[hartbroken]

I found out from my mother today that when I was 2 months old, she brought me into see the doctor because I was crying all the time and very thin. The doctor did a bunch of blood tests and when he brought my parents back into the room he said, "Watch your son for seizures. He could have a very miserable life."

Well, I never had a seizure yet. But what I was about to find out was that epilepsy and mental illness are related. See the link

Medscape: Medscape Access

It's an interesting read.

[Travelinglady]

Yes, very interesting. I know some drugs used for epilepsy are used for mental illnesses, too. The brain is "malfunctioning" in both epilepsy and mental illness.

I have also read that years ago when people actually were having epileptic seizures, they were labeled as "mentally ill."

This is actually something I've been mulling over in my head recently.

I am diagnosed with TLE and experience complex partial seizures. I am also diagnosed with some form of bipolar- most often it seems to be the flavor of NOS, though often BPI as well.

The issue that has most been bothering me is that there have been many times when acute symptoms of bipolar have presented as possible interictal signs of the TLE... and it's confusing.

There is also the kindling theory, which attempts to explain why seizures tend to become worse and occur more often over time if not adequately treated- that theory is now often applied to the mechanism of bipolar as well.

It's certainly valid to consider many similarities between neurological and psychological issues.

I suffer from partial complex seizures, c-PTSD, anxiety and depression. I think that having epilepsy gives me a belief that I am not in control of my life since I can have a seizure at any time even though I am on medication.

I have developed a deep-seated feeling that I am not in control of my body nor my mind and, it therefore it follows, control of my life. Having c-PTSD further supports this belief since I cannot control my thoughts and some actions. All of this adds to my depression and diagnosis of mental illness.

[unaluna]

From what I've read, it's stigmatizing to assume that because one has epilepsy, one therefore has a mental illness. Although that has certainly been the history of epilepsy, and I think my personal history, as I have a very mild case. But I think that how my family treated me caused more mental illness than any physical disability. In my case, anyway.

Originally Posted by hankster

From what I've read, it's stigmatizing to assume that because one has epilepsy, one therefore has a mental illness. Although that has certainly been the history of epilepsy, and I think my personal history, as I have a very mild case. But I think that how my family treated me caused more mental illness than any physical disability. In my case, anyway.

I didn't actually see anyone as making that specific assumption.

I think it may be difficult to be clear on the subject- but there is a difference between stating there are often similarities in a enurological mechanism [of epilepsy and certain mental illnesses] and assuming that because someone experiences epilepsy they then therefore must also experience a mental illness.

However, as with most chronic conditions, difficult to treat/unresponsive epilepsy can often lead to depression as a result of the condition, which is kind of to be expected simply because of the stress and social consequences.

The stigma you are referring to... where many people with TLE initially end up sectioned, for example, might be different than saying certain ways the brain works/doesn't work in epilepsy are similar to those in bipolar, to name a "for instance"...

is that at all accurate to what you were saying?

[unaluna]

Maybe beyond that - I was trying to find a link, cuz I was like, gee this is all happening IN THE BRAIN - in MY brain, right? - and I didnt find much sympathy for the idea ie on the web. So basically I'm just reporting that I felt like I had an idea I wanted to explore and I got turned away at the gate. Maybe we can get further this time.

ETA- I just read the article. Yeah. I used to have deja-vu all the frickin time. But not since ive been medicated (with anti-epileptic meds, which was pretty much accidental, I think, and also stopped the seizures I had since childhood into my fifties.

Originally Posted by hankster

Maybe beyond that - I was trying to find a link, cuz I was like, gee this is all happening IN THE BRAIN - in MY brain, right? - and I didnt find much sympathy for the idea ie on the web. So basically I'm just reporting that I felt like I had an idea I wanted to explore and I got turned away at the gate. Maybe we can get further this time.

I'm sorry, I can't actually tell if you feel I've shut you down or...
I'm actually just very confused at this point?

I'm not sure if I've upset you or you feel I've said something that agrees with what you wrote or not.

I have a lot of trouble following conversations when there aren't a lot of specifiers, apologies.

:/

[unaluna]

Sorry, josie! I like the article. I like you! I think the brain illnesses can be related. Or maybe the meds that help one disease help another disease. Like, if your toe hurts, you dont automatically have ALL toe diseases, right? But we shouldn't rule out tight shoes just because a hundred years ago ALL hurt toes were attributed to tight shoes.

ETA - not all my analogies are good. This one is pretty bad!!

[avlady]

I have epilepsy, and am going to have an EEG done next monday because they are geting worse, i usually don't remember my siezures so it is very scarry when i found out i've had one. A few weeks ago i had 2 in one week, but was conscious of them which is unusual for me. I was even told i was pronounced dead 3 times after 3 seizures in a hospital stay i had a few years ago. Well hopefully the EEG will solve some problems and i am already on Depacote for my problem.

[Travelinglady]

I definitely don't consider epilepsy to be a "mental illness," such as schizophrenia, bipolar, etc. The grand mal seizures used to scare people and led them to label the sufferer as being "mentally ill."

Oddly, when I had my first big episode of mania, I started out with uncontrolled muscle twitching. When I was taken to the ER, the folks first ruled out epilepsy before sending me to the psych ward!

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

I definitely don't consider epilepsy to be a "mental illness," such as schizophrenia, bipolar, etc. The grand mal seizures used to scare people and led them to label the sufferer as being "mentally ill."

Epilepsy is categorized as a neurological disorder, but then there are psychogenic or pseudoseizures which actually are psychological in origin... ha!

Though the relation between bipolar and epilepsy that I was referring to is more similarities in irregularities in neurological functioning, how neurotransmitters work and such?

Not to say that epilepsy is generally considered a mental disorder, though the symptoms can be mistaken for such at times.