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Which Seizure Trigger Is Your Hardest Battle?

Posted by Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor @santosha, Nov 3, 2025

For two years after my epilepsy diagnosis, I had no idea seizure triggers even existed. The doctors I saw never mentioned them. When I finally stumbled upon the concept of seizure precipitants, it felt like discovering a missing piece of my own puzzle.
That's when I turned into a detective of my own body. Armed with a daily journal, I started connecting the dots between my seizures and what came before them. Slowly, but surely, the culprits revealed themselves: gluten, low sodium, poor sleep, my menstrual cycle, stress, and anxiety. Each one a potential match that could light the fuse.
The physical triggers: poor sleep, gluten, menstrual cycle and low sodium? I've learned how to manage them better. Eliminating gluten alone slashed my seizures by 60%.
Anxiety and stress— They remain my most relentless opponents in this battle, despite my yoga practice and exercising.
Now I'm wondering: What's YOUR toughest trigger to tame?
Have you found strategies that actually work? Whether it's something you've mastered or something that still defeats you, I want to hear your story. Your experience might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
Share your trigger battles below—let's learn from each other!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group.

Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor | @santosha | 2 days ago
In reply to @louissc "Hi Kris, I believe exercising gives a body endorphin and am not sure if that helps..." + (show)
Profile picture for louissc @louissc

Hi Kris,

I believe exercising gives a body endorphin and am not sure if that helps somewhat. I won’t say work is stressful, but it certainly doesn’t give me those endorphins and it definitely is more psychologically challenging a period although it need not hit the level of “challenging”. I hope how I feel makes sense too.

I’m sure masks won’t work for me, because that easier way to breathe without wearing mask actually helps post COVID.

Sometimes I just want to be alone. Not sure if anyone here feels the same, but I need to feel those “zen”. I hate weekends sometimes, because I know I can’t escape into the tranquility of an empty room with wife still on her YouTube and son already asleep which I can do on weekday evenings before sleep.

Do I make sense here?

Cheers,
Louis

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Hi @louissc
I've read that regular physical activity may help improve seizure threshold — that could help explain why exercising outdoors makes you feel good, even when it's hot outside.
You mentioned needing to feel that "zen," alone time. I have moments in my day when I need to be alone, just with myself — I've always had that, even before epilepsy was diagnosed, but today I may need more of that time for myself, especially when I need to reflect on certain things or when stress hits me. Yoga is one of the tools I use to connect with my inner self.
Sorry — I see now I wasn't clear with the word "mask." I meant it figuratively, like putting on a brave face.
Coming back to that: do you think always having to put on a brave face is one of your triggers, or is it more the anxiety of rushing to be somewhere on time — like waiting for a cab on a hot day?
Chris

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louissc | @louissc | 9 hours ago
In reply to @santosha "Hi @louissc I've read that regular physical activity may help improve seizure threshold — that could..." + (show)
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor @santosha

Hi @louissc
I've read that regular physical activity may help improve seizure threshold — that could help explain why exercising outdoors makes you feel good, even when it's hot outside.
You mentioned needing to feel that "zen," alone time. I have moments in my day when I need to be alone, just with myself — I've always had that, even before epilepsy was diagnosed, but today I may need more of that time for myself, especially when I need to reflect on certain things or when stress hits me. Yoga is one of the tools I use to connect with my inner self.
Sorry — I see now I wasn't clear with the word "mask." I meant it figuratively, like putting on a brave face.
Coming back to that: do you think always having to put on a brave face is one of your triggers, or is it more the anxiety of rushing to be somewhere on time — like waiting for a cab on a hot day?
Chris

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@santosha

Hi Chris,

I understand the need to put on that “mask”. It’s inevitable, really. We don’t want others to feel something may happen. Atmosphere can become a bit tense if everyone is on their guard in case things happen.

I will try yoga next. I know it’s supposed to soothe one’s soul.

About the sweating thing. I don’t get seizures from exercising. But body can get heated in a cool environment when interacting with people or dealing with life. I read more about this during the weekend and realized the frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for that way I felt. Then I realized there’s this condition - frontal lobe dementia (FTD). Is that common over at your part of the world?

Cheers,
Louis

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