Can Panic Attacks Cause Seizures?

By the way, can panic attacks cause seizures? I never thought about it in that realm. Or even the attacks could BE seizures? Let’s find out!

The symptoms of anxiety – particularly panic attacks – can look and feel a lot like the symptoms of some types of epileptic seizure.

This means that both conditions can be misdiagnosed.

Although anxiety disorders and epilepsy are very different conditions, just over a quarter of people with epilepsy experience high levels of anxiety.

This is very understandable. Hence, never knowing when their next seizure will strike, the side-effects of their medication, and frustration that they can’t do the things they did before. These all contribute to this sense of anxiety. What is more, some people’s auras can cause them to feel extremely fearful.

It is also well-known that stress is a major seizure trigger – and having a panic attack is undoubtedly stressful. Therefore, if you have epilepsy and have a panic attack, this could potentially also trigger a seizure too.

“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.” — Carl Jung

Can Panic Attacks BE Seizures?

People are often unsure that anxiety is causing their panic attacks, so may try to find another explanation. As a result, some people may mistakenly believe they’re having epileptic seizures. This doesn’t mean the panic attacks are not serious or scary events – they’re just not the same as seizures.

But what I want to know, can panic attacks cause seizures? A panic attack can look like a seizure – and people with anxiety disorders have sometimes been misdiagnosed as having epilepsy. Therefore, the only way to definitively diagnose epilepsy is to undergo tests. But the following points highlight some of the main differences between panic attacks and seizures:

Length
Panic attacks typically last longer than seizures – from a few minutes, and up to half an hour. Usually, seizures last between a few seconds and two minutes (although it is possible to have much longer episodes).

Consciousness
Most of the time, people having panic attacks are aware of their feelings and their surroundings, and they will also be responsive to people around them. By contrast, most people who have epileptic seizures lose awareness and don’t remember the seizure itself (although people with focal aware seizures do remain partially conscious).

Repetitive movements
Often (but not always) people who have epileptic seizures perform repetitive and uncontrolled movements – such as lip smacking, leg cycling, or jerking. Henceforth, people with panic attacks may thrash their arms or shake, but they don’t tend to do these repetitive movements.

Age the disorder begins
People can begin having anxiety disorders and epilepsy at any age. But it’s much more common to start having epileptic seizures during the first decade of life, in your senior years, or after a head injury.

By comparison, people are more likely to develop anxiety disorders in their late teens and early adulthood (but they can develop at other times too).

Symptoms Of A Stress Seizure

Can panic attacks cause seizures and are some of the symptoms the same? Some people experience symptoms similar to those of an epileptic seizure but without any unusual electrical activity in the brain. When this happens it is known as a non-epileptic seizure (NES).

NES is most often caused by mental stress or a physical condition. Different types of NES include:

Fainting
Panic attacks
Dissociative seizures (uncontrollable)
Symptoms
NES symptoms are most often similar to those of a generalized epileptic seizure. This may include:

Firstly, convulsions
Crying out or making a noise
Stiffening
Jerky, rhythmic or twitching motions
Falling down
Loss of consciousness
Confusion after returning to consciousness
Loss of bladder control
Lastly, biting the tongue

NES can also be similar to partial seizures. These symptoms may include:

Firstly, jerky or rhythmic movements
Sensations such as tingling, dizziness, feeling full in the stomach
Repetitive motions
Staring
Confusion
Changes in emotions
Lastly, altered senses

Is It Anxiety or a Seizure?

So, can panick attacks cause seizures? Some people with epilepsy are told they are having panic attacks, when they are actually experiencing seizures. And some people with panic attacks are wrongly diagnosed with epilepsy.

Occasionally, breathing too fast during a panic attack can trigger an epileptic seizure. Also, this can also complicate a diagnosis.

It’s important to get the right diagnosis to make sure you get the right tests and treatment. Altogether, it can be difficult for doctors to tell the difference between seizures and panic attacks. So, it’s important to seek the advice of an epilepsy specialist.

The diagnosis is made mainly on a description of what happens, rather than the results of tests, such as an MRI or EEG. However, EEG and MRI tests may still be helpful. It can also help to keep a diary of your symptoms to help to discuss these with your epilepsy doctor.

Meds For Anxiety Seizures

There is no cure for epilepsy, but there are ways to treat and manage it. Therefore, epilepsy may be treated with various options, including medications, surgery, seizure devices, and special diets.

For people with anxiety and epilepsy, the two drugs that are often used include:

Buspar (buspirone): This is a serotonin receptor agonist, which means it inhibits the release of serotonin, a chemical messenger that facilitates communication between cells in the nervous system.

Lyrica (pregabalin): This anticonvulsant calms damaged or overactive nerves that trigger pain or seizures.

Pregabalin is the only antiepileptic drug licensed to treat both anxiety and epilepsy. If you are taking medication for anxiety, talk with your healthcare provider about any possible interactions between the anxiety medication and epilepsy medications. See if it is an appropriate drug for someone with epilepsy.

What Can Panic Attacks Be Mistaken For?

If you develop panic disorder, you may consult a primary care doctor first because the physical symptoms often make the person feel like they’re having a heart attack, a stroke or a breathing problem. As a result, many medical illnesses can cause symptoms that mimic panic attacks, including heart disease, asthma, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, hormone abnormalities, infections and disturbances in levels of certain blood chemicals.

Conclusion

Can panic attacks cause seizures? According to the research, yes and no. Although anxiety disorders and epilepsy are very different conditions, just over a quarter of people with epilepsy experience high levels of anxiety.

This is very understandable. Never knowing when their next seizure will strike, the side-effects of their medication, and frustration that they can’t do the things they did before, all contribute to this sense of anxiety. What is more, some people’s auras can cause them to feel extremely fearful.

Well, I hope you now know the similarities and differences between panic attacks and seizures. We learned that sometimes epilepsy seizures can be mistaken for panic attacks and vice versa. Hope to catch you in the next post. Until next time…

Articles

-Is Stress Affecting Your Seizures?

https://www.healthline.com/health/epilepsy/stress-seizures

-Can Stress Cause Seizures?

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/can-anxiety-cause-seizures

.-How are epilepsy and anxiety related?

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/epilepsy-and-anxiety

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice – Unstoppable

“To me, fearless doesn’t mean you’re completely unafraid, and it doesn’t mean that you’re bulletproof. It means that you have a lot of fears, but you jump anyway.” — Taylor Swift

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