Jessie James Decker Encourages Women to Speak Up When It Comes to Challenges Instead of Powering Through

Jessie James Decker is urging women to advocate for themselves, especially when it comes to their health.

The country music singer — who has been experiencing migraine symptoms since she was a young girl — exclusively tells First For Women that she is done ignoring what her body needs.

“Women and mothers, honestly, are just naturally so strong-willed when it comes to things that they just power through,” she says. “We’re just built that way.”

The “Should Have Known Better” singer — who recently partnered with pharmaceutical research and development company AbbVie for the Love In Mind campaign — says she wanted a platform “to say you don’t have to.”

In fact, she says, “I think you’re stronger for it, and you are advocating for yourself. When you are going through something as painful as migraine, you don’t have to power through.”

“Speak up for yourself, advocate for yourself,” she says. “Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean that it’s not there.”

Jessie, who says she has been dealing with the condition — which can cause intense throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head — calls it a “silent killer.”

“It’s horrible,” she admits. “I’ve been dealing with them since I was in middle school, and I have tried to power through most of my life. Even on tour, I would power through. I’d be like mid-concert with the most terrible migraine ever and wanting to cry, but I’m having to just power through.”

The Eric & Jessie: Game On alum credits husband Eric Decker for helping her when she needed it.

“If it wasn’t for my husband, I don’t know that I would have found out what was going on with me,” she says, adding that “he pays attention” and “looks at the signals.”

“He knows when I’m going through something,” she says. “He’s my support system, and not everyone has that — but speak up, so that people around you can be there for you.”

The couple, who will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary later this month, will be going overseas to celebrate their lasting love.

“He really hasn’t told me much, but he’s booked a trip,” Jessie tells First For Women. “I do know it’s international, so I’m very excited.”

The secret to their success? “He’s just my best friend,” Jessie says. “I love him. He’s everything to me, and we’ve been together since we were 22, 23 years old.”

“I love living this life with him,” she says. “When people ask why it’s worked out, there’s a lot of different reasons, but I just think we see the world the same way.”