This week on Talking Head Pain, host Joe Coe is joined by Namira Islam Anani, a lawyer specializing in human rights education and training and a graphic designer. While recovering from COVID in 2020, Namira noticed that her headaches were getting worse. This led her to seek care from a neurologist who opened her eyes to what she was experiencing.

Join Joe and Namira as they discuss long COVID, ableism in her profession, and the importance of creating and holding space.

Among the highlights in this episode:

00:57- Joe kicks off the episode by asking Namira about getting a migraine diagnosis in regard to long COVID

03:11- Namira talks about her experience with headache and migraine prior to her COVID infection

03:45- Namira describes the symptoms of her migraine attacks and talks about the worst attack she’s experienced

05:17- Joe asks Namira about the ability to be self-aware that she is experiencing a migraine

07:17- Joe and Namira discuss the intersection between human rights and healthcare and disability rights

10:59- Joe asks Namira to share advice for aspiring attorneys and advocates who also live with migraine

13:21- Joe and Namira talk about the pressure to change systems that were not designed for people with disability

14:52- Namira discusses the impact migraine has had on her personal life

19:11- Joe asks Namira if she sees diversity in the migraine community and in the space around COVID

24:10- Namira talks about the takeaways and wisdom she’s learned from the BIPOC community of COVID “long haulers”

26:39- Joe asks Namira about the meaning of “holding space”

Contact Our Host:

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: jcoe@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to TalkingHeadPain@GHLF.org.

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

You can find Namira’s work at https://www.namiraanani.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.