<\/p>\n
Move over roses and chocolate\u2014this Valentine\u2019s season, Jessie James Decker is putting love\u2014and migraines\u2014front and center. The singer, entrepreneur and mom joined Love, Migraine & Mocktails<\/em> last week in New York to discuss how migraines can affect romance, connection and everyday intimacy. <\/p>\n Through candid conversation and new survey insights, Decker opens up about living with migraines\u2014and why empathy and communication matter more than ever\u2014in conversation with NewBeauty<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to partner with AbbVie on Love in Mind because this initiative speaks to something really personal in my life. I\u2019ve lived with migraine for years, and I think there\u2019s so much more to the conversation than just the physical symptoms. Migraine has impacted my relationships, my career and how I show up in my daily life\u2014and I don\u2019t think we talk about that enough.<\/p>\n The Love in Mind initiative is about sparking a conversation around the emotional impact of migraine, particularly within relationships. For me, that resonates deeply because there have been times I\u2019ve had to miss out on important moments with my husband Eric and my kids, sometimes pushing through the pain because I didn\u2019t want to miss those special memories. I want women living with migraine to know they\u2019re not alone in this, and I want to empower them to have bold, honest conversations with their healthcare providers about how migraine is truly affecting their lives, as I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEach one fills a different part of my soul, so it\u2019s hard to pick just one. Music and performing are my passions, but fashion and my other businesses fuel a different type of creative outlet. \u00a0<\/p>\n There\u2019s something about creating something tangible that makes people\u2019s lives better, whether that\u2019s fashion they feel confident in, food they can share with their families or advocating for deeply personal health concerns\u2026those ground me in purpose. It really comes back to family and the people I love.<\/p>\n My schedule can be daunting at times, which can leave me feeling stretched thin and with that comes potential migraine triggers. I\u2019ve learned that I must listen to my body and take care of myself first so I can show up fully for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAuthenticity is about honesty. When I\u2019m working on a song, I ask myself whether it is true to what I\u2019m experiencing right now. I can\u2019t make my audience believe something if I don\u2019t believe in it myself. And if something doesn\u2019t feel true, I don\u2019t do it. It\u2019s that simple.<\/p>\n As I\u2019ve gotten older, my sound has definitely matured, as has my life. I\u2019m not the same person I was 10 years ago, and I don\u2019t want to pretend to be. I\u2019m a wife, a mom, a business owner dealing with real stuff, all while managing migraine and finding balance. So, when a song feels authentic, it\u2019s because it\u2019s honest about where I am in my life. That\u2019s what my fans connect with; the real, messy, honest parts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy relationship with beauty has evolved just like I have. When I was younger, I think I connected beauty to the idea of always needing to look and present perfect all the time. And don\u2019t get me wrong, I still love fashion and getting dolled up! That\u2019s what Kittenish is all about. But as I\u2019ve gotten older, real beauty to me is more grounded in how you carry yourself, how you treat people and whether you\u2019re taking care of yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n Confidence comes from knowing who you are and not apologizing for it. It comes from saying \u2018no\u2019 when you need to, asking for help when you\u2019re struggling with something and being honest instead of pretending everything\u2019s perfect all the time. My migraine journey is a perfect example of that.<\/p>\n I think true beauty is a woman who knows her worth and takes care of herself, whether that\u2019s getting proper rest, staying hydrated, or having hard conversations with her doctor about her health. When a woman shows up authentically for herself, she can show up for the people she loves a little easier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely. My self-care routine is really about prevention and management now, because of my migraine. I\u2019m religious about getting proper rest and drinking tons of water\u2014that\u2019s non-negotiable. I\u2019m intentional about my workouts and have modified how I exercise so I can feel my best.\u00a0<\/p>\n I also take my stress management seriously. Stress is one of my biggest migraine triggers, so I\u2019m mindful about that. When I can feel tension building, I try to address it before it becomes a migraine.<\/p>\n In terms of actual treatments, my prescription migraine medication has been game-changing. But beyond that, I use ice packs during an attack, dark rooms and massage when I need it. I\u2019m also very intentional about my skin-care routine\u2014taking care of my skin is part of taking care of myself overall.<\/p>\n And honestly? The best \u2018treatment\u2019 I\u2019ve found is communication. I talk openly with Eric about how I\u2019m feeling, what my triggers are and what support I need. He\u2019s learned to recognize when an attack is coming on, and he helps me create the environment I need to rest and recover. That support system is everything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen life feels overwhelming, I lean on what I know works for me. First, I listen to my body. If I\u2019m feeling the pressure behind my eyes and sensitivity to light that signals an incoming migraine, I don\u2019t push through. I rest. I\u2019ve learned that resting doesn\u2019t make me weak; it\u2019s part of taking care of myself. That was a big shift in mindset for me.<\/p>\n I also rely heavily on Eric and my support system. When I need to step back, he steps up. When I need quiet and darkness, he makes that happen. That partnership helps me feel less alone in this.<\/p>\n And I\u2019m honest with myself about my limits. I can\u2019t always do everything, and that\u2019s okay. Accepting that has actually been really freeing. It helps me prioritize what matters most\u2014the moments with my family, the creative work that feeds my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the biggest moments was finally listening to my gut about my migraine and getting professional help with it. For years, I was managing it on my own with over-the-counter medication and thinking, \u2018this is just how life is.\u2019 I was powering through because I didn\u2019t want to miss out on special moments, but deep down, I knew something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n There was this one charity event that also stands out. I had a terrible migraine attack right before we were supposed to go. Every movement felt like my head was rattling. Eric looked at me and said, \u2018Babe, we\u2019re not going tonight.\u2019 And in that moment, I realized I had to stop fighting this alone and get real help.<\/p>\n When I finally talked to my doctor about how migraine was actually impacting my life and my relationships, it was a relief to get a diagnosis for what I was experiencing. My doctor and I worked together to develop a management plan that included prescription medication, and everything changed. I went from three to four attacks a month to having much better control.<\/p>\n That moment taught me that trusting your instincts isn\u2019t selfish, it\u2019s actually the most loving thing you can do for yourself and the people around you. Because when I took care of myself and got the right support, I became better in all areas of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned so far: You cannot pour from an empty cup. Full stop. I know everyone says that, but it\u2019s true. But here\u2019s what I want every woman to hear:\u00a0<\/p>\n Self-care isn\u2019t optional; it\u2019s essential.\u00a0<\/strong>Getting proper rest, staying hydrated, managing stress, moving your body in ways that feel good\u2014these aren\u2019t luxuries. They\u2019re part of your health management.<\/p>\n Give yourself grace.<\/strong>\u00a0You\u2019re not going to be perfect at balancing everything all the time. Some days you\u2019re going to have to rest instead of doing that workout. Some nights, you might need to skip the event because you aren\u2019t feeling well or a migraine is coming on.<\/p>\n Advocate for yourself.<\/strong>\u00a0Have a bold, honest conversation with your doctor about how you are feeling and how it\u00a0\u00a0is impacting your life. Don\u2019t minimize your symptoms. For example, if it is a migraine, don\u2019t just accept \u2018bad headaches\u2019 as your reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lean on your support system.<\/strong>\u00a0Eric has been incredible in helping me navigate this. If you have a partner, be honest with them about what you need. When you communicate, when you ask for help, when you let people in, that\u2019s<\/em> when real support happens.<\/p>\n Most importantly, keep your focus on the moments that matter most to you.<\/strong>\u00a0My kids, my husband, my music\u2014those are my priorities. Everything else gets filtered through that lens. When you\u2019re clear on what matters, it becomes easier to say yes to that and no to things that drain you without filling your cup.<\/p>\n You\u2019re doing better than you think. And if you\u2019re struggling, please reach out to a healthcare provider. Getting help isn\u2019t giving up\u2014it\u2019s taking control.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhy is this partnership and message so important to you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
You\u2019ve built a career spanning music, fashion and business. At this point in your life, which creative outlet feels the most grounding for you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Your sound has also evolved over the years. How do you know when a song still feels authentic to who you are now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Beauty and confidence go hand in hand. How has your relationship with beauty changed as you\u2019ve gotten older?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Do you have any beauty or self-care rituals that help you feel your best, especially on busy days? Any treatments or products you swear by?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
When life feels overwhelming, what helps you reset and reconnect with yourself?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Looking back on your journey, what moment taught you the most about trusting your own instincts?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What advice would you give women who are trying to balance work, family and self-care without losing themselves?<\/strong><\/h2>\n