Can Stress Cause Seizures? Here’s What Experts Say 2024

Stress is an inevitable part of our lives. How we manage this stress can have a great impact on both our emotional and physical health. Although a small to moderate amount of stress can keep us motivated, high amounts of chronic stress can be detrimental to our health.

A  stressful life event, especially one that involves high levels of emotional stress, can hurt our health. But can stress cause seizures?

Our bodies respond to stress by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This is involved in the release of stress hormones known as glucocorticoids. One of these is cortisol- which is a stress hormone.

High cortisol levels can hurt our bodies, causing anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures. We can manage this by taking account of the stress in our lives and implementing mindfulness, yoga, and other effective coping techniques. Psychotherapy, mindfulness, meditation, and medication can also help.

What Is Stress?

Let’s face it; stress is unavoidable. We all face stress daily. Whether they are everyday stressors in our lives, such as getting stuck in traffic or being late to an important meeting, to bigger stressors, such as family conflict or losing a loved one, we are all affected by such stressors.

 But what is stress? And when do our physical and emotional responses to such stressors cause us physical problems? Is stress a seizure precipitant in people with epilepsy? Some research says it is.^[1]

Stress is a natural response to challenges or situations we face daily. It is our body’s way of responding to a threat or an overwhelming situation. It triggers a release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which help us respond to the situation. Stress can be caused by both positive and negative experiences, such as starting a new job, moving to a new city, or experiencing a traumatic event. 

The Two Forms Of Stress

There are two types of stress: good stress, also known as eustress, and bad stress, also known as distress. Let’s briefly explore both.

Good stress, or eustress, is an optimal amount of stress that keeps us motivated and focused on our short-term and long-term goals. It drives us to study for that test or work hard on our presentation for work. Good stress can also be caused by otherwise happy life events such as going on a holiday, buying a new house, or getting married. 

On the other hand, bad stress is a long-term response to negative experiences or events, such as financial difficulties, relationship problems, or chronic illness. This type of stress can hurt our physical and mental health, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and physical illness. This chronic stress may trigger seizures and lead to mood problems exacerbating the situation.

While some stress levels are normal and can even be beneficial, excessive or chronic stress can have serious health consequences. Therefore, it is important to learn how to manage stress effectively through techniques such as exercise, meditation, and deep breathing. Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can also help reduce the negative impact of stress on our lives.

How Does Stress Cause Seizures?

Stress has a very real impact on our physical health. We can often feel how stress affects our bodies in the form of body aches, headaches, and changes in our blood pressure and heartbeat. Everyone feels stress differently in their bodies. For some of us, it can cause a headache; for others, it may be a stomach ache or even loss of appetite and changes in our sleep cycle.

But can stress and anxiety cause seizures? It is known that stress can trigger seizures, and research shows that anxiety^[2] makes the likelihood of a seizure more probable.

Life events that are highly emotional can cause stress-induced seizures, especially if they involve a loss of control or high levels of worry, anxiety, or fear. Examples may include losing a loved one, a prolonged stressful environment, or trauma.

Stress can cause a  seizure by activating glands that release certain hormones. The HPA axis^[3] is the primary way that stress hormones are released. The HPA axis consists of three glands that work together, namely the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands. 

When our brain senses a stressful event, it sends a message to these glands, which then produce stress hormones, of which cortisol is the most common. Stressful situations increase the brain’s excitability impacting its electrical activity and, causing an emotional response resulting in a seizure. 

Seizures caused by stress, also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or PNES,  are psychiatric in nature and caused by high levels of stress that are emotional in nature or that involve a loss of control or high levels of worry or fear. Though seizures caused by stress^[4] are psychiatric in origin — in contrast to those caused by epilepsy which are neurological disorders; some of the bodily symptoms can look the same. Let’s take a closer look at what a seizure caused by stress and anxiety can look like.

Symptoms Of A Stress-Induced Seizure

These  can vary from person to person, but they may include:

The Connection Between Mental Health And Seizures

Mental health is just as important as physical health, contributing to our overall well-being. Our brain is the control center of our physical and emotional response to stressors. The brain’s reaction to stress and its release of stress hormones highlight the importance of the mind-body connection and how our mental health directly impacts our physical health. By taking care of our mental health, we can ensure our body also remains healthy.

A 2017 research study^[5] with over 10,000 participants concluded that mental health and physical health are inextricably linked and that mental health should be addressed while treating physical disorders. Those with a history of anxiety and depression had higher rates of physical ailments.

A 2016 literature review^[6] of all the studies conducted on stress and seizures concludes that a history of stress, anxiety, and trauma can all lead to seizures of psychological origin in non-epileptic people.

 Another study stressed the role of^[7] sleep deprivation as a trigger for seizures. The International League of Epilepsy stated that seizures resulting from sleep deprivation should not be considered as being provoked by a medical illness or trauma;  rather, they are a response to the sleep deprivation itself.

The studies mentioned above point to the mind and body connection in wellness and medicine.

What Are The Treatments?

As stress-induced seizures are psychological in nature, it’s important to address the underlying causes and triggers. Treatment options for recurrent seizures where stress triggers seizures may include: 

• Mindfulness And Meditation These include grounding techniques that enable us to check in with our five senses ( what can I hear, see, feel, touch, and taste right now),  journaling to express our feelings and body movements such as yoga.
• Breathing And Guided Imagery Breathing techniques^[8] such as abdominal breathing and rhythmic breathing have been shown to calm the nervous system and ward off a panic attack or seizure. Guided imagery can help us relax and reduce stress by imagining ourselves in a calm and peaceful place.
• A Healthy Diet. A diet rich in nutrients that lower anxiety includes foods with magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin D. Examples of food with these nutrients include salmon, avocados, and berries.
• Medication   Medications that help lower anxiety, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, have been shown to be most effective in treating stress-induced seizures. A 2017 study^[9] shows that SSRIs are the most effective in treating anxiety when combined with psychotherapy. In addition, seizure risk may be reduced with the use of anti-seizure medications. 
• Psychotherapy or talk therapy can be a very effective way to manage your stress and avoid any further seizures while also figuring out what it is that triggers seizures. A therapist can help you manage stress, troubleshoot your seizure risk triggers and create a work-life balance. There are many options for therapy, including options for online therapy.

When To See A Doctor?

It is important to see a doctor the first time you experience a seizure in order to rule out any neurological disorders and determine its underlying cause to avoid more seizures. If your seizures are triggered by an emotional response, it is important to seek professional help from a psychiatrist or mental health professional. They can help with lifestyle changes and coping strategies, as well as anti-seizure medication if needed. 

The Takeaway

High amounts of stress can cause a seizure by releasing stress hormones such as cortisol. A stress-induced seizure can be a very frightening experience. It is important to see a doctor right away if you have experienced a seizure to understand why it happened. Lifestyle changes that lower your overall stress, psychotherapy, and medication can all be helpful in treating seizures caused by stress and anxiety.

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