MyEpilepsyTeam

Can stress and anxiety trigger seizures?

Yes, stress and anxiety are common seizure triggers for many people with epilepsy. Emotional or psychological stress --- including anxiety, anger, depression, or other intense emotions --- can make seizures more likely to happen.

It's important to understand that stress doesn't cause Show Full Answer

Can stress and anxiety trigger seizures?

Yes, stress and anxiety are common seizure triggers for many people with epilepsy. Emotional or psychological stress --- including anxiety, anger, depression, or other intense emotions --- can make seizures more likely to happen.

It's important to understand that stress doesn't cause epilepsy itself, but it can put your brain into a state where seizures are more likely to occur. One explanation is that stress releases a hormone called cortisol, which can promote seizure activity.

Stress can also indirectly contribute to seizures by affecting other triggers, such as:
- Disrupting your sleep patterns
- Making it harder to maintain healthy routines
- Increasing overall physical and mental strain

A MyEpilepsyTeam member shared: "I had two seizures at home right after working on the computer. I had been seizure-free for eight years prior. My doctor suggested it was stress-related."

While anxiety doesn't directly cause seizures, it can contribute to your seizure risk. Managing stress as well as possible is an important part of epilepsy care, even though completely eliminating stress from life isn't realistic.

If you notice stress or anxiety preceding your seizures, tracking these patterns in a seizure diary can help you and your healthcare provider develop strategies to better manage these triggers.

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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