Seizures and stress

[crammedcheese]

Stress causes seizures. Seizures are caused by neurons misfiring. But stress reduces the number of neurons in our brains. So why does stress cause seizures? Shouldn't it reduce the possibility of seizures by getting rid of some of those bad neurons

 

[epileric]

I've never heard that stress reduces the number of neurons in the brain.

 

[Brent]

A few things:

Stress doesn't really cause seizures. It can trigger a seizure, but is generally not sufficient to be the sole cause.

Chronic stress does, in fact, kill brain cells.

When a seizure occurs, the rate at which neurons communicate dramatically increases and neurons miscommunicate. Chronic stress only reduces the number of neurons slightly. The remaining neurons are still perfectly capable of participating in a seizure.

You can think of it like this. Let's say your right hand tremors when you have seizures. If your brain is intact enough to move your hand, then it is intact enough to move your hand erratically. The elimination of a few neurons will not create enough of a deficit to remove the possibility of seizures.

The exact mechanism of how stress triggers seizures is not well-understood, but the fact that it doesn't reduce seizures,as you know, is pretty clear.

And, there is no such thing as a bad neuron.

-B

 

[C0urt]

are anyones seizures just caused by getting too far in any direction from their base line, too happy, too sad, too angry or excited? Not just stress?

 

[matchu]

yes, absolutely not enough sleep, and or food added with large amounts of stress. viola I am having aura's then on to a seizure. I moved in with my grandmother so I always have something to eat. I swear she is trying to feed me everything in the house. She is so sweet.

 

[Nakamova]

There's also such a thing as positive stress -- say, going to an exciting party. Stress has a physiological component -- it can affect respiration, blood pressure, metabolism, sleep, dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline, etc. -- so a seizure can be a primary reaction to those physiological chances, and thus a secondary reaction to stress.

 

[matchu]

I believe I get over excited! Can relate to positive stress triggering a seizure.

 

[epileric]

are anyones seizures just caused by getting too far in any direction from their base line, too happy, too sad, too angry or excited? Not just stress?

You have to remember, happiness sadness, or any extreme emotion is a stress on the body.

 

[knothing]

Every t/c I have had was always when I was relaxed. I was just as normal as you can get, even sometimes asleep. In fact as I think about it the majority of my deja and jamais vu's happened in the same manner. That is just me and we all are wired different.
I perform my best when the stress level is maxed out.
Perfect example is making breakfast. If I am making one item (not toast) I will more than likely mess it up. If I have 4 skillets going with the toaster and something in the oven everything is exactly how it should be with no mistakes. For anyone who thinks making breakfast with 6 things going on and 2 hungry kids is not stressful give it a try because it really stresses me out but I like it.

 

[Nakamova]

Sometimes there's a delayed response, as when a seizure results from a stressor from the day before. But everyone has different triggers -- I don't get triggered by stress either.

 

[McGill]

are anyones seizures just caused by getting too far in any direction from their base line, too happy, too sad, too angry or excited? Not just stress?

As has been pointed out by several others, extreme emotions can trigger seizures in some people. I'm one of them, so I've had to learn to modify my behavior so that I don't "overdo" anything. Epileric made a good observation, as did Nakamova.

 

[crammedcheese]

I suspect that extreme happiness causes my seizures. I can't prove it, but the fact that my seizures have always come out of remission right at the high times of my life (and consequently proceeded to destroy everything I had built up) makes me suspect that I'm not "allowed" to be happy

 

[C0urt]

I suspect that extreme happiness causes my seizures. I can't prove it, but the fact that my seizures have always come out of remission right at the high times of my life (and consequently proceeded to destroy everything I had built up) makes me suspect that I'm not "allowed" to be happy

If I find something really funny or enjoy myself, I tend to seize.
Can suck at time. I am mildly depressed so it isn't the hugest issue.