Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Ep 65: Migraines & ADHD: How to Cope with the Overlap (ft. Dr. Sarah Cheyette)

May 7, 2025

37:07

Have you heard the saying “research is me-search”? It means people often explore topics they personally need or want to understand better. Well, that’s exactly what today’s episode is for me. I’ve had migraines since I was a teenager, and after being diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago, I started noticing how closely the two seem to be connected.

Conversations with clients, colleagues, and other people I know showed me that I’m not alone. It seems like many people who have ADHD also deal with migraines. I started researching to find out if there is a connection between migraines and ADHD, and it turns out, there is!

I connected with Dr. Sarah Cheyette to learn more. Dr. Cheyette is a pediatric neurologist who specializes in both ADHD and migraines. Dr. Cheyette graduated from Princeton University and received her medical degree at UCLA. Following specialty training in pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and in pediatric neurology at Seattle Children’s Hospital, she practiced at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. She now owns a private practice in northern California. Today, she brings her insight into how these two conditions overlap. In our conversation, we talk about what migraines are, why migraines happen, how they’re triggered, and—most importantly—what we can actually do about them - both to prevent and treat. Dr. Cheyette shares strategies for tracking headaches, making small but meaningful lifestyle changes, how to make sure you’re doing the right things and taking the right meds to manage these debilitating headaches.

Whether you live with both ADHD and migraines, or you’re supporting someone who does, I hope you’ll find this episode informative and validating. I have shared some articles and research studies in the show

Show notes:

Learn More About Dr. Sarah Cheyette

https://sarahcheyette.com/

Migraines and ADHD

The Connection Between Migraine and ADHD

https://www.migrainedisorders.org/migraine-and-adhd/

Migraines and ADHD: The Overlooked Connection to Headaches

https://www.additudemag.com/migraines-and-adhd-headaches-symptoms-treatments

The Connection Between ADHD and Migraines

https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/the-connection-between-adhd-and-migraines/

Comorbidity of migraine with ADHD in adults

https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-018-1149-6