Whitney Cummings reveals how migraines changed her life and made her stronger

Whitney Cummings has made a career out of being unapologetically honest. Whether on stage, on a podcast, or on screen, she cracks open the uncomfortable and turns it into comedy gold. Behind her sharp wit, though, Cummings has spent much of her life quietly managing something far less laughable: debilitating migraine. Still, the 42-year-old comedian, actor, writer, producer, showrunner, and podcast host has come to see her migraine disorder as not just a chronic health condition but as an unlikely guidepost.

“Honestly, if I didn't have migraines, I might still be in some toxic loop, pushing myself way too hard,” Cummings says. “They've forced me to stop, reset, and take care of myself.”

A Washington, D.C., native, Cummings got her start in entertainment as a stand-up comedian before becoming one of the most recognized voices in modern comedy. She is best known for creating and starring in the NBC sitcom Whitney and co-creating the Emmy-nominated TV comedy 2 Broke Girls (she also served as head writer and executive producer of the 2018 revival of Roseanne).

Fans appreciate Cummings’ resonant perspectives on relationships and mental health, and she often weaves personal experiences into her routines. Her comedy specials on Netflix and Comedy Central—including Money Shot, which launched her stand-up career in 2010, and 2022's Jokes, which delved into personal anecdotes about dating, social media, and intimacy—helped solidify her reputation for candid, introspective, and fearless comedy. In 2023, she released two specials on OnlyFans: Mouthy, filmed at the Comedy Store while she was pregnant with her first child, and The Roast of Whitney Cummings, where friends and fellow comedians took turns delivering sharp, humorous jabs in celebration of her career.

But long before authoring the book I'm Fine … And Other Lies (G.P. Putnam's Sons); releasing her debut stand-up comedy album, Emotional Ninja; or hosting the podcast Good for You, Cummings was a kid grappling with a mysterious pain that would come to define much of her life.

“I just thought I had a weak stomach or that I was just being dramatic,” recalls Cummings, who first experienced migraine symptoms around age 6. It wasn't until years later, as her symptoms worsened—including nausea; light sensitivity; and throbbing, one-sided head pain—that she realized these weren't just headaches.

Known as “the headache kid,” Cummings often missed out on school field trips and other activities. “I hated being the one who always had to sit something out,” she says. “I felt like a burden.”

Cummings stayed quiet about the pain to avoid drawing attention to herself, and she's not alone. A neurologic disease characterized by intense head pain, migraine can last for days and significantly impact quality of life. Patients often experience nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and in some cases, visual disturbances, but they “often downplay their symptoms,” says Jessica Ailani, MD, director of MedStar Georgetown Headache Center in the Washington, D.C., region. “Women in particular are socialized not to complain or be seen as weak. So they suffer in silence, even when the condition is disabling.”

Stephen D. Silberstein, MD, director of the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia, says that scenario is common. “For every man who has migraine, there are three women,” he says. “And many people with migraine are misdiagnosed or dismissed entirely—sometimes even by themselves.”

Understanding her condition

As Cummings built a name in comedy, she often hid how much she was suffering behind the scenes. Comedy tours, TV appearances, and production deadlines rarely left space for sick days. “It's not glamorous to say you have to lie in a dark room for six hours,” she jokes. “But that was my reality more often than I admitted.”

At one point, she says, the fear of getting a migraine became a trigger itself: “I'd be so anxious about whether one was coming that I'd almost manifest it. It was a vicious cycle.”

She spent years pushing through her migraine attacks, relying on caffeine and over-the-counter medications and often brushing off the pain to keep up with her demanding schedule. “There were times I'd have to cancel shows or call out of meetings last-minute. It always felt like I was letting someone down,” she says. “But I couldn't function.”

She relied on trial and error to find relief, including using aids such as menthol rubs and cooling eye masks. The breakthrough came not through one specific treatment but rather a series of revelations that began with her finally seeing a neurologist, who helped her understand the patterns behind her attacks, which often were tied to hormonal fluctuations, dehydration, and high stress.

“People under constant stress may actually get migraine [attacks] when they finally relax,” Dr. Silberstein says. “The brain is in a push-push-push mode, and when those chemicals drop, that's when the migraine hits.”

Cummings realized that her lifestyle fueled the fire. She didn't eat enough, and she drank alcohol, skipped sleep, and ran on anxiety. Slowly, she began removing the habits—and anything else—that no longer served her. The decision to take her condition seriously, and advocate for herself medically, changed everything. “Getting to a neurologist was a game-changer,” Cummings says. “They helped me get proactive instead of reactive.”

Dr. Ailani says many people don't realize how significantly a headache specialist can shift the trajectory of migraine care. “A neurologist trained in headache medicine can help patients build a comprehensive management plan,” she explains. “This might include acute treatments to stop an attack, preventive strategies to reduce frequency, lifestyle modifications, and non-pharmacologic tools like neuromodulation devices,” including wearable tools that send electrical pulses to nerves involved in migraine to reduce or prevent symptoms.

Dr. Ailani emphasizes the importance of identifying triggers, getting consistent sleep, managing stress, staying hydrated, and learning when to rest. “Migraine isn't just about pain—it's about protecting the brain,” she says. “Getting ahead of the disease is always better than chasing it.”

Motherhood and migraine

That mindset helped Cummings prepare for a new phase of life that challenged her body in completely different ways. In 2023, she announced her pregnancy at age 40 and gave birth to her first child, Henry, later that year. While she had gained control over her migraine attacks in the years prior, pregnancy introduced a new set of variables.

“The hormone shifts were brutal,” she says. “I had to be really intentional about prevention because I didn't want to take anything unless I absolutely had to.”

Dr. Silberstein notes that pregnancy-related migraine changes are common. “Estrogen withdrawal is a major trigger,” he says. “During the first trimester, hormone levels rise and can cause migraine to worsen. Postpartum, that sudden drop in estrogen can lead to more attacks, especially when sleep is disrupted.”

To manage her symptoms, Cummings focused on hydration, nutrition, and consistency. She used menthol gels, caffeine, and non-medicated tools like cold therapy and acupressure. “I built a toolkit that I could rely on,” she says.

These non-drug strategies are especially important for pregnant or postpartum patients. Dr. Ailani recommends options like behavioral therapy, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, and neuromodulation tools. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared six neuromodulation devices to treat and/or prevent migraine attacks. Some stimulate branches of the trigeminal nerves or in combination with stimulating the occipital nerves, the vagus nerve (placed on the neck), the upper arm, or the back of the head.

Even now, balancing migraine with a busy career means staying vigilant. Cummings, who is taking her comedy tour across the United States and Canada this summer and fall and developing new TV projects, says preparation is key: “I travel with an entire suitcase of migraine supplies: ice packs, peppermint oil, snacks, a blackout eye mask.”

As a mom to a toddler, Cummings knows eight hours of sleep and perfect routines aren't always realistic, so instead of striving for perfection, she focuses on doing what she can with what she has. Her migraines taught her that staying vigilant matters, but so does letting go; gripping too tightly only fuels anxiety, and sometimes the healthiest choice is to go with the flow. She also builds breaks into her schedule and has learned to say no. “I used to be afraid I'd let people down,” she says. “Now I know that if I push too hard, I'll be out of commission for days.”

Cummings credits her neurologist with helping her stay ahead of the attacks and avoid medication overuse, which can actually worsen symptoms. “It's about finding the right rhythm and support,” she says.

Cummings has been open about many aspects of her life on social media—she has 1.8 million followers on Instagram—but she's only recently started talking publicly about migraine. The condition, she says, taught her boundaries: “It's my body saying, ‘Hey, something's not right.’ And instead of ignoring that, I've started listening.”

Dr. Ailani believes that reframing migraine as a protective force can be empowering. “It's your brain's way of saying it needs something—rest, food, hydration, calm,” she says. “Once patients recognize those signals, they can live more proactively.”

Cummings agrees. “I used to feel like I was being punished by migraine,” she says. “Now, I see them as a built-in warning system. If I'm not treating myself right, my brain lets me know.”