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Other Seizure disorders in ptsd

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I had some seizures in my teenage years, they started around the time that I started remembering abuse I had blocked out in childhood..

When I was a younger child I remember being at a disco with strobes and told an adult I felt like I was dreaming and felt sick, they just patted me on the head and dismissed me. I also remember blinding headaches as a child like migraines. My mum doesn't recall these but she has blocked out most of my life with her so it's not suprising. Then when I was about 13 I was at a party and a strobe went on and my arm started jerking with same dream like state before and throughout.

Later on in my teens I had a time where I would convulse at the point of falling asleep, I even had 2 grand mal seizures where I lost consciousness and badly bit my tongue. I never had any brain scans or medication, I was told I would grow out of it.

The interesting thing that struck me as it being related to trauma is the rapid eye movement I would get before an episode, I knew when I was trying to get to sleep when it would happen as my eyes would flicker as they do in flashback. When I became less stressed they stopped. I would say stress was the trigger for these convulsions. I have noticed in last 2 years how my eye movements speed up when I am stressed/panicky and I am just starting EMDR as it seems logical the connections between rapid eye movements and processing trauma.

I haven't had a seizure for a good few years now, maybe it was a form of teenage epilepsy but I'm not sure. All I know is when I was sleep deprived or stressed they would come. They were real and I couldn't control my body when I was having them, very scary. It is worth noting that the first time was after taking ecstasy but many times was sober and the childhood occasions pre date any link to that. That is why I was never really assessed, they blamed it on drugs.
 
I know this is an old post now, but busy researching ptsd and epilepsy & this popped up.

I was convinced my seizures were body flashbacks/dissociation/anxiety until was talking about them in more detail with T yesterday. She says I need to ask GP to refer me to neurologist as lots of my physical representations of ptsd could have a neurological link. I was very dismissive of this as had it checked out 5 yrs ago to find localised myoclonus in right arm & leg but no activity of eeg/ video eeg/ nothing on mri, just abnormality on EMG. Things have now worsened so T thinks it's worth being investigated as would make a lot of sense of current symptoms.

I'm just worried. I know what's going on isn't my fault or within my control by worrying to think epilepsy, I've eered more on the side of pseudo seizures as semi conscious - screaming in head, know they're happening but can't stop them or access real world to ground self. Also although I thought investigations before said I wasn't epileptic, epilepsy is on notes under significant diagnoses :s very confusing! Need to know what consultants discharge letter actually said! :s

T said it would also make sense of activity at night which has led to me falling out of bed. Am on diazepam which has had a noticeable effect on calming muscles as fall asleep, don't feel like literally fighting in my sleep.

I guess all I can do is see what GP says next week & if he'll refer me - eek!! Scary!! :(
 
I don't even know how to describe how grateful I am to find this site and this thread. I have been suffering (literally) for nearly 30 years with symptoms that I still don't think are being diagnosed appropriately. I am certain that what I am now experiencing is panic attacks AND PTSD related seizures. I have so many questions, but for tonight I just want to say "Thank You." I have tagged this thread, and will be back.
 
I also found this informational brochure about the connection between PTSD/trauma/stress and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Very helpful for me....and I continue searching for information as I journey through this crap. It's a PDF format.
 

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TherapyBankrupt...How did you get diagnosed? Are your seizures PTSD related?

The Doctors all claim the seizures are not related to PTSD but I still question it! The seizures started during stressful period of my life. I was in my late 30's.

Over a year ago given a PTSD diagnosis. Many traumas since 4 or 5 years old have reared their ugly heads.

I had long term monitoring several times. Ten to fifteen days stay. Could not ever record a seizure even though I experienced them while there.

Only after being asked to put a cotton ball on my neck that smelled like strong medicine did I produce a seizure. Oh and they took me to a room with rubber floor to do this and recorded a first and last ever Grandmal!

I am sick about this.

I am going to seek an Eptileptoligist as was mentioned in your PDF to get to the bottom of this. Thanks for that!
 
I get seizures too, and I get very strange ones that no one can give me answers to. Nothing has shown up on tests etc, but I have severe ones... I'm completely unconscious. In fact, the blackness crushes me and while I fight it I try and remember who I am, what I am... don't even know if I'm a bug or an animal or anything at all and I even forget to breathe. One time I came to with an oxygen mask over my face. From an outsiders point of view looking at me having a seizure, it is a severe epileptic type seizure, and I scream. A lot. I sound like I am being murdered. Meanwhile convulsing, foaming at the mouth, everything. I also get smaller type ones where I just stare into space and drop what I have in my hands. I am on anti seizure meds and I have far less of them now, however, I think it is PTSD related.
 
FaerieJayne...I have been doing a LOT of research on this topic, as I am not CERTAIN that my PTSD has evolved into simple, partial seizures. It will be hard to find a mainstream medical doctor who (1) will take your symptoms seriously, and (2) stay committed to the process of diagnosing correctly what is not easy to diagnose at all. But I think the journey for correct diagnosis can be an important one...so don't give up :)
 
When I was 16 years old I accidentally killed my best friend in a boating accident. Since about the time I turned 18 I started having these weird episodes where it would feel like I was about to die and I would have to concentrate on trying to make it go away. A battle of the mind I guess you'd say. Sometimes these episodes will make me sick to my stomach. Some of the worst ones are the ones I have when I'm asleep.

9 years ago my fiance passed away from cancer. Not only have I had to watch my best friend drown and my fiance die a slow death, I have witnessed many accidents and other disturbing sights. But even more disturbing is how many times I have been able to avoid death myself! Like the time I drove off a cliff on Donner Summit during a blizzard and my truck lands broadside on the only two little trees sticking out of the side of the mountain about 20 feet down. An inch or two further or back and I end up falling to the bottom about a thousand feet below. This is one story of many.

I had my first grand mal seizure about 6 years ago. The doctors finally diagnosed me with PTSD yesterday. I'm researching it in depth. I saw in the news about maybe a new treatment for PTSD, depression and anxiety. It's in Science Daily! I tried to post the link but I don't have enough authority here I guess hehehe
 
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