If stress is causing my seizures, why do they continue when not stress

Hi @baa
A very good morning to you.
Stress is known to be one of the major triggers to seizures. Perhaps you continue to have seizures for different reasons: medications and other seizure triggers. What is again your type of epilepsy? I ask that because there are some types of epilepsy that have a higher rate of being refractory (drugs do not control 100% of the seizures), like Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Mesial Sclerosis (the one I have).
Have you been sleeping well? Sleep is another very common trigger of seizures. For some people heat can also be a trigger and I know it has been pretty warm over there.
Learning about my triggers has helped me a lot to manage and avoid my seizures. I recommend the book "Taking Control of your Seizures". Here are two links with more information on this book:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/taking-control-of-your-seizures-9780199335015?cc=br&lang=en&
https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Control-Your-Seizures-Treatments/dp/019933501X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1NPRW7TP65T1D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Sjd1TMxl9PypwmAgHiIQ9hYTV5V_OCUdVJ_NVg_cmwej97qEJ1hALjNsMWIWLHGwYFCiFb236SvOo_H6K3G7KY3QuIM9y9BGwKHDmlQWwh633jcCETFJ2BjngNv4aeV7frvy6z_88Sd04Z7q_C8Z7A.5R2ewBEhAaoMs5EISDG1Rh4t5g14cuaAYhf8T4jd_Nk&dib_tag=se&keywords=taking+control+of+your+seizures+workbook&qid=1727779687&sprefix=taking+control+of+your+seizures%2Caps%2C238&sr=8-1
Wishing you a good day!
Chris (@santosha)

Thank you for sharing this. Stress is my worst trigger. I find I might continue to have seizures a few times after a stressful event. For a couple of weeks! Maybe because I keep thinking about the event. I call it "stewing" about it lol. If you do this at all, please try to LET GO of whatever happened ASAP. Thanks again for sharing and take care!

Hi @erin830
The practice of hatha yoga has helped me a lot with stress and letting things go. In fact, yoga is a mind exercise.
Have a good week!
Chris (@santosha)

Thanks for the comment Chris! I used to practice hatha yoga but stopped a while back. I broke one hand in a fall and developed arthritis. But no excuses right? I do try to deal with stress after an incident by telling myself "Erin let go" and deep breathing. Also prayer. But there are plenty of yoga poses I can perform without hurting that hand. Thanks for reminding me about Yoga! Take care and be well.
🙂

Hello Chris. All that is in my physician notes and summaries is Focal Seizures. I accessed them all back to 2022 and was surprised. I believe there is significant info not documented.

My pleasure @erin830
In 2019, I hurt myself in an accident and could do very little postures. My teacher at that time, suggested me doing the postures in my mind. It was quite a mental exercise. Perhaps you could also focus more on pranayamas (breathing exercises) instead of postures? One yoga practice that also helps me much to calm down my mind is the yoga nidra one, where you lie in shavasana (the dead pose) and just listen, doing the practice in your mind.
Just some ideas!
Namaste
Chris (@santosha)

Hi @baa
I am sorry to hear that!
Through this workbook you could learn by yourself your triggers and how to manage them. It was through this book and not through my neurologists and epileptologist that I have learned about my triggers.
Have a lovely evening!
Chris (@santosha)

I love that. Thank you so much!
Namaste

Thank you Chris. You are a lovely encourager! I’m still waiting to get an appt at Vanderbilt. Their Epilepsy Monitoring Unit only has 8 adult beds so they stay very busy. Don’t want to stay several days but do want to know exactly what I have. You have a wonderful week!

Hi @baa
I am praying for you, crossing my fingers that very soon you will be called to the Vanderbilt Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
Meanwhile, try to enjoy life and the present moment, though I know how hard this could be. When we get anxious about something, it usually does not help. It seems, according to my life experiences, that me more anxious we get about something, it somehow blocks energy, and things do not happen.
No creating expectations in your situation can be quite hard. In difficult times during my epilepsy journey, my yoga teacher gave me a daily exercise, which helped me quite a lot, something I try to keep daily up to today. She said to think about three contentments at the end of the day. At first, I could only celebrate having no seizures during the day, but little by little, I could see other contentments in my day. It is an exercise that helps us see the glass half full instead of half empty and celebrate what we have in the present moment, instead of thinking about what we do not have and wish to happen. Give it a try!
Wishing you all a beautiful day!
Chris (@santosha)