Stress & Epilepsy

[ColmanMac]

So do you feel that stress, generally, affects our E or rather stress linked to particular aspects of our lives; eg work v personal life v disputes v specific concerns, etc?

[Loopy Lou]

I find that work stress seems to affect me a lot. Just because my job requires a lot of patience doesn't mean that I possess it lol. So I end up holding in a lot of stress until I can let it out in some other way. My tonic clonics have nearly all been at times of stress.

Or maybe work just affects me more cos I can't remove myself from the situation at the time, though the seizure would come much later, when i'm sleeping usually.

[valeriedl]

Stress effects me alot. Usually around the holidays I'll have alot more seizues than usual because I've got so much more to worry about getting done than any other time of the year.

I had to put one of my cats down a few months ago and had a seizure two days later. My husband and I were just waiting for it to happen.

I also had got alot of paperwork to fill out for my disibility. The stuff was so confusing and I was trying to get info from all sorts of different places. They only gave me a month to get the forms filled out and it came right before christmas so most of the places that I needed info from were closed for a week or longer.

I got as much info as I could and then called the disibility place and told them that I'd send the rest of the paper work in as soon as I could get it, but it was probably going to be late. I could have killed the lady when she told me "Oh, you really only need to do is sign three of those papers and then send them back to me. Don't worry about the other stuff, we don't need it" I wish could have reached through the phone and grabbed the lady!!!!

But like I said stress is deffently a trigger for me.

[Endless]

I think stress makes my seizures more frequent. Especially physical stress, like trying to work while overtired, being sick with an infection, etc. Being mentally/intellectually tired will do it, too.

Also the stress of being in chaotic environments. (I have problems that we suspect are caused by head injuries, and not being able to deal with visual or audio chaotic environments is typical) I'm wondering how things will be when I'm back at work. Right now I don't think I could handle it. For heaven's sake, I can't even go to a crowded restaurant or into stores like Ikea.

Family stress just makes me roll my eyes. No increase in seizures.

[ColmanMac]

Hi "V" Hope U R ok - blimey you've had it tough with bureaucracy! - After brain injury I've always taken view "So give over the b/s & sue me"! - Consultant says my Szs are result of coming down from stress re work situ eg typical FX Analyst watches currencies/xchanges/shares/advises traders how much of banks money to spend where & basically juggles all balls @ once - My "come down" is getting home to family followed quickly by Szs! - Ce la vie?!!
BW; Col

[Minkels]

Hi Colman...good to see you again!

Stress definitely is a trigger I think for most people, including myself. While my tonic clonics are pretty much under control thanks to drugs (or no thanks), I definitely had more seizures when I was under stress.

It could be from general stress (life stress in general) or from something specific (work stress, concerns about daughter, etc.)

[Zoofemme]

Stress is definitely a factor for me. I'm a type A personality, VERY driven, and when I do something I go all the way with it, especially work. I become too focused if that is possible. My last job triggered a whole sequence of events that I'm still trying to recover from and I've been told I am not to work again. I have had to learn to set boundaries and say "no" even though it is an alien concept to me and I struggle with it. My brain can't handle it anymore though and I know it so I tell myself it is better to disappoint a few people than to end up embarrasing myself and landing in the emergency room (again!).

[libbyl]

how do you know what triggers a stress response?I only know after the factess epileptologist itself is stressful.

[KARDSHARQUE]

I myself have noticed that when I let financial problems stress me out I often have seizures.

[ColmanMac]

Hi Minkels & Happy New Year to you. Hope Santa was good to you also!

Consultant says that, often, Szs can be triggered, not so much by the onset of stress, but by folk coming down from a stressful situation.
Don't know what you think - but it seems as if I can't win as I'm at either one end or the other!

Take Care
Col.

[huskymom]

I agree. General stress isn't so much a factor, but specific stress is. Anything to do with numbers or rushing to make a deadline tend to get to me. But a lot of other things do to. I think stress is one thing that everyone has in common, so it might be an easy target to pick. Good to have you back Col, hope you had a great holiday season

[ColmanMac]

Thanks for your msg Huskymom & good to hear from you too. Agree with all you say re stress. It comes in all shapes & sizes from work to home to teenage kids!!

One of these days I'm gonna be running off with the gypsies back to Ireland as they come through here on the way to the annual Appleby Horse Fair!! (They'd take me with them, too!).

Col.

[KARDSHARQUE]

How about losing your job due to seizures. Then not being able to pay mortgage and utilities due to no income. Then waiting to finally receive SSDI only to find out they no longer give you a check that dates back to when you first applied. So that backpay you were waiting for isn't big enough to help catch up with mortgage owed. Ontop of that what little they do give is not given all at once but instead in several payments months apart. All along continuing to try and figure out if you have to sell the house quick sale or let the bank take it. Wondering where you'll be next year never mind six months. Credit card companies threatening to take you to court because you can't pay what you owe them. How's that for stress related seizures?

[Dragongiraffe]

Well, for my hubby it is as follows: stress definitely causes him to suffer seizures but also, he feels stress differently ie: is stressed out quicker then maybe I would have been. Often also frustration can have the same effect for him.

[KARDSHARQUE]

Look up the side affects of the meds. They contribute also.

[ericksonmj]

How about losing your job due to seizures. Then not being able to pay mortgage and utilities due to no income. Then waiting to finally receive SSDI only to find out they no longer give you a check that dates back to when you first applied. So that backpay you were waiting for isn't big enough to help catch up with mortgage owed. Ontop of that what little they do give is not given all at once but instead in several payments months apart. All along continuing to try and figure out if you have to sell the house quick sale or let the bank take it. Wondering where you'll be next year never mind six months. Credit card companies threatening to take you to court because you can't pay what you owe them. How's that for stress related seizures?

Add to that the Veterans Administration taking their time with disability and treatment and I can relate to all of it!!

[ColmanMac]

Sounds like your frustrations/thoughts/attitudes don't help youy friend.

[KARDSHARQUE]

I was trying to help others understand how I believe frustration caused by uncontrolable situations has contributed to me having seizures. As far as it helping me goes, I have learned that because of what happens I am trying my best to stay away from stressfull situations such as going to the funeral of my grandmother whom passed away last night. And by not letting people like you get the best of me.

[Nakamova]

Hey Kardsharque, ColmanMac wasn't putting you down -- he was agreeing and commiserating with you. It's no fun to get hammered with one frustrating thing after another. I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother's death. Hugs to you. I hope the rest of 2011 brings you better news and good things.

[ColmanMac]

Sorry about your Mum - I won't bore with the details but I appreciate your position - As for accepting the stress & realities of what remains of ones life, "dying" twice in ICU puts all in perspective of what is truly important with me at least- And getting into slanging matches is not one of priorities - I'm a "WYSIWYG " so if you have probs with my honesty of expression or integrity please approach them through the Moderators.
Col.