Managing Triggers
Key Takeaways
- Seizure triggers are situations, events, or factors that may increase the risk of a seizure.
- Not everyone with epilepsy has seizure triggers, and triggers vary from person to person.
- Tracking seizures and possible triggers can help you identify patterns and high-risk situations.
- The ABC Approach can help you understand what happens before, during, and after a seizure.
- Lifestyle changes, such as improving sleep, managing stress, and taking medications as prescribed, may help reduce seizure risk.
- Work with your healthcare team to identify triggers and create a seizure management plan that fits your needs.
Managing Seizure Triggers
Some people notice that their seizures happen in a pattern or are more likely in certain situations. These situations are called seizure triggers. Tracking things that may trigger a seizure can help you find patterns and better understand your epilepsy.
Once you know your triggers, you may be able to avoid them or take steps to reduce their effects. This may lower your risk of future seizures. Parents and caregivers can also track triggers for a loved one with epilepsy.
Not everyone with epilepsy has seizure triggers, and triggers can be different for each person. For example:
- Some people have seizures only during sleep or when waking up.
- Some women have more seizures during certain parts of their menstrual cycle.
- Others notice more seizures during times of stress.
Managing seizure triggers starts with identifying possible triggers and making a plan to reduce or avoid them. You may also want to update your seizure preparedness plan.
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Seizure TriggersHow Can I Identify My Seizure Triggers?
One of the best ways to identify possible seizure triggers is to keep a seizure diary. You can use a calendar, notebook, journal, spreadsheet, or seizure tracking app. You can also use tools such as a monthly seizure calendar or seizure event diary.
Recording seizures and possible triggers as soon as they happen can help you find patterns without relying on memory.
Finding seizure triggers can take time. Some people notice triggers shortly before a seizure. Others find that certain factors affect their seizures only at specific times of the day, month, or year.
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Download Seizure Tracking ResourcesWhat Information Should I Track?
Get in the habit of recording details that may affect your seizures, including:
- How much sleep you get
- Stressful events
- Alcohol use
- Drug use
- Illnesses or fevers
- Missed medication doses
- Running out of medication
Missing seizure medication is one of the most common seizure triggers.
When Are Seizures More Likely to Happen?
Review your records and look for patterns around when seizures happen. For example, seizures may be more likely:
- When you are sick
- During sleep
- When waking up
- During periods of high stress
- Around your menstrual period
Recognizing these patterns can help you better manage your seizures.
What Should I Record After a Seizure?
If you have a seizure, record it as soon as possible. Include:
- The date and time
- The type of seizure
- Any unusual events, activities, or changes that happened before the seizure
- Anything different that happened earlier that day
Over time, these details can help you identify patterns and possible seizure triggers.
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Seizure Forms and DiariesHow Do I Know if Something Is Triggering My Seizures?
After tracking seizures and possible triggers for a while, review your records and look for patterns. Ask yourself:
- Do the same triggers often happen before a seizure?
- Do those triggers happen at other times without causing a seizure? If so, how often?
- Are seizures more likely at certain times of the day, night, or month?
- How often do those higher-risk times occur without a seizure?
- Are there specific situations or environments where seizures seem more likely?
Looking at both seizure and non-seizure days can help you better understand what may be increasing your seizure risk.
Share your seizure diary or calendar with your doctor, nurse, or healthcare team. If you use an online seizure diary, bring a printed report or electronic copy to your appointment. Reviewing this information together can help identify patterns and possible seizure triggers.
How Can I Manage Seizure Triggers?
Once you have identified possible triggers, the next step is to reduce your exposure to them or make changes to your daily habits and routines. These steps may help lower your seizure risk.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Good nutrition supports overall health and helps your body function at its best.
Manage Stress
Stress can trigger seizures for some people. Healthy ways to manage stress include:
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Exercise
- Listening to music
Take Medications as Prescribed
Take all medications exactly as directed. Talk with your healthcare team if you have side effects, trouble taking your medication, or concerns about interactions with other medicines.
Make Sleep a Priority
Getting enough sleep may help reduce seizure risk. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Limit Alcohol and Avoid Drug Use
If alcohol or drugs trigger your seizures, reducing or avoiding them may help.
Plan for Menstrual-Related Seizures
Some women have more seizures during certain parts of their menstrual cycle. Talk with your healthcare team about treatment options if this affects you.
Reduce Exposure to Flashing Lights
If you have epilepsy triggered by flashing lights or specific patterns, these steps may help:
- Wear a hat or tinted glasses
- Adjust your seating position
- Sit farther from screens
- Take regular screen breaks
Use the ABC Approach to Better Understand Seizures
The ABC Approach is a simple way to understand what happens before, during, and after a seizure. Looking at these patterns can help you identify possible triggers, understand seizure risks, and find ways to improve safety.
What Does ABC Mean?
A = What Happened Before the Seizure?
The antecedent is what happens before a seizure. This may include a possible trigger or another factor that affects your seizures.
For example, you may have trouble sleeping before a seizure. Sleep problems could be a trigger, an early warning sign of a seizure, or the result of another factor such as stress or changes in mood.
Tracking what happens before a seizure can help you and your healthcare team better understand patterns and possible triggers.
B = What Happened During the Event?
The behavior is the event itself, usually the seizure.
Sometimes events that look like seizures may be caused by something else, such as medication side effects or other health conditions. Recording details about these events can help your healthcare team determine what is causing the symptoms and decide on the most appropriate treatment.
C = What Happened After the Seizure?
The consequence is what happens after a seizure or seizure-like event.
Short-term effects may include:
- Injury
- Confusion
- Tiredness or fatigue
- A visit to the emergency department
Long-term effects may affect everyday activities, including:
- Driving
- Work
- School
- Social activities
Understanding what happens after a seizure can help you identify safety concerns and plan for recovery.
How Can the ABC Approach Help?
The ABC Approach can help you:
- Identify possible seizure triggers
- Recognize patterns related to seizures
- Understand how seizures affect your daily life
- Discuss seizure patterns with your healthcare team
- Develop strategies to improve safety
Once you understand your patterns, you can create a plan to reduce or manage triggers and lower seizure risk. Lifestyle changes may help reduce seizures, and safety strategies can help prevent injuries if a seizure occurs.
How Can Lifestyle Changes Help Manage Seizure Triggers?
Healthy lifestyle habits can be an important part of managing epilepsy and preparing for seizures. Making changes to your daily routines may help reduce exposure to seizure triggers and lower your seizure risk.
Lifestyle changes are also a way for you, or the parent or caregiver of a child with epilepsy, to take an active role in epilepsy care.
Some strategies focus on daily habits, while others involve adjusting your environment, schedule, or routines. The best approach depends on your seizure triggers, health needs, and lifestyle.
Before making major changes, talk with your doctor or healthcare team. They can help you create a plan that is right for you.
Which Lifestyle Changes May Help?
Depending on your seizure triggers, lifestyle changes may include:
- Getting enough sleep and following a regular sleep schedule
- Managing stress through healthy coping strategies
- Taking medications as prescribed
- Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
- Limiting alcohol or avoiding other substances that may trigger seizures
- Planning ahead for situations or activities that may increase seizure risk
- Making changes to your environment to avoid known triggers
Not every strategy works for everyone. Finding the right combination of lifestyle changes may take time. Tracking your seizures and possible triggers can help you understand what works best for you.
Why Is It Important to Work with Your Healthcare Team?
Your healthcare team can help you identify seizure triggers and choose strategies that fit your needs. Together, you can create a plan to manage triggers, improve seizure control, and support your overall health and safety.
Resources
Epilepsy Centers
Epilepsy centers provide you with a team of specialists to help you diagnose your epilepsy and explore treatment options.
Epilepsy Medication
Find in-depth information on anti-seizure medications so you know what to ask your doctor.
Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline
Call our Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline and talk with an epilepsy information specialist or submit a question online.
Tools & Resources
Get information, tips, and more to help you manage your epilepsy.
