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First seizure in 2 years, Now Battling depression.
Wed, 09/05/2007 - 12:05Comments
Re: First seizure in 2 years, Now Battling depression.
Submitted by bleedingheart on Sat, 2009-01-24 - 18:03
Hi
I have had epilepsy for 38 years; it started when I was 5. Now it has been controlled with tegretol for 19 years. I used to get absence seizures as a child and the last seizure I had 5 years ago was tonic-clonic. I have suffered with seasonal depression and the only thing I can do to manage it is exercise and try to find something to draw my attention away from it. Last month, my father and I were snowed in by a snowstorm. I did most of the shovelling on our driveway and exhausted my self. I was getting very tired and the lack of sunshine made me feel near-suicidal. Of course I didn't want to hurt my father or my friends and I don't know how I would commit suicide if I wanted to. So I am still here trying to get community activities, taking some college courses with a grant from my local college. But I am looking forward to spring and also taking some lessons on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It may ease the depression so I can get through winter to spring. But as long as one has people they can associate with and try to be optimistic, I think they have reason to live. If depression is too severe, then it is time to see a doctor. I can't bear the thought of my family and friends sobbing their eyes out, especially my father who I help live at home instead of in one of those miserable long-term care homes, if I commited suicide. If I commit suicide I will hurt people who depend on me because of my helping nature.You are not alone.
Hi
I have had epilepsy for 38 years; it started when I was 5. Now it has been controlled with tegretol for 19 years. I used to get absence seizures as a child and the last seizure I had 5 years ago was tonic-clonic. I have suffered with seasonal depression and the only thing I can do to manage it is exercise and try to find something to draw my attention away from it. Last month, my father and I were snowed in by a snowstorm. I did most of the shovelling on our driveway and exhausted my self. I was getting very tired and the lack of sunshine made me feel near-suicidal. Of course I didn't want to hurt my father or my friends and I don't know how I would commit suicide if I wanted to. So I am still here trying to get community activities, taking some college courses with a grant from my local college. But I am looking forward to spring and also taking some lessons on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It may ease the depression so I can get through winter to spring. But as long as one has people they can associate with and try to be optimistic, I think they have reason to live. If depression is too severe, then it is time to see a doctor. I can't bear the thought of my family and friends sobbing their eyes out, especially my father who I help live at home instead of in one of those miserable long-term care homes, if I commited suicide. If I commit suicide I will hurt people who depend on me because of my helping nature.You are not alone.
Re: First seizure in 2 years, Now Battling depression.
Submitted by apmast on Tue, 2008-03-11 - 22:13
I used to play QUAKE 3 all night and all weekend. I can tell that playing fast action online games can lower one's seizure threshold. Also, sleep deprivation can do it too. And if you drink caffeine to help stay away for these all night LAN parties, you're tripling your risk for having a seizure. I remember going to bed after my late night LAN-a-thons and I continued to run around and fight in my mind all through my sleep. This is very very bad for epileptics.
I feel your pain. After my TONIC-CLONICS, I always feel frustrated, like, "Why me? WTF is happening inside this F'n brain or mine? How did this happen? What's wrong with me and WHAT can I do to fix it!!!"
My answer has been a few things. I had to take medication (Dilantin 300mg) each night. I had to make sure that I got 7-8 hours of sleep and stopped drinking Jolt and other caffeine products. I had to learn to play games and not get too deep into it. Emotions also play into seizures. Stress, frustration, all of that which comes from serious gaming.
Anyway, you're not alone here. Keep your head up and realize that there is so much out there in the world that you can do to entertain yourself without living on the mental edge.
Best of luck to you in this battle.
Cheers, Andrew
I used to play QUAKE 3 all night and all weekend. I can tell that playing fast action online games can lower one's seizure threshold. Also, sleep deprivation can do it too. And if you drink caffeine to help stay away for these all night LAN parties, you're tripling your risk for having a seizure. I remember going to bed after my late night LAN-a-thons and I continued to run around and fight in my mind all through my sleep. This is very very bad for epileptics.
I feel your pain. After my TONIC-CLONICS, I always feel frustrated, like, "Why me? WTF is happening inside this F'n brain or mine? How did this happen? What's wrong with me and WHAT can I do to fix it!!!"
My answer has been a few things. I had to take medication (Dilantin 300mg) each night. I had to make sure that I got 7-8 hours of sleep and stopped drinking Jolt and other caffeine products. I had to learn to play games and not get too deep into it. Emotions also play into seizures. Stress, frustration, all of that which comes from serious gaming.
Anyway, you're not alone here. Keep your head up and realize that there is so much out there in the world that you can do to entertain yourself without living on the mental edge.
Best of luck to you in this battle.
Cheers, Andrew
Re: First seizure in 2 years, Now Battling depression.
Submitted by chevyracingman on Mon, 2008-12-29 - 12:28
i understand how you feel i am 29 and my first seizure was in jan of 08 i got really depressed and ended up in a hospital for 5 days because i tried the killing my self train too i got better until august then i had an even worse seizure i didnt know my own name for 3 days afterwards and had to go back to the mental hospital again i take dilantin now and i think i am having partail sz now bc my ears will ring my right hand will jerk or my feet will tingle you are not alone and can someone tell me if these symptoms i descibed are seizure related