Botox and Sabbath: The Migraine Body and Soul Cure

Every three months, I receive 32 injections of botulinum toxin. Starting at the base of my neck, my neurologist moves quickly through the shots, inching up my scalp, and finally landing at my forehead. It takes no more than six minutes, but by the time she reaches my eye brows, I feel hot and nauseous.

“Do you need a break?” She asks.

“Nope. Let’s push through,” I say, and take one last deep breath.

“Furrow your brows like you’re mad at me,” she directs.

We both giggle.

“You are furrowing your brows, aren’t you?” She realizes, playfully, as we both determine I no longer have command over the brown caterpillars that live above my eyes.

These injections, which I’ve been receiving for 15 months, have saved my life.

The irony? Botulinum toxin is a deadly bacteria that causes botulism poisoning, a rare but fatal illness contracted through food or wounds. But when administered in a controlled environment and in curative doses, Botox (derived from botulinum toxin) has nearly 800 medical uses

In March 2016, I enrolled in a clinical study that compared the effects of Botox and Topomax (an anti-seizure medication) on chronic migraine syndrome, a neurovascular disease in which people spend over half their lives with debilitating migraine headaches.

That spring, I was working four jobs in three counties, caring for my mother, who’d just been diagnosed with dementia, and learning how to manage my disease. I tried Topomax first, and when it wasn’t a fit for my body or mind, Botox became my elephant gun in more ways than one.

The treatment of my chronic migraine syndrome came with more than just a wrinkle-free forehead and less migraine days. I gained a sabbath practice.

Amid the chaos, I realized that the Botox treatments would work best in tandem with balancing the human essentials: enough sleep, nutritious foods, and a stable home-life. I knew that while the Botox was doing its job, I needed to do mine: I needed to get my condition under control while seeking meaningful relationships with God and others.

The symptoms—migraines, depression, busyness—were indications of something larger. The chronic condition that dictated my days became an invitation to find peace and purpose beyond deadlines and elusive success.

I remembered times when I wasn’t so stressed—when weekly replenishment hadn’t seemed so out of reach. Two decades ago, when the world was much different, time felt slow and limitless. I had no migraines; I spent many guilt-free Sundays with no worldly goal in sight, filling my hours with daydreaming, reading, resting, praising, praying, fellowshipping, gathering and moving toward the Divine. Time had been my most plentiful resource—and I seemed to know its value.

For Sabbath’s Sake: Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community is the fruit of this journey. During the past year-and-a-half, I’ve re-examined myself, my faith, and the world I live in. I only needed to step off the crazy-train with an intention of re-entering what Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel calls a “palace in time.” I needed to reclaim our time for rest and worship, and seek community. Maybe you do, too.

I see an entire American culture yearning for sabbath. People are sending out emergency signals, begging for relief from their stressed-out, overworked, desperate lives. People want rest, devotional practices, and community. They want real life—the kind we only find when our lives have meaning. The God of Abraham has an ancient gift to offer, a spiritual technology that transcends every generations’ distractions and woes. What would it take for all of us (especially the Christian church) to embrace sabbath as a weekly launch into a deeper, healthier life?

But there’s no need to wait until you are diagnosed with a chronic disease that requires 32 injections of botulinum toxin quarterly. I did the hard work for you; I’ve re-examined myself, my faith, and the world we live in. You only need to follow this little manual, and, above all, lean into the wonder of sacred time.

Our lives depend on it, for sabbath’s sake.

Further Resources:

Enjoy all the wisdom from our “What Do You Do, #ForSabbathsSake?” Guest Bloggers

For FREE sabbath resources, visit My Quiet Spaces Book of the Month.

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I want to hear from you, too!

Take a photo of yourself—or a selfie—while engaging in a sabbath practice (rest, worship, or a community gathering). Share the photo on social media and include #ForSabbathsSake in your post. Give yourself and others permission to enjoy the gift of sabbath.