[wookiegoldfur]

I have to see a neurologist on the 23rd before I can be allowed to drive again, due to an episode that happened yesterday morning. I'm not diagnosed with any kind of disorder (just FYI) but who knows after my appointment.

To explain, yesterday I woke up and was really tired. I got up anyway of course, because I had to go to work for my second day of training). I consider myself to be quite introverted and being around a lot of people (and being the center of someones attention that I don't know) makes me anxious. My family is a more of DIY/trial-and-error type of people when it comes to remedies. I think it's because none of us are very open with each other. So my brother gave me this drink powder that is supposed to be relaxing and help with anxiety so I mixed it with some grape juice and drank it on the way to work. I also drank a tall cup of coffee before leaving to wake me up and I didn't eat because it was too early for me to be hungry, and my shift was only going to be 5 hours anyway.

I got to work for my 8am shift, clocked in and rang up a few customers. At that point I felt normal My trainer/coworker was explaining to me things she taught me the previous day and I was suddenly getting tired and could focus much on what she was saying, but I nodded along anyway. Next a guy came to my register to purchase some flowers. I rang him up and gave him his receipt. Suddenly I started feeling anxious but I ignored it and went to wrap his flower and put a ribbon on it. Next my eyes began twitching really badly and I voiced that to my coworkers who were standing with me. I tried to keep doing what I was doing but my vision faded out and that was it. I slowly woke up to my coworkers freaking out and put me in a chair. The first thing I said was "did the guy get his flower?" which I think is kind of silly now that I think of it. One coworker was fanning me because I was sweaty and the other was on the phone. She called paramedics. I got annoyed and asked why they did that. One of them was explaining that they were asking if I was okay but I stopped responding to them. She said I tensed up and was shaky. By the time paramedics got there I could stand on my own even though i was a little light headed. They took all my vitals (even blood sugar) and everything was normal. In my mind I was speaking as if I had just woke up (I guess technically I did haha) so slightly mumbled but still clear enough to understand. I refused to go with the paramedics and had my moms boyfriend take me home. It took me maybe 5 minutes after to regain my fully conscious thought process. Texting was a bit of chore. haha. Long story short, I came home napped, woke up and felt nauseous so I puked a little, felt fine and went back to play on my phone and nap again while waiting for my appointment with my PCP. later I went to a doctor and had blood work done. It came back fine and my vitals were still normal. My doctor is the one who referred me to a neurologist and told me not to drive in the meantime (which I find ridiculous).

That was the second seizure I've ever had. 5 years prior I had one according my my step mom when she was curling my hair. My twin brother was in the bathroom talking with us at the time. I said I didn't feel well and then I blacked out. My step mom said I hit my head on the sink and dropped to the ground (I dont know if she caught me or not). She said my eyes rolled back. I cant remember if she said I was shaking also. My brother said it lasted maybe 20-30 seconds. So when it comes to that drink mix I had yesterday I feel that has to be unrelated because I didnt have that during this time.

During that same period (7th grade) I used to blackout for a few seconds sometimes. It also happened at home and i was usually by myself. If I was around someone I would play it off and say "I just felt like doing that". I've collapse only a couple times. other times it would happen if i got up too fast (i assume) and id just law back down or sit for a second. They eventually just stopped happening.

Going back to now, when I get up sometimes I do feel that "woozy" feeling (not in a im gonna be sick way) when I get up but it goes away after a second.

Anyway, the reason I'm asking if seizures/blackouts and mental health can be related is because I'm not confident in my mental health. I'm not a genuinely happy person and I get anxious randomly (but mostly when I'm around a lot of people. Sometimes when I'm alone). I feel like my mood fluctuates. I can be easily frustrated and snappy sometimes or feeling down and anxious followed by giddiness later in the day. Most of the time I feel neutral, if that makes sense? Like apathetic. My brothers have actually mention the anger thing to my mom. She thinks it's because my iron levels are on the low side. But I'm uncertain. Sometimes I want to cry for no reason or I'll find something small to be upset about (like growing up or having to participate in life). I've always wondered if maybe I have depression or some kind of mood or personality disorder. But I've always denied my own feelings so I dont know if what i feel is true? I'm not even sure if after I go to the doctor they will diagnosed me with a seizure disorder or not because it's only happened twice in my 18.5 years.

I want to know if seizures/blackouts/fainting can be a symptom of something psychological that doesn't particularly relate to a seizure disorder? Like I said before, this has only happened twice during about a 5 year span.

Sorry for the book by the way.

[kim_johnson]

It could be to do with anxiety, or otherwise psychological...

Or it could be neurological.

I had some experiences... And I got referred to neurology... And they asked me some questions... And referred me to clinical psychology for breathing training / anxiety management.

Sometimes things can be caused by a neurological lesion, or something, so some kind of brain seizure. I don't know how to tell the difference... But a neurologist should be able to figure that out.

:-)

[wookiegoldfur]

Thanks for responding! I need to make a list of questions to ask when I see the doctor, because if I don't I will most certainly forget. I'll ask of anxiety may be a reason behind the episode.

Since I cant recall much from 5 years ago, except from what people tell me, I can't really think of any similarities in the events. I don't think I ate breakfast either times but that's not an uncommon thing for me to do. So it'd be weird for an episode to happen randomly without a real change in routine...??? Both times it was the morning.

I was only at work for 30 minutes when this recent episode happened hahaha. In a way it was a blessing because I didn't want to be there. Customer service is NOT my thing. But I have no choice because my mom and her boyfriend don't understand my reasoning why I don't like it and they say I'll "get used to it and learn to love it". It's frustrating. I honestly only applied for the job to humor my mom's boyfriend (he works for the same company). I've wanted to cry everyday since I've started that job even though I've only been with them for 3 days. Of course I didn't mention that to my mom. We're not close like that.

[kim_johnson]

I remember they mostly had questions for me... About the episodes. Then based their judgement from that. I don't suppose they are infallible, or anything... But, good enough, I suppose.

I mean... I guess a 'litmus' test (in some sense) would be some kind of a head scan... Only... Maybe not... Because I've heard that people with back pain... Some of them had disk abnormalities on MRI... But some of them don't. And of people who don't have back pain... Around 20% of them do have disk abnormalities on MRI... So... We are inclined to say that disk abnormalities cause back pain... ONly lots of people have simlar disk abnormalities but no back pain and lots of people have back pain but no disk abnormalities on MRi...

Brain scans are kinda like this, too...

[possum220]

I wouldn't always link physical health with emotional health. They may link up but the may not. Blacking out is not normal. Please make sure that any physical causes are ruled out first.