For the past 3 years, I’ve suffered from chronic and debilitating migraines. In my experience, there are a lot of misconceptions about migraines. There are a few things I’d like to clear up.

Migraines and headaches are not the same thing.

Do you remember how in school teachers would talk about how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares? That same logic applies here. Migraines are a severe type of headache. Headaches however are not all migraines. If you have to think about whether or not your headache is a migraine, the answer is no.

If you’re lucky enough to never have experienced a migraine, this is what they’re like for me. (note: not all migraines are the same and not everyone experiences the same symptoms.)

When I have a migraine its like all of my senses are heightened in the worst way possible. I’m more sensitive to everything and things that normally wouldn’t bother me at all physically hurt. Even the smallest sounds can be painful. Hearing a faucet drop feels like a hammer bashing against my head. Louder noises are even more excruciating.

There is no way I could be in a room full of people talking while I have a migraine without being in serious pain. Noises aren’t the only things that are painful, lights can be even more devastating. A bright light can make my eyes feel like they’re burning in their sockets. Even the light of my phone screen or the display on my alarm clock hurt to look at.

Smells are also painful even if it’s a scent that I normally like. Its difficult to describe but sometimes certain smells can make me feel like I’m drowning in the scent—its so overwhelming the only thing I can feel is pain. Smells also can make me incredibly nauseous when I have a migraine. Its not uncommon for me to get physically sick because of them.

My sense of touch is also my sensitive. Feeling a scratchy shirt or sheets feels like the end of the world. Temperatures are difficult as well, if I’m too hot or too cold I feel feverish and uncomfortable. On top of all of the heightened sensitivity keep in mind it also feels like there’s a constant stabbing pain in my head. Its exhausting and makes it impossible to really think about anything other than the discomfort and pain.

Let me reiterate. A migraine is not just a headache.

People seem to think that if you just drink more water then migraines won’t be an issue. While there is a correlation between dehydration and headaches, staying hydrated does not prevent migraines. If all it took was drinking more water, far less people would be suffering from migraines. I honestly find it kind of insulting that people think that there’s such an easy fix and that I haven’t tried it all ready. I don’t like having migraines. I do everything in my power to prevent them from happening.

Taking a few Advil (at least for me) doesn’t do anything when I have a migraine. Please don’t suggest that I take some and imply that if I do everything will be better. I have prescription medication that doesn’t always work to prevent a migraine, Advil sure as hell isn’t going to cut it.

Every day I live in fear of getting a migraine that will prevent me from going about my normal life. I have to carry migraine medication with me everywhere I go because the sooner I take my medication the less severe my symptoms are. I do everything that I can possibly do to prevent having migraines but they still happen.

If you have a headache, please don’t exaggerate and call it a migraine. It perpetuates the idea that headaches and migraines are the same thing and takes away from the perceived severity of migraines. Quite frankly, it’s also really annoying to hear someone complain about his or her so-called “migraine” when it really is just a headache because a migraine is so much worse.