Triumph Over a Private Pain
You are currently watching a preview of this interview. Unlock the full version by upgrading to an Access Pass bundle! Get FREE access to 8 expert interviews from Day 1 and Day 2 when you register today!
Key Questions
- Do you think celebrities face an additional burden if they choose to disclose chronic health issues?
- Some people have very good reasons for avoiding treatment of migraine and its comorbidities. Did you have any particular reason for avoiding treatment yourself?
- Why was it comfortable for you to talk about your struggles with depression and anxiety, but not migraine?
- What are some of the migraine symptoms you experienced at a young age and then later, while you were competing?
- Did any of your trainers or doctors ever suspect migraine, or say anything to you about it?
- Some people say they try to outwork their issues using something else as a distraction. Did you use swimming as your personal therapy?
- Do you feel like it’s easier for athletes to bounce back from setbacks?
- What can people with migraine learn from the process of an athlete bouncing back after a competition that can help them deal with the guilt they feel from attacks?
- Can you tell us why you never took medications for your migraine attacks?
- What lessons have your health challenges taught you that you’d like to pass on to the kids in your swim school, as well as your own children?
- What kind of advice can you give to people who are juggling a professional career and a chronic illness?
Interview Notes
Amanda Beard
Olympic Gold Medalist and Author
"In The Water They Can't See You Cry"
At the age of 14, Amanda Beard made her first Olympic appearance at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, taking home one gold and two silver medals. Over the next 12 years, she continued to earn four more Olympic medals, and serve as the captain of the USA Olympic swimming team twice. Between Games, Ms. Beard began modeling in magazines and appearing on national television.
In 2012, she released her New York Times best selling autobiography, In the Water They Can’t See You Cry, which chronicled her personal struggle with bulimia, self-mutilation, anxiety, and depression. Her experience dealing with migraine with aura has never been disclosed until now. A frequent speaker, Beard shares her story of professional and personal triumph via motivational speaking engagements, and passes on her swimming expertise via Beard Swim Co.
Interviews from Amanda Beard
Purchase full access to the entire 2024 Summit. Includes:
- All expert interviews with separate audio (MP3) files & transcripts
- Lifetime on-demand access with no annual fee to 2024 Summit
- Interview Summaries
- Treatment Guidelines
- And much more!
Related Talks for: Day 1 (2020) Real Warriors
Hiding in the Spotlight: Celebrities with Migraine
Andrew Levy, PhD
Fighting for Cluster Relief
Bob Wold
Patient Panel: Thriving Despite Migraine
Jon Summer, Alicia Torborg, Shirley Kessel
Building Resilience
Dawn C. Buse, PhD
The Coalition For Headache And Migraine Patients (CHAMP) is a new organization that provides support to people with headache, migraine and cluster diseases who are often stigmatized and under-served.
CHAMP brings together organizations and leaders in this disease area to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration to more effectively help people wherever they are on their patient journey.
CHAMP is working to identify unmet needs of those with headache, migraine and cluster diseases, and will work to better support patients and their caregivers.
Amgen is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies and Novartis has nearly 70 years of experience in neuroscience, and both are committed to leading the charge together to fight the public misconceptions, stereotypes and the burden of migraine.
Watch videos in silence or read along with the expert interview. Simply turn on CC in video controls in the lower right corner of the video. Please note, closed caption is not available on preview videos.