Could panic attacks lead to seizures?

[lilbit82]

So ive had two seizures in a two year time frame. But, about 10 years ago i used to have panic attacks. Each time i have had a seizure i feel like i did when i had the panic attacks. Could the two be related? Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[masterjen]

The best answer I can give is that I know stress can trigger seizures, and stress is the cause of panic attacks. So it might not be the panic attack itself causing the seizure, but whatever stress is triggering the panic attack is also triggering the seizure. Did you have the seizures after several panic attacks in a short period of time, by any chance? Have you been diagnosed with epileptic seizures?

 

[lilbit82]

Since i have only had two my nurologist doesnt want to say it is epilepsy yet. Both seizures i was under alot of stress. The last seizure i had i was at work and i had panic attacks for an hour before i actually went into the seizure.

 

[valeriedl]

Stress is a HUGE seizure trigger for me. Anytime something stressful happens I'll have a seizure soon after.

 

[lilbit82]

Have you found a way of dealing with the stress so you dont go into a seizure? I used to love being busy at work because time would go by quicker but now i fear getting busy and i hate live in fear all the time.

 

[valeriedl]

I'll usually do something to get my mind off of what ever is causing the stress. Read a book, do crossword puzzles, listen to music and concentrate on the word are a few examples.

However if it's something very stressful like a death in the family or someone ends up in the hospital there's just no stopping it.

 

[lilbit82]

Thus far mine has only happened due to work i am normally by myself so there is no getting away from it. In the process of trying to find a new job but until then i have to find a way of dealing with it.

 

[KaySara]

STRESS - it is what gave me my first seizure and it triggers them since. Recently my seizures were just like panic attacks but were in fact seizures.. I am diagnosing all myself!! I used suffer from panic atacks some years ago, before I had epilepsy. I practice relaxation and meditation and I find it helps me to great effect. My seizures usually occur during my sleep so I dont have any control so whatever stress I am suffering from in my dreams must trigger them and they usually occur once a month a the time of the full moon. A connection between the lot - I dont know. But yes, I firmly believe stress, panic attactks and seizures, all related....

 

[lilbit82]

Thank you That makes me feel a little better it sounds like yours started the same way mine did. Do you take medication for them or do you just meditate. Panic attacks is something that i can face easier than seizures.

 

[KaySara]

Stress and coping with it, I joined a yoga class and followed it to the letter, the exercise, the meditation and diet. I love yoga and it helped me get rid of medication regarding panic attacks. If you are not on medication and find you are coping then study the meditation, practice the meditation and keep at it, exercise is a great way to get rid of stress, I used go the gym 5 days of the week. But that was before I got Epilepsy!!!! Did the stress develop into Epilepsy - I dont know. What I do know is that I got a very big shock when my mother died very suddenly and shortly afterwards had my first major seizure. I firmly believe the shock caused it because of the effect I felt on my mind.....
I hope you control the stress and panic attacks before it develps further. Please do try with the meditation.

 

[lilbit82]

I already meditate some at night to calm my mind so i can sleep but i will start doing it more often. i am also going to look into doing some yoga too. I know i have to change to get through this. So tired of living in fear. Thank you for your tips. It means alot.

 

[Zara-Newman]

For some people stress is a trigger, so panic attacks could too.
If that is a trigger for you then that is a trigger - anything can be. X

 

[KaySara]

Panic attacks, dealing with them, I found that I had to breath deeply and concentrate on my breathing, nothing else, bring my mind to my deep breathing. Then concentrate on what I was doing, one thing at a time, keep all else out, all the mad whirly thoughts outside, dont let them in, do something physical like a hammer and a nail into a piece of wood.... bang at it... I am a secretary/receptionist, friendly and dealing with people in my job, now retired. But just explaining that I am not a physical person. I found that if doing something heavy it was easier to concentrate on it?? I learned the breathing and to concentrate on it from yoga at the beginning and to take the mind back to now and not let it go mad, easier said than done but it can be done and I did it and controlled the panic attacks and fear, got rid of them. I was on valium at that time and soon got off that. The epilepsy came on me years later but I will find a cure for that also!!

 

[charmschool]

I was diagnosed with panic attacks for many years. But mine were severe- unconsciousness, vomiting, etc. It turns out that I was having mild seizures all of these years (I had had 2 full seizures before these panic attacks started but the seizures were written off as isolated incidents). Some people have said that panic attacks and depression are signs that something is off in your brain, which could be a sign that e is about to rear its ugly head. All I know is that some of my panic attacks were later diagnosed as complex partials.

 

[girlwithadog]

I've had panic attacks for years, sometimes resulting in a loss of consciousness. My last drop seizure was in the midst of a panic attack.
It wasn't until a few months ago that my neurologist confirmed my panic attack symptoms were in fact simple partial seizures. Not all of them but the unexplained ones are.
I'm not saying you have simple partials but when you get these panick attacks, write down all your symptoms what you were doing before and how you felt after and bring it into your neurologist, he should be able to help you

 

[MrE]

I also meditate, exercise, do yoga, and eat better...I mean my diet isn't perfect (who's is???) but it sure is a lot better than it was years ago lol...I've made significant progress but as far as panic attacks go...I usually get them when I'm alone...my hearts races...I feel hot and sweaty with dizziness...it's hard to breathe and I feel like I'm gonna **** myself (sorry just being honest)...but I have found a way to help calm myself down...I think of all the things in life that matter to me most and how grateful I am to still be alive...while I'm doing that I do some breathing exercises and hope and pray that I will make it through okay...sometimes it's hard dealing with these things...almost seems impossible...like you're hanging on the edge of a cliff for dear life...but somewhere deep down inside you always find the strength to fight :fight:

 

[MrKap]

Doubtful, but maybe.