Mood And Epilepsy - Does One Affect The Other?
My daughter’s mood and her epilepsy have always been somewhat intertwined. So we’ve always known that extreme emotions like stress, anger, or sadness could trigger her seizures.
But it’s recently come to my attention (through a doctor's visit that I may discuss in an update post) that not everyone believes in the link between mood and epilepsy. So I thought I’d dedicate an entire post to the topic.
Starting with how mood can affect seizure activity…
Can changes in mood cause seizures?
Over time, I’ve talked about many different seizure triggers. Ranging from hormones to something as simple as twinkling Christmas lights! So as you may be able to guess, almost anything can be a trigger. And that goes for mood as well.
Most specifically, stress can be a major trigger. (Both in the chronic and acute sense.) And this can be a serious problem for those with epilepsy, because stress is a tough thing to avoid and manage during certain times of our lives.
This is why some people with epilepsy might notice an uptick in seizures during times of big changes. Like going to college, moving, having a baby, etc…
Can seizures cause changes in mood?
It’s no secret that having a seizure can cause a shift in mood just because it happened. Seizures are usually unpleasant, sometimes dangerous, and the very least… a major inconvenience to the people living with them. So it’s quite normal to see someone get frustrated, sad, or even angry after having one.
But on a physical level, seizures can also affect brain activity in a way that “forces” a change in mood. Regardless of whether or not the person would’ve been emotionally affected otherwise. Especially when the seizure is located in an area of the brain that dictates mood.
For instance, many people notice that they feel a variety of negative emotions leading up to a large seizure. These emotions can include…
Fear and/or anxiety
Sadness and/or depression
Irritability
And sometimes aggression!
Additionally, feelings of fear may continue on throughout the seizure. And although many people feel better afterwards, some even suffer from anxiety and depression after the seizure has ended. This can last for weeks, depending on the area of the brain that was affected.
Can epilepsy medication cause changes in mood?
Now, it’s also important to note that seizures aren’t the only aspect of epilepsy that can affect mood. In fact, in many cases the anti-seizure medication that the person is on is the reason behind changes in mood.
Obviously, results vary depending on the person and the specific medication in question. But every ASM (anti-seizure medication) will have a list of possible side effects that comes along with it. So you can take a look at your ASM, in order to find out if it’s known to cause mood changes.
Certain ASMs even come with positive mood changes, as many anti-seizure medications are also used to treat depression and anxiety.
Can epilepsy come along with mental health disorders?
Finally, aside from mood affecting seizures and seizures/ASMs affecting mood… there’s one last thing to consider. And it is that epilepsy may make people more prone to certain mental health conditions. In fact, I wrote an entire article on the topic of mental health issues that are common amongst the epilepsy community.
But ones that relate to the topic we’re discussing today would be anxiety and depression, which are quite common in those with epilepsy. Due to a multitude of factors! And less frequently, you may also see those with epilepsy suffer from bipolar disorder as well (this is estimated to happen in about 5% of epilepsy cases).
What can you do to manage your mood with epilepsy?
So, as we’ve now firmly established that there’s a link between mood and epilepsy, I want to discuss some ways that people with epilepsy can manage their emotions to try and cut down on some of the negative effects we’ve discussed in this post.
Get plenty of sleep. Getting quality sleep is necessary for many things; including managing seizures in general and improving mood. So you can target both issues by simply making sleep a priority.
Exercise often. Exercise is another natural mood enhancer, as it releases feel-good hormones. So it can be a great way to stay healthier, and counteract mood issues that might pop up because of epilepsy.
Opt for lots of water. Staying hydrated is pivotal when it comes to managing health, and dehydration can be a seizure trigger as well. So it’s important to drink plenty of water throughout the day. And furthermore… avoiding sodas, alcohol, and coffee as much as you can could help manage mood as well.
Try out aromatherapy. Certain scents can have a calming effect on people, and help with stress management. So you can try diffusing some oils and getting into aromatherapy as well. But it’s important to research the oils and scents you’re using. Because, for example, while chamomile is safe for people with epilepsy to use… rosemary and sage isn’t!
Avoid as many stressful situations as you can! I know that this tip is easier said than done, but there’s no denying that the best way to cut down on stress is to avoid it in the first place. So if there’s something that you find particularly triggering and it’s something that you can easily stay away from, try to.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, today we’ve covered that…
There are several links between epilepsy and mood changes
But if you manage epilepsy, then you can cut down on mood changes
And if you manage stress, then you could even cut down on seizures!
So even if you have been noticing that your mood shifts depending on your seizures, remember that there is hope to change it! And you can talk with your doctor about future steps as well.
Sources
As always, here are some of the sources I used to write this article. I always share my research so that you can go learn even more about the topic if you wish, and to prove that I always aim for factual information.
https://www.epilepsy.com/complications-risks/moods-behavior/stress-mood-and-seizures
https://www.henryford.com/blog/2023/01/10-life-hacks-for-living-with-epilepsy#:~:text=Be%20active.,number%20of%20seizures%20you%20experience.
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