Remember how Mikasa Ackerman had her first headache when Eren’s mother died? What happened here was she remembered her dead parents which triggered and caused her first headache. Though that was just the beginning of her headaches.
While having headaches seems perfectly normal for a normal person, that doesn’t seem to be the case for Mikasa. Eren once told Mikasa that she suffers from severe headaches when she tries to go against their liege’s wish due to her bloodline.
Eren’s words didn’t have much weight as the manga already revealed the reason behind Mikasa’s headaches.
Mikasa got headaches due to Ymir trying to communicate with Mikasa. This is revealed in the additional pages of the final chapters in the manga.
Though this explanation of Ymir being the cause behind Mikasa’s headaches doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Especially, in the case of the last headaches that were so severe, she nearly blacked out in the manga.
Since that headache resulted in her path’s dream with Eren, it made more sense that he was the person behind it.
Is Eren the reason behind all of Mikasa’s headaches?
Mikasa’s headaches probably occurred every time Eren used the Founding Titan.
That’s why she had such bad headaches immediately before killing him in chapter 138 of the manga. This is when Eren used his powers to send her the visions of them at the cabin together.
She had a headache right after Carla’s death, because Eren had just used the Founding Titan to save Bertolt. The same might be true for Levi, though I think his headache in the forest with Zeke might have been a red herring.
I think this is because Ackermans are designed to resist the Founding Titan’s power. So while every other “Subject of Ymir” is entirely unaware of any changes that take place, Ackermans are aware something has been altered which triggers the headaches.
Why does Ymir cause Mikasa headaches in the Manga?
In the extra pages added to the final chapter, Mikasa sees a silhouette of Ymir, and speaks with her. She confirms that Ymir was the one looking into her mind and causing the headaches with the Founding Titan’s power.
Ymir’s love for King Fritz must have felt like an unending nightmare. So, when Ymir saw how much Mikasa loves Eren it must have given her a deja vu as she can see her reflection in Mikasa.
This may be the reason why Ymir wanted to talk with Mikasa causing her headaches. So that Mikasa won’t choose the same path as Ymir. She hoped that Mikasa will be free from the bondage of love and in return free her from miserable love.
Why does Eren tell Mikasa headaches are caused by her bloodline?
Eren tells Mikasa that he hates her and points to Mikasa’s headaches as proof her Ackerman bloodline is all that’s keeping them together. He tells all these things to sever his ties with Mikasa who loves him.
Eren’s anti-Ackerman invective doesn’t add up. The Ackermans were bred to protect the King Fritz lineage. Not only is Eren non-royal, but he also didn’t possess the Founding Titan when Mikasa “awakened.”
Besides, no other Ackermans in Attack on Titan exhibit the same kind of devotion to a single person that Mikasa does to Eren.
Levi and Kenny both take orders, but only as much as any other soldier in Attack on Titan. Levi never fawned over Erwin, nor did he alter his hair because Erwin mentioned preferring a certain style.
Levi doesn’t encounter the same regular headaches Mikasa does either, implying the symptom is unique to her.
A more likely catalyst for Mikasa’s headaches is her loved ones dying or being in grave danger, as this is when they always occur. For example, when Eren is eaten the first time, or when Armin gets barbecued by the Colossal Titan.
Does Mikasa get freedom from her Headaches?
Eren and Mikasa spend four years in the path realm. In this reality, Mikasa chose to say she loved Eren and they ran away and lived together in hiding until Eren dies to the curse of Ymir.
Her headaches according to me was also caused by the pain of recalling those memories by way of negating Eren’s “memory wipe” because of her Ackerman blood.
She feels physical pain knowing that she’s likely going down the route which will result in Eren dying and that those memories/daydreams she gets of the time they spent together won’t ever have a chance to happen.
She manifests the courage to kill Eren by recalling that Eren will always die no matter what. All those four years of living together come back to her instantly when Eren dies.
After Mikasa kills Eren she regains her memory in the path realm which eases her headaches forever. Thanks to the paths, they were able to live together happily for a long time permitting Mikasa four long years’ worth of memories that she will be able to cherish forever.
Her new memories also give her solace knowing that Eren wanted to live with her forever.
About Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama. Kodansha publishes it in the Bessatsu Shonen Magazine.
The manga began serialization on September 9th, 2009, and ended on April 9, 2021. It has been compiled into 34 volumes.
Attack on Titan follows humanity settled within three concentric walls to protect themselves from the terrifying titans that prey on them. Eren Yeager is a young boy that believes that a caged life is similar to that of cattle and aspires to go beyond the walls one day, just like his heroes, the Survey Corps. The emergence of a deadly Titan unleashes chaos.
No Comments on Why does Mikasa Ackerman get headaches? Is it Because of Eren?