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Could seizures be psychosomatic?

Thu, 04/26/2007 - 18:10
I have had epilepsy for eleven years now. God, it sounds like so long when I say that. Anyway as with most people's seizures my doctor can give me very few answers about the cause of my seizures. I sure get a lot of "I don't knows" though. My seizures started when I was fifteen. I continued to have them every six months (almost to teh day) and recently have started having them every six weeks (almost to the day). I have tonic clonic seizures. I lose consciousness and bite my tongue. I have never lost control of my bladder or bowels. My seizures last from 1-2 minutes. In June 2006 I changed my medicine from Tegretol to Lamictal because I was starting to have seizures more often and the doctor thought that the Tegretol might be losing its effectiveness after 10 years. In all of the 11 years the only time that I have had my seizures is in the morning after I wake up, and luckily I have always had them in my bed. Since starting the Lamictal a few changes have occurred, besides the frequency increasing. I am now remembering events immediately prior to the seizure, including my boyfriend trying to make me focus in order to try to stop the seizure. THis did not happen with the Tegretol. A couple of months ago I had a spell that he did succeed in snapping me out of so now he is determined to do it again. I was in bed and felt "funny." I started to twitch, but was still conscious. I actually had the thought that I was about to have a seizure. I focused on him waving his hands in front of me and did not end up having the seizure. I am wondering if it was him, or another type of seizure, such as a Myoclonic (limbs jerking after waking) or an abscence seizure. I have definitely never had that happen before though. In the seizures that have followed I remember what he does prior to the seizure, but have had the seizure anyway. He can tell when I am about to have one and that is when he tries to snap me out of it. Partly because of this new development I have been starting to question the specifics of my case. This has led me to wonder about the strict schedule that my seizures seem to keep. The whole every six months and now every six weeks thing is puzzling to me and my doctor. I am now wondering if I am some how causing these seizures to happen by expecting them. I know it sounds crazy, but seizures are such a mystery that I think anything might be possible, even psychsomatic seizures. My questions for you are: 1. Is it possible to cause seizures to happen by expecting them? Do I cause them because I "know" and expect to have one every six weeks (or six months in the past)? 2. Has anyone ever heard of specific morning seizures like mine?

Comments

Re: Could seizures be psychosomatic?

Submitted by si.smyf on Sun, 2007-04-29 - 02:24
I have Morning seizures only, they always happen within the first 1 hour of me waking, i've had seizures sinse i was 19 and i'm now 38 and they have always happened in the morning and have a seizure virtually every 3 months to the day ... I find that just before i have a seizure i start to think about them more than usuall, i didn't know if this was causing me to have them, so i started to stop noting the days i had them so i wouldn't know i was close to the 3 month time of having one, But there was no difference i still thought about them more just before i had one ..

Re: Re: Could seizures be psychosomatic?

Submitted by amuffet on Fri, 2007-05-11 - 16:53
Thanks for responding. I never realized it, but I too think about them more when I am about to have one. I feel funny when I wake up and try to deny the feeling. Next usually comes the feeling of disappointment when wake up after the seizure. While I'm laying there I usually check my tongue, and sure enough, it has been bitten. I am really curious to talk to you more because it seems that we have the same type of case. This disease is so mysterious that I think the only people you can compare yourself to would be people who have the same detailed symptoms as you. We seem to have a lot in common. I even stopped writing my schedule down for the same reasons. I have even tried to will them away because of a book that I read called "The Secret." So far it hasn't worked, but I am still trying because I figure it sure can't hurt anything. If it is my mind that is causing these, then maybe my mind has the power to stop them.

Re: Could seizures be psychosomatic?

Submitted by Skissored on Wed, 2010-09-15 - 03:34
I registered with this site just so I could respond to you and let you know you're not alone. I also have morning seizures, though I'm not diagnosed so I'm not sure how much help I am. I have a two year old son so I get up whenever he decides to get up. The seizures are at their worst when I'm half awake and don't let myself fully come to. I tell people not to talk to me for about an hour or two until I'm in complete control. This seems the most helpful. I find when I try and talk in the morning, my words, voice and breath tend to spasm mid-sentence. It's symptoms like those that freak my fiancé out. He orders me to stop talking and get something sugary to eat. If I happen to have a seizure (I never thought about it but they do seem to be the same distance apart), then I completely black out. No warning, no personal signs, just out. Feels like I fell back asleep. I don't soil myself ever thank goodness. When I come to, my tongue is hurting and sure enough I bit it. I look up at my fiancé and say, "had a seizure didn't I" . I also read the Secret and practice daily the law of attraction. Don't ever give up on that! It's a beautiful thing and so life changing. Best and most healtiest vibes sent your way! Think healing thoughts 3

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