Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for migraine and provides direction when migraine removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Migraine
Migraine often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when migraine has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult migraine periods
- A basis for action independent of how migraine makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Migraine
Ask yourself: 'If my migraine were less present, what would I be doing more of? What kind of person would I be?'
Values are not goals (achievable and done) but ongoing directions: being a present parent, creating beauty, contributing to others.
Values-Based Action in Migraine
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when migraine is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite migraine, are more sustainable than waiting for migraine to lift first.