The Epilepsy Foundation discusses how common anxiety disorders (and other "mood disorders") are among epilepsy patients. It is so common, in fact, that I am surprised your doctors treating your epilepsy would not talk with you about the association between epileptic seizures and anxiety. Since you do not want to see another doctor, when do you go back to see your regular doctor?
This is an example of what information I have found from: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/chattranscript1021.cfm
"Question:
I have been seizure free for a year now, but suffer from anxiety attacks. Can this be because of the epilepsy?
Answer:
Dr. Barry: Anxiety disorders have been evaluated in a multi-center study that has just been completed. We looked at all symptoms that would be serious enough to meet criteria for a diagnosable disorder. Interestingly enough, almost 50 percent of the people with epilepsy that we evaluated had a diagnosable psychiatric illness. It must be remembered that these people with epilepsy were being seen in a specialized care center. People who need this increased level of care for their epilepsy may not represent people with epilepsy in general. Nevertheless, 50 percent is an extremely high number. Of that 50 percent, over half had anxiety disorders. They ranged from people with panic attacks to phobias, including fear of leaving the house. Anxiety is a very common problem and is one that we probably don't spend enough time evaluating and treating. People with epilepsy may also experience fear as part of their seizures. Obviously, treatment of fear produced by a seizure would require treatment of the epilepsy. Clearly, however, anxiety disorders occur more frequently in people with epilepsy than in the general population."
"Dr. Barry: There does seem to be an association between epilepsy and mood disorders. Several researchers who have noted associations between mood disorders and lower levels of the brain’s serotonin and nor-epinephrine. These neurotransmitters seem to be important in epilepsy and in mood disorders. As a matter of fact, depression has been noticed in some patients before they ever have a seizure."
"Dr. Barry: I like to think of seizures as similar to panic attacks in people with anxiety disorders. They frequently developed a fear of leaving the house. This also can happen with people with epilepsy for similar reasons. Unpredictably, one group will get a seizure and one group will get a panic attack. And sometimes either can happen in situations of stress. The person with a phobic disorder avoids situation that will increase their anxiety. Sometimes this happens in people with epilepsy as well. Ways of treating these problems are also similar. I think psychotherapy can be of tremendous use."
Question:
"Is there a tie between epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?"
Answer:
"Dr. Barry: Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as a disorder associated with events during which the individual feels severely threatened. As mentioned earlier, anxiety disorders, which would include post-traumatic stress disorder, seem to be more common in people with epilepsy. Again, this has a lot to do with the individual's perception of the epilepsy. If a person's response to the illness has been one of fear and helplessness, then he or she would be set up for post-traumatic stress disorder, especially if that person has had seizures that have put them at significant risks, such as a car accident, a fall, or other types of personal injury."
Lastly:
"Depression is a major risk for about one in three women with epilepsy." http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/women
It is suggested that cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best treatment for epileptic patients with depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD or other mood disorders (almost all patients, actually, benefit from this type of therapy), as some anti-depressant and other "mood-altering" medications may have harmful drug interactions with epileptic medication. It is important to talk with your doctor about both your physical and emotional/mental symptoms. There are no herbs that treat mood disorders, and any herbal supplement would need to be thoroughly discussed with your doctor for possible drug interactions. Please know: anything "natural" or "herbal" that is strong enough to help can also be strong enough to cause harm. Please talk with your doctor, as help is available for you, and you do not need to live in fear.
Do you have a support group that you are interested in joining, as this could be another alternative for you. Please let us know if you need help finding a support group near you.
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You are not alone!
The Epilepsy Foundation discusses how common anxiety disorders (and other "mood disorders") are among epilepsy patients. It is so common, in fact, that I am surprised your doctors treating your epilepsy would not talk with you about the association between epileptic seizures and anxiety. Since you do not want to see another doctor, when do you go back to see your regular doctor?
This is an example of what information I have found from: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/chattranscript1021.cfm
"Question:
I have been seizure free for a year now, but suffer from anxiety attacks. Can this be because of the epilepsy?
Answer:
Dr. Barry: Anxiety disorders have been evaluated in a multi-center study that has just been completed. We looked at all symptoms that would be serious enough to meet criteria for a diagnosable disorder. Interestingly enough, almost 50 percent of the people with epilepsy that we evaluated had a diagnosable psychiatric illness. It must be remembered that these people with epilepsy were being seen in a specialized care center. People who need this increased level of care for their epilepsy may not represent people with epilepsy in general. Nevertheless, 50 percent is an extremely high number. Of that 50 percent, over half had anxiety disorders. They ranged from people with panic attacks to phobias, including fear of leaving the house. Anxiety is a very common problem and is one that we probably don't spend enough time evaluating and treating. People with epilepsy may also experience fear as part of their seizures. Obviously, treatment of fear produced by a seizure would require treatment of the epilepsy. Clearly, however, anxiety disorders occur more frequently in people with epilepsy than in the general population."
"Dr. Barry: There does seem to be an association between epilepsy and mood disorders. Several researchers who have noted associations between mood disorders and lower levels of the brain’s serotonin and nor-epinephrine. These neurotransmitters seem to be important in epilepsy and in mood disorders. As a matter of fact, depression has been noticed in some patients before they ever have a seizure."
"Dr. Barry: I like to think of seizures as similar to panic attacks in people with anxiety disorders. They frequently developed a fear of leaving the house. This also can happen with people with epilepsy for similar reasons. Unpredictably, one group will get a seizure and one group will get a panic attack. And sometimes either can happen in situations of stress. The person with a phobic disorder avoids situation that will increase their anxiety. Sometimes this happens in people with epilepsy as well. Ways of treating these problems are also similar. I think psychotherapy can be of tremendous use."
Question:
"Is there a tie between epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?"
Answer:
"Dr. Barry: Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as a disorder associated with events during which the individual feels severely threatened. As mentioned earlier, anxiety disorders, which would include post-traumatic stress disorder, seem to be more common in people with epilepsy. Again, this has a lot to do with the individual's perception of the epilepsy. If a person's response to the illness has been one of fear and helplessness, then he or she would be set up for post-traumatic stress disorder, especially if that person has had seizures that have put them at significant risks, such as a car accident, a fall, or other types of personal injury."
Lastly:
"Depression is a major risk for about one in three women with epilepsy." http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/living/women
It is suggested that cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best treatment for epileptic patients with depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD or other mood disorders (almost all patients, actually, benefit from this type of therapy), as some anti-depressant and other "mood-altering" medications may have harmful drug interactions with epileptic medication. It is important to talk with your doctor about both your physical and emotional/mental symptoms. There are no herbs that treat mood disorders, and any herbal supplement would need to be thoroughly discussed with your doctor for possible drug interactions. Please know: anything "natural" or "herbal" that is strong enough to help can also be strong enough to cause harm. Please talk with your doctor, as help is available for you, and you do not need to live in fear.
Do you have a support group that you are interested in joining, as this could be another alternative for you. Please let us know if you need help finding a support group near you.
September 28, 2010 - 12:43pmThis Comment
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