, they’re often the opposite.
The noise, the expectations, the schedule changes, the pressure to make everything “perfect”… it all adds up. And before the day even begins, that familiar ache starts building behind your eyes.
In this episode, I walk you through why the holidays hit so hard — and how you can make small, strategic shifts that protect your energy, calm your inflammation network, and help you feel present again.
I also share the powerful stories of women in our Migraine Freedom™ community who transformed their holidays by honoring their bodies instead of pushing through.
Their stories are proof of what’s possible when you stop surviving the holidays and start supporting your healing.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why holiday stress, noise, and routines can ignite your migraine network
- How Sue simplified her way to migraine freedom — starting with tiny decisions
- Cheryl's shift from fluorescent-lit shopping to intentional, energy-saving gifting
- Why eating for peace—not perfection—creates more joy and fewer flare-ups
- The boundary reminders you need for family gatherings
- How to choose calm, connection, and contentment this season
Resources & Links
Ready to see what’s working for real women finding migraine freedom? Join us Tuesday, November 18th, at 6:30 PM ET for a live conversation with two women who finally found lasting relief! Sign up here!
Connect with Debbie:
Instagram: https://urlgeni.us/instagram/migrainefree
Women’s Migraine Freedom™ Facebook Group: https://urlgeni.us/facebook/Womensmigrainefreedom
LinkedIn: https://urlgeni.us/linkedin/debbiewaidl
Website: https://debbiewaidl.com/
Disclaimer:
The Migraine Freedom™ Your Way Podcast and information provided by Debbie Waidl and guests in this podcast is presented solely to provide helpful information, education, and entertainment on the subjects discussed. The use of information or resources mentioned on or linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk and discretion. This podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician. Debbie Waidl and In The Balance Health Coaching LLC are not responsible for any medical conditions or liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application, or preparation to any person reading or following the information presented on this podcast. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of any websites or other sources.