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Anxiety and seizures

Mon, 07/22/2013 - 01:11
Lately I've been noticing a connection between my seizures and anxiety (when I feel nervous or really scare ) my pulse quickens and so does my heart rate . I've also noticed that I've become more panicky when I feel like my seizure is going to happen. Does anyone else have this issue and know what I can do about this ...I have grand mal seizures and I'm taking keppra and oxocarbozine

Comments

Re: Anxiety and seizures

Submitted by just_joe on Mon, 2013-07-22 - 09:14
Check the side effects on the meds you take. Then set up an appointment or call your neuro and discuss this issue with him/her. It could also be you have changed some or grown emmune to your meds and your dosage may need to be changed some. I know stress and other factors can precipate seizures.

Re: Anxiety and seizures

Submitted by jrgreenwood on Wed, 2013-08-21 - 13:26

I have partial temporal lobe seizures for which I have been offered surgery but my present home circumstances do not allow for this.  My medication is Vimpat and Clobozom each day.  I do have anxiety, and sometimes the surging feeling in my stomach, which I get as a pre seizure warning, often gets mixed up with the anxiety.

The added problem though is, my anxiety only happens when I feel sick, which probably because of the anxiety is more often. This is because I have a phobia about being sick.  When I feel sick for whatever reason, I automatically think in my subconscious, that it is a virus. This in turn makes me very anxious which then has a knock on affect on my seizures. I've had this for years but it's definitely got worse over the last few years.

I've thought about hypnotherapy, but will try anything to get help.

My phobia is a bit more complex than others but would really appreciate some advice.

Thank you 

 

 

I have partial temporal lobe seizures for which I have been offered surgery but my present home circumstances do not allow for this.  My medication is Vimpat and Clobozom each day.  I do have anxiety, and sometimes the surging feeling in my stomach, which I get as a pre seizure warning, often gets mixed up with the anxiety.

The added problem though is, my anxiety only happens when I feel sick, which probably because of the anxiety is more often. This is because I have a phobia about being sick.  When I feel sick for whatever reason, I automatically think in my subconscious, that it is a virus. This in turn makes me very anxious which then has a knock on affect on my seizures. I've had this for years but it's definitely got worse over the last few years.

I've thought about hypnotherapy, but will try anything to get help.

My phobia is a bit more complex than others but would really appreciate some advice.

Thank you 

 

 

Re: Anxiety and seizures

Submitted by Mountain Girl on Sun, 2013-08-18 - 12:05
I have that issue too. I take the same meds as you also. Good for you for putting that together! You know your body very well, that is awesome! Definitely talk to your doctor about it, but until you can do that, do you want to know what I do? I find a creative outlet to keep my mind off of it. I read-I really like to read fantasy books, something that takes me out of my world and places me in a place like Hogwarts! I write-I make up my own fantasy stories about cool places I would like to go. I play my guitar-I love my guitar, we are best friends, she always listens to my cheesy songs and never judges me for the words I sing. :) I do all of this to take my mind off of the possibility that I am going to have a seizure-or that I even have epilepsy. This always makes me feel better. These are the things that I like to do, what do you like to do? Maybe paint or draw or play a different instrument or build things? Always remember to take deep breaths, all the extra oxygen you are taking in helps your brain recover and relax. Sometimes, if I feel really bad I take a nice relaxing bubble bath-but ONLY under close supervision! I would NEVER do that without telling somebody. Take Care, Kristin

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