DBT: Quality of Life When Living with Epilepsy

Quality of Life

Finding a good quality of life when living with epilepsy can be difficult, even overwhelming, when you bear in mind the constant challenge of managing seizures and their impact on day to day life. That’s why as someone who has been living with epilepsy and other chronic illness for more than 40 years, I wanted to share information on how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can provide tools to help you reestablish some level of control in your life. DBT can also give you tools to help navigate your journey with confidence. I have found that by mastering DBT skills in my own life I have been able to transform my experience from feeling overwhelmed to having a sense of control despite my epilepsy (and cancer).

Mindfulness: Staying Grounded

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, mindfulness is a core DBT skill that can help you stay grounded and present in the moment. For me, as someone living with epilepsy, mindfulness reduces anxiety and stress, which are two of my common seizure triggers. By practicing mindfulness, I am able to stay more aware of my body’s signals and take proactive steps to manage those days when I might be feeling “seizur-y”. I find techniques such as deep breathing, body scans, and mindful observation are easily integrated into my daily routine now that I am aware they are available to me. As a result they help me stay calm and balanced (for the most part) – I mean, no one’s perfect.

Distress Tolerance: Managing Crises and Difficult Emotions

Distress tolerance provides strategies for managing crises and difficult emotions without making things worse. This skill has been particularly important for me following the recurrence of my cancer and is of use to anyone who is struggling with seizure control. This skill can help you cope with any intense emotions and maintain stability during challenging moments. Like when you need to get ready for a doctor’s appointment or a med change. Techniques such as distraction, self-soothing, and radical acceptance can help you handle crises effectively and prevent emotional overload. These skills have helped me navigate some pretty rough waters over the past few years and anyone who has been a regular reader knows it hasn’t been pretty.

Emotion Regulation: Understanding and Balancing Your Feelings

Emotion regulation is the ability to understand and balance your feelings, preventing them from becoming overwhelming. I have to say, I wish for the sake of some of my friendships in my twenties that I had discovered DBT decades ago. Maybe I wouldn’t have burned so many bridges. Oh well – maybe I can blame it on the meds, or the seizures or just all the damn trauma! In any case, for those of us with epilepsy this set of skills is invaluable. Emotion Regulation can help you manage emotional stability and reduce stress by giving you the tools to identify your emotions, understand their causes, and develop strategies to manage them. These tools won’t magically change your circumstance. But you will gain a new perspective and have the ability to see the scenario through a new lens. This will help to enhance your overall well-being and quality of life. (I know it sounds crazy – its so simple but I promise it is super helpful). Just keep reading.

Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building Strong Support Networks

This one is huge when it comes to the stigma that surrounds the invisible disability that is epilepsy. This has given me the tools to ensure I am outfitted with clear communication and stronger support networks. Obviously that was essential for me when navigating chemotherapy but the same holds true for anyone navigating seizures. This skill is essential for individuals with epilepsy, as it helps you build a supportive network of family, friends, and healthcare providers. By improving your communication skills, you can foster better relationships and receive the support you need.

Getting the best Quality of Life

DBT offers a comprehensive set of skills that can significantly improve your quality of life when you are living with epilepsy. I know because I have implemented it in my own life and then kicked it up a notch when I was diagnosed with cancer. By mastering mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, you can navigate your epilepsy journey with greater ease and achieve better health outcomes. As a first step just check out this series and learn more about DBT. If you are curious you can always schedule a discovery call with me.