Anxiety Attacks And Seizures Posted: 06-30-04 00:02am
I was just wondering if anybody knows
whether or not anxiety attacks and
seizures are linked... I've had grand
mals since I was 14, and I started having
panic attacks when I was 19, but now I
know what they are and how to control
them, so I haven't had any in 6 years, but
I do remember that I felt like I was on
the border of going into a seizure when
they were about to come on, so it was
really hard to calm down, seeing as I
didn't know what was going on - I have
seizures in my sleep but I used to have
them right after I woke up for a few
years, so I know the feeling of helpless
panic you get right before the onset of a
seizure... I'm just curious, so if
anybody knows, I would appreciate a
response!
Thanks!
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pharmainvextor12
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Posts: 8
Best Is to Talk to Your Doctor... Posted: 07-01-04 14:33pm
Or talk to several different doctors to
collect diff opinions...
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Kathyalison
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 64
I Know What You Mean Posted: 07-05-04 11:58am
Hi,
i've no medical background, so I can't say
for sure that they are linked. However,
I have had seizures, as well as what I now
know were anxiety/panic attacks. All of
a sudden I would feel sort of out of it,
in a panic, my heart would race and would
feel frazzled. Like you, the panic I
felt and other symptoms, felt similar to
that of an aura before a seizure. And as
you suggested, knowing that only made the
anxiety worse.
I've read that migraines and epilepsy are
linked, so it wouldn't come as a surprise
if anxiety and epilepsy were linked. I
know for me, several years ago I suffered
from post partum depression and that
brought on a seizure. Anxiety (and
depression) are stress causing which for
me is always something that contributes to
a seizure developing.
As was sugggested by someone else, talk to
your doctor. From what you describe it
sounds a lot like what I have gone through
and i'm certain that both my seizures and
anxiety provoke the other.
Kathy
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feelgood
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 56 Location: Calabasas
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Yes Posted: 07-16-04 11:51am
Hi, I have seizures and I have had panic
attacks that were soooo scary, I felt like
I was going to die and now I haven't had
one in a while...I believe it was one of
the side effects from my seizure med and
at that time I was on topamax, which was a
nightmare drug for me...Your neurologist
doesn't always know the answer and
sometimes you have to do your own
homework, because for me they stopped when
I went off the topamax and when I was
getting them was when I was on that
drug........I hope this helps, susan
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Alice in Wonderland
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 46
Posted: 07-18-04 17:55pm
Fear or anxiety is very common in
simple-partial seizures so don't rule out
the possibility that your "anxiety
attacks" are really a form of seizure
activity. Sometimes simple-partials
precede complex-partial and/or secondarly
generalized (tonic-clonic) seizures. If
you commonly have an aura (which is really
a simple-partial seizure) before having a
complex-partial or tonic-clonic/grand mal
seizure, it makes sense that these
"anxiety attacks" would feel like you are
about to have a "grand mal."
~aiwl
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Tigerlilyz
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 8
Posted: 07-27-04 16:41pm
Anxiety seems very common among people
with e. I often have anxiety attacks and
they feel like the beginning of my auras.
That makes it worse because I just sit
there and wait for the lights to start. I
have been working on relaxation techniques
wich help a little, I really don't want to
go on more meds if I don't have to. I
wonder if they are linked as well. When I
was 13 I went off of meds and was seizure
free till I was 18. I had a couple fits
and went back on. I am hoping it is the
meds and having kids that makes me anxious
and not my e getting worse or something.
I haven't seen a neuro since I was very
young, but I am going to demand getting
some work done again next week. Regular
docs don't ever answer my questions and
never check anything out wich could also
bring on anxiety at least for me imho.
