Stress is Seizure Trigger

Stress can be in the form of excitement, anticipation, or an unpleasant factor in our lives.  We must learn how to deal with our Stress Trigger so a seizure does not occur.  Let’s try to do that now.  It can be done!!

*****************

Stress is hard enough to deal with without having to deal with Epilepsy as its partner.  Your brain is working hard to keep all the electrodes in place and sending the proper messages out.  You add a little stress to that and your brain is so busy worrying about what brought this stress on that it has no time to keep all those wires in place.  Any kind of emotional upset can be added to this list also.  This is the bad news.

Why is Stress a factor in triggering a seizure for some?

Some of you may become so afraid of your seizures and not knowing when next you are going to have one that this is the very factor in what is causing the stress in the first place. 

What can Stress possibly do?

• Stress can cause you to forget your medications.  Now we have two things to deal with.  Missed medication and stress … two triggers all in one.
• Stress can cause hormonal changes which can have a great influence on your seizure activity.
• Emotions that are related to stress such as worry and being afraid can cause a seizure.
• Depending on how “stressed out” you have become you may begin to hyperventilate or an increase your breathing rate … the amount of oxygen that gets to the brain will change your seizure threshold level.
• You may be afraid of not being able to reach a certain goal … tiny steps and setting reasonable goals makes for a less stressful life. 
• Stress of any kind can keep us from the proper amount of rest that we need.
• Stress and tension can either restrain us from eating properly or we may go overboard the other way, and neither is good with bad results.
• You are afraid and lonely and feel like you are the only one with this problem.  Learning how to cope with it and admitting we have seizures in the first place is a step in the right direction.
• The unpredictability of your seizures may leave you and your family in a lot of stress that you may be unaware of.
• The stress of knowing the risk of having a seizure and the injuries that could occur.

How can we cope with Stress?

Let’s try some things to get rid of any stress we may have, whether we know we have it or not as sometimes may be the case.

Ø      Search out some form of yoga or tai chi class or even go to the library and find a book or video with exercises you can do.  Doing things like this relieves your mind of any stress as it has now found something totally different to think about.

Ø      Again research the internet, take a walk to the library or the video shop and get yourself some quiet music.  You can find tapes also that have sounds on them like the ocean waves or sounds of sighing wind.  You may find these relieve your stress while you work or while you are trying fall asleep.  Each person is different so find the type of music that suits and soothes you.

Ø      Some may find peace of mind and relaxation by playing the piano or other musical instrument should you be this way inclined.

Ø      A walk may be just what you need in many ways. Observe  while you are walking how wonderful nature is in the form of even a tiny pebble, or the song of a bird, or other things of beauty that you find along the way.  This will not only help with stress relief but it will help you keep in shape and is a good safe form of exercise.  It will also help you obtain a healthy sleeping pattern.

Ø      Taking time out for ‘You’ is good whichever way you have found that works for you.  Rewarding yourself for the good you have done today, the people you made smile along the way and how proud you are of yourself for being ‘You’ today is very important. 

Ø      Treating yourself to a good massage today may be in order.  This would certainly relieve some stress.

Ø      Aromatherapy can help some people relieve their stress.  Be mindful though of the different aromatherapy oils which may be used as some odors may actually trigger a seizure.  Check out before using.

Ø      Find a new hobby.  Do something that you really enjoy doing.  This can be a new challenge and help keep you from worrying unnecessarily about when that next seizure may happen.  You may now find that it doesn’t. 

Ø      Each morning when you wake, set your goals for the day. Make sure that these goals are at a reachable level.  Remember, what doesn’t get done today will be always be there for us tomorrow. 

Ø      When you have had a really good day, treat yourself.  It does not have to be anything big, just something different and special.  Maybe somewhere that you always wanted to go to, or something you wanted to do, or something you have wanted to buy for a long time but never seemed to have time for.  Do that now.  You deserve it.

Here is some more information that you can download for free which includes other helpful ways to help you relax. 

https://www.mindtools.com/cgi-bin/sgx2/shop.cgi?page=RelaxationMP3s.htm  

Everyone needs a little relaxing time away from stress now and then.  Remember that STRESS is one of your biggest triggers.!! Find ways to reduce your stress and at the same time you may reduce your seizures.