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Can seizures (also) be caused by stress?

Can seizures (also) be caused by stress?

I have had a history of seizures (from the small ones where they last for just seconds, to the bigger ones where I am passed out for minutes at a time) but I have lately been feeling as if every night I am going to have a seizure for about two months time now. I take the proper dosage of my medication, I do not drink or smoke (ever) but I have for some time now been under a heavy amount of stress. I should point out that my sleep schedule is not on track though. I go to bed sometimes early in the morning (around 2 or 3) or sometimes I may go to bed on time (around 10 or 11 in the night).
Should I be seeing someone about my stress or maybe try doing something myself first to see if I can lower my stress levels?
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242532_tn?1269553979
You have already received excellent advice.  Stress makes everything worse, so if you are prone to seizures, it will make it worse. In addition to talking to your doctor as already suggested, you can look into your life stress issues and do something about it by going to www.myvirtualshrink.com....You can actually do a free 3 day trial...you can identify what is bothering you and start working on it right away.
4 Comments
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455167_tn?1259261471
Hello. Any deviation from your current medical advisement should be agreed upon by you and your doctor. You may need medication adjustments, testing, or simply developing an exercise regimen to make improvements. But see your doctor! Take care, GM
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I think you should make talking to your doctor a priority.
Having said that though I think there are things you could possibly do to better manage your stress.  Diet, sleep, exercise, physical issues, etc are all really important in stress management.  Relaxation and time out are also really important.
Your doctor could be a good source of information plus evaluate what is going on regarding seizure activity.

I believe seizures can be caused by stress.
I had a seizure in hospital when a psychiatrist was doing a neurological exam.  I was pretty stressed anyway but I thought he was referring to IQ testing, etc and I feel pretty sensitive about that so it is likely stress triggered the seizure.
Or it could be due to medication.  ??

You should definitely follow this up with your doctor.
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1255961_tn?1269377669
I agree with Jacuta's answer about managing all areas of your life (food, rest, exercise, medication, medical advice, sleep).  I think everything can affect you, and I definitely agree that stress can cause seizures.  I recently had several and was hospitalized for 3 days.  The tests showed nothing was wrong, but the doctors think that a change in medication and stress caused the seizures.  I am 64 and have never had a seizure in my life, but I have been under a tremendous amount of stress for the last 1.5 years, so perhaps this is what caused it.  I recommend going to bed at the same time every night.  Changes in sleep patterns are stressful and can throw the body off balance.
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