Mindfulness meets epilepsy management

This story is sponsored by Epilepsy Wellness Advocates

When Mindfulness meets Epilepsy Management

Mindfulness, a core Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skill, involves staying present and fully engaged in the moment. For individuals with epilepsy, mindfulness can be difficult but it can also be particularly beneficial in managing our seizure threshold. By practicing mindfulness, we can become more aware of our body’s signals, allowing us to detect early signs of seizures and respond accordingly. This heightened awareness can also help reduce anxiety and stress, which for some people are common seizure triggers.

As we know, Epilepsy is a neurological condition that requires comprehensive management strategies to maintain health and quality of life. In fact, anyone who has been on the journey to simply get a diagnosis of epilepsy knows this is true. It may sound crazy, but combining neurology with mindfulness through DBT skills can help manage seizure triggers and stress.

What This Does Not Mean

This does NOT mean you stop taking your meds because you have become super effective at meditating. Or you bail on visits with your neurologist because you found a super cute meditation outfit. This is not okay and will definitely not help your seizure management.

Benefits of Mindfulness for Epilepsy

There are many benefits of mindfulness for epilepsy management. First off, according to the APA, mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are both known to exacerbate seizures. By staying present and focused, you can maintain a calm state of mind, reducing the likelihood of stress-induced seizures. One other note here: I don’t make any claim that this is easy. It takes practice. The stress of not knowing how seizures and side effects will impact your life is a big obstacle. This is just another tool to help manage that obstacle.

Secondly, mindfulness enhances your ability to recognize early seizure signs, enabling you to take proactive steps to manage your condition. This can involve adjusting your environment, taking medication, or engaging in calming activities to prevent seizures. All  good things when these little changes can keep you safer. It does actually help to be a little more connected to your body. This can help you tune into what may come before seizures and give you a chance to get to a safe place.

Take a Second to Share Your Thoughts

Integrating Mindfulness into Your Daily Routine

Integrating mindfulness into your daily routine can lead to better health outcomes and a more balanced life. Start by setting aside a few minutes each day for mindfulness practice. It won’t be perfect at first. In fact it will be annoying. But if you can stick with it, using techniques such as deep breathing, body scans, and mindful observation once or twice a day you might find it helpful. Over time, these practices will become second nature, (I swear they will) helping you stay present and reduce stress throughout the day. They will help eventually.

The Mindful Approach to Epilepsy Management

Combining traditional neurology with mindfulness through DBT offers a unique approach to epilepsy management. This method addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of epilepsy, providing a comprehensive strategy for maintaining health and quality of life. By incorporating mindfulness into your routine, you can enhance your neurological care and improve your overall well-being.

Managing Epilepsy

By integrating skills like this into your daily routine, you can reduce stress, recognize early seizure signs, and improve your overall health. If you consider trying this, you might just discover the benefits of combining neurological care with mindfulness for a more balanced and effective epilepsy management strategy.