A migraine feels like an intense, throbbing or pulsing pain that often starts on one side of your head and builds over time. But the headache itself is only part of the experience. A full migraine attack can include visual disturbances, nausea, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, and even skin that hurts to touch. The entire episode, from the earliest warning signs to the lingering aftermath, can stretch from about a day to over a week, though most attacks last one to two days.
The Headache Itself
The pain is usually described as throbbing, pulsing, or pounding, though some people experience more of a dull, steady ache. It often begins on one side of the head and can shift to the other side as the attack progresses. Common locations include the temple, behind one eye, the forehead, or along the jaw and neck. The intensity is moderate to severe, and it builds gradually rather than hitting all at once.
One of the defining features is that everyday movement makes it worse. Walking up stairs, bending over to pick something up, or even just standing quickly can cause the pain to spike. This is different from a tension headache, which typically stays at the same level regardless of activity. During a migraine, many people instinctively stop what they’re doing and lie down in a dark room because any physical effort feels unbearable.
Without treatment, the headache phase lasts anywhere from 4 to 72 hours. Most people find it peaks within the first day or two.
Warning Signs Before the Pain Starts
Many migraine attacks begin with a prodrome phase, a set of subtle changes that can start hours or even a day before the headache arrives. The most common early signs are fatigue (reported in about 73% of attacks with warning features), difficulty concentrating (51%), and a stiff neck (50%). You might also notice unusual thirst, food cravings, excessive yawning, irritability, or frequent urination.
What makes these warning signs tricky is that some of them overlap with what people experience during the headache itself. Nearly half of people report light sensitivity during the prodrome, and about 38% notice sound sensitivity before any head pain begins. Some people describe mild pressure behind the eye or a dull neck ache during this phase. Excessive yawning, beyond what tiredness alone would cause, turns out to be one of the most reliable predictors that a migraine headache is coming.
Aura: Visual and Sensory Distortions
About 25 to 30% of people with migraines experience aura, a set of neurological symptoms that typically appear 10 to 60 minutes before the headache. The most common type is visual aura. It often begins as a small bright spot or hole of light in your visual field, then expands into a crescent or C-shaped pattern with shimmering zigzag lines along the edge. Some people see bright geometric shapes, flashing lights, or sparkling dots. Others lose part of their vision temporarily, as if a blank patch has been cut out of what they can see.
Aura can also be sensory. A tingling sensation may start in your hand and travel up your arm over 10 to 20 minutes, sometimes spreading to one side of your face and tongue. Less commonly, people experience temporary difficulty finding words or speaking clearly. In rare cases (hemiplegic migraine), one side of the body becomes temporarily weak, which can be frightening and is sometimes mistaken for a stroke.
Nausea and Sensory Overload
Nausea is one of the symptoms that separates migraines from other types of headaches. It can range from mild queasiness to full vomiting, and it often makes eating or drinking nearly impossible during an attack. For some people, the nausea is actually more disabling than the head pain itself.
Light sensitivity (photophobia) and sound sensitivity (phonophobia) are so central to the migraine experience that doctors consider them part of the diagnostic criteria. Normal indoor lighting can feel glaring. A conversation at regular volume can feel like someone is shouting. Many people retreat to a dark, quiet room not because they want to sleep, but because any sensory input amplifies their pain and nausea.
Skin Sensitivity During an Attack
More than half of migraine sufferers experience a phenomenon called allodynia, where normal touch becomes painful. Your scalp may hurt so much that brushing or washing your hair feels agonizing. Resting your head on a pillow on the side of the headache can be excruciating. Some people find that even wearing a ponytail, putting on glasses, or having clothing touch their neck becomes uncomfortable.
This skin sensitivity usually appears at the peak of the headache and is concentrated on the same side as the pain. In about 18% of cases, it extends beyond the head to other parts of the body, where even light pressure on the arms or legs feels tender.
The “Migraine Hangover”
After the headache fades, most people enter a postdrome phase that feels remarkably like recovering from a night of heavy drinking. You may feel wiped out, mentally foggy, and physically sore. Concentration is difficult. Dizziness and lingering nausea are common. Some people describe the sensation as feeling “hollowed out” or like their brain has been wrung dry.
Mood changes during the postdrome can swing in either direction. Some people feel unexpectedly euphoric once the worst pain passes. Others feel flat or depressed. Light and sound sensitivity often persist at a lower level, and a stiff neck can linger. This recovery phase typically lasts a day but can stretch longer, and many people find it just as disruptive to their daily lives as the headache itself.
How Migraines Feel in Children
Children can experience a form of migraine that doesn’t involve head pain at all. Abdominal migraine causes episodes of moderate to severe belly pain, usually centered around the navel, lasting anywhere from one to 72 hours (17 hours on average). The pain feels like a dull ache or soreness and comes with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and a noticeably pale appearance.
Kids often have trouble distinguishing this from a regular stomachache, which can delay recognition. Some children also develop light and sound sensitivity during these episodes. Many children who experience abdominal migraines go on to develop the more typical head-pain version of migraine as they get older.
How to Tell It Apart From Other Headaches
The combination of features is what makes a migraine distinct. A tension headache produces a steady, band-like pressure on both sides of the head, stays at a consistent intensity, and doesn’t typically cause nausea or light sensitivity. A sinus headache creates pressure across the forehead and cheeks, usually alongside congestion.
Doctors use a specific checklist to diagnose migraine: at least five attacks lasting 4 to 72 hours, with the headache having at least two of these qualities (one-sided location, pulsating quality, moderate to severe intensity, or worsening with routine physical activity), plus at least one accompanying symptom like nausea or sensitivity to both light and sound. If that pattern sounds familiar, what you’re experiencing is likely migraine.