Conditions that may affect the nervus system

 

This is a comprehensive collection of thoughts and information related to anxiety, epilepsy, and the connections between them, as well as links to autism and ADHD. You've shared personal experiences and research findings, highlighting the complexities of these conditions.

Here's a breakdown of the key points and some thoughts on the information you've provided:

Types of Anxiety:

You correctly list several types of anxiety disorders and provide a link to Mind UK for more information. This is a good starting point for understanding the diverse ways anxiety can manifest.

Introduction to Epilepsy:

• Triggers: You accurately point out that seizures can be triggered by stress, anxiety, panic, and tension, in addition to physical causes like brain damage. This highlights the interplay between mental and physical health.

• Diagnosis: The explanation of how epilepsy is diagnosed (multiple seizures over time) is clear.

• Variability: Emphasizing the unpredictable nature of epilepsy – when seizures start, stop, or return – is crucial for understanding the lived experience.

• "Once Epileptic, Always Epileptic": This is a significant point. Even long periods without seizures don't erase the history of epilepsy.

• Personal Experience: Sharing your own journey with epilepsy, including periods of being seizure-free, powerfully illustrates the variable nature of the condition.

Causes of Epilepsy and Seizures:

• Multifactorial Causes: You correctly list several potential causes of epilepsy and seizure triggers, including stress, tumors, electrical activity in the brain, chemical imbalances, worry, lack of sleep, and panic.

• Emotional Impact: You rightly connect emotional issues, such as money problems, relationship difficulties, and bereavement, to potential seizure triggers. This underscores the holistic view needed when considering epilepsy management.

Epilepsy as a Death Risk:

Acknowledging that epilepsy can carry a death risk is important, though it's also crucial to emphasize that this is not the experience of everyone with epilepsy. The link to CDC provides further information on seizure types.

Panic Attacks vs. Epileptic Seizures:

• Similarities: You accurately note the overlapping symptoms between panic attacks and epileptic seizures, such as headaches, dizziness, choking sensations, shaking, temperature changes, pins and needles, and electrical shock sensations. This can indeed lead to confusion in diagnosis and experience.

• Duration: The general guideline about the shorter duration of epileptic seizures compared to panic attacks (which can last up to 20 minutes) is a helpful differentiator, though individual experiences can vary.

• Link to Seer Medical: The provided link likely offers further insights into the relationship between stress, anxiety, and epilepsy.

Anxiety and Panic Attacks:

Your definition of anxiety as a sense of fear and panic, worry, or anger, even about potential future events, is accurate.

Similarities Between Anxiety and Seizures (Nervous System):

You reiterate the shared symptoms related to the nervous system, further explaining why distinguishing between panic attacks and seizures can be challenging.

Links Between Anxiety, Autism, and ADHD:

• Autism and Anxiety/Stress: You correctly highlight the high prevalence of anxiety and stress in individuals with autism, often triggered by sensitivity to change and unexpected events, even positive ones.

• Meltdowns: The connection between anxiety, sensory overload, and meltdowns in autism is important. You also raise the possibility of medication side effects contributing to meltdowns, which warrants investigation.

• Anxiety and ADHD: You accurately describe anxiety as a mental illness and ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition often co-occurring with autism. While separate, you point out the strong link between them, citing difficulties with focus and insomnia as shared challenges.

Anxiety and Seizures (Direct Link):

The suggestion of a link between anxiety and seizures in some individuals is valid and supported by research (as indicated by the link to defeatingepilepsy.org).

Anxiety and Stress:

• Impact of Stress: You emphasize the significant impact of stress and how individuals cope differently. The link to NHS Inform provides further information on anxiety.

• Worry and Depression: The connection between excessive worry and the potential for developing depression is a crucial point.

• Overthinking and Mind "Chatter": Your description of anxiety involving racing thoughts or an inability to think clearly resonates with many who experience anxiety.

• Insomnia: The link between worry and sleep disturbances (insomnia) is well-established.

• Stress from Positive Events: It's important to acknowledge that even positive life events can be stressful due to the buildup and adjustment involved.

Sources of Worry:

Your examples of common worries (money, moving, job loss, exams) are relatable.

Helping People Through Anxiety and Stress:

• Limitations of Support: You realistically acknowledge the limitations of untrained individuals in providing comprehensive help.

• Importance of Professional Referral: The suggestion to signpost or refer individuals to trained professionals is responsible and crucial.

• Resource Challenges: You rightly point out the potential impact of funding cuts on available mental health services.

• Support from Informal Networks: While professional help is vital, the value of support from friends and family is also acknowledged.

Differences and Similarities Between Anxiety and ADHD:

You provide a clear distinction: difficulty focusing due to worry in anxiety versus a more consistent difficulty focusing in ADHD. The co-occurrence of both can significantly amplify these challenges.

Autism, Stress, Anxiety, and ADHD:

You reiterate the high rates of anxiety and ADHD in individuals with autism.

Physical and Mental Impact of ADHD:

You correctly describe ADHD as affecting concentration, often leading to short attention spans, restlessness, impulsivity, and challenges in education and employment. The need for support is highlighted.

Anxiety and Excitement:

You make an interesting point about how both anxiety and excitement can lead to heightened emotional states, though with different valences (negative vs. positive). The potential for over-excitement in ADHD is also noted.

Help and Support Options:

You list various helpful support options, including counseling, emotional support, medication, mindfulness, and different forms of therapy, providing relevant links.

The Importance of Investigating Medication Side Effects:

Your personal experience highlights a crucial point: healthcare professionals need to consider whether medications for any condition might be contributing to mental health symptoms or other issues.

Overall Thoughts:

Your collection of thoughts and research demonstrates a strong awareness of the interconnectedness of anxiety, epilepsy, autism, and ADHD. Sharing your personal experiences adds a valuable layer of understanding to these complex conditions. It's important to remember that while there are commonalities and potential overlaps, each individual's experience is unique.

If you are continuing to explore these topics, further research from reputable sources like medical organizations, research institutions, and mental health charities can provide even deeper insights.