How does stress affect you? Some people struggle to sleep. Others feel tense. And, for some people with epilepsy, stress-induced seizures are a real concern.
In one study, people with epilepsy reported that stress was the most frequent trigger for their seizures. However, while it appears that there’s a link between their stress and seizures, experts aren’t sure exactly why this happens.
In this article, you’ll learn more about stress induced seizures. If you’re finding stress triggers seizures for you, speak with your doctor to find ways to manage it.
What is stress?
Stress is the way that your body responds to pressures or tensions. It could be caused by things like problems at work, issues in relationships, or exams at school. When you encounter stress, lots of changes happen in your body. It affects your muscles, how you breathe, heart rate, hormones, your gut, the nervous system, sexual health and more.
Small amounts of stress can be helpful. For example, it can motivate you to work harder or concentrate. But if you feel stressed for a long time, it can be overwhelming and affect your health.
Can stress cause seizures?
People with epilepsy often say stress is among their top seizure triggers. It is still not clear exactly why this is. But some possible explanations include:
- Stress can disrupt your sleep - and lack of sleep may be seizure trigger for some people.
- Stress releases certain chemicals in your body that affect how the brain works.
- The parts of the brain which deal with emotions around stress are also the same parts of the brain that are linked to some kinds of seizure activity.
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Can stress cause non-epileptic seizures?
Possibly. People who don’t have epilepsy can still experience seizure-like symptoms. These are called ‘psychogenic’ or ‘non-epileptic’ seizures. If you’re undergoing a lot of stress, you may experience these symptoms. While it is not epilepsy, these are serious issues, so book an appointment with a doctor to get these issues diagnosed.
5 ideas to avoid stress induced seizures
If you experience stress seizures, speak with your doctor for advice and support.
There are plenty of ways to manage stress. You might want to use the following ideas to discuss possible stress management methods with your doctor:
- Talk about it with a friend – simply talking about a problem with someone may help you to feel less stressed.
- Write it out – if you don’t want to talk about the problem aloud, writing how you feel may provide relief.
- Physically decompress – one study found that massage - working out knots in your back for example - can relieve tension.
- Laugh and smile – laughing releases endorphins and may reduce stress; it might sound surprising, but making yourself laugh or smile can help reduce stressful feelings fast!
- Body scan – a body scan is when you close your eyes and observe how every part of you is feeling - and doing this may help relieve stress. Start with your toes and try to relax every muscle all the way up to your head.
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Dealing with stress seizures
For many people with epilepsy, stress and seizures are closely linked. If you’re struggling with stress, speak with your doctor for more advice.
