Stress and epilepsy: what should you know?

Stress may alter sleep, meals, hydration, medicine routines and recovery time. Those changes can lower a person’s usual seizure threshold. Some people notice a relationship between stressful periods and seizures, while others do not. A seizure-like event can also have causes other than epilepsy, so the event should be assessed rather than attributed to stress alone.

Keep a record of the date, setting, warning symptoms, sleep, missed doses, illness, alcohol, menstrual changes where relevant and recovery. A witness’s description or a safe video can help a clinician understand what happened.

Take anti-seizure medicine exactly as prescribed and do not stop it suddenly. Use reminders, protect regular sleep, eat and drink regularly, and plan recovery after demanding situations. Learn the person’s seizure first-aid plan and share it with people at home, work or school.

Book a GP Consultation if seizures change, medicines cause problems, doses are missed, or stress is becoming hard to manage. Do not drive, swim alone or work at heights until a clinician has advised what is safe for your situation.

Call emergency services if a seizure lasts longer than the person’s agreed emergency threshold, seizures repeat without recovery, breathing remains difficult, serious injury occurs, the person is pregnant, or this is a first suspected seizure. During a seizure, protect the head, clear nearby hazards, time the event and do not put anything in the mouth.

Ask how to recognise your seizure pattern, which stress or sleep changes matter, what to do after a missed dose, and whether you need an updated rescue plan. Confirm when to call the epilepsy team or emergency services.