Exploring Cognitive Warning Signs
Seizures are abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain that can lead to a range of symptoms, including cognitive changes. In some cases, individuals may experience auras, i.e. warning signs that a seizure is about to occur. Auras can manifest as cognitive disturbances, such as distorted perception of time, memory loss, and déjà vu. Some individuals have also reported experiencing changes in thought patterns, such as racing thoughts or sudden mental clarity, shortly before their seizures began.
It’s important to note that cognitive warning signs and symptoms can differ significantly in the case of different seizure types. For example, a person with dissociative seizures may briefly lose consciousness and responsiveness, often accompanied by facial twitching, fluttering eyelids, and other repetitive movements. If you or someone you know experiences cognitive symptoms indicative of an epileptic seizure, it’s recommended to seek medical advice to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate care.
Confusion and Disorientation
Confusion and disorientation can serve as initial warning signs of an impending seizure. During the preictal stage of a temporal lobe seizure, individuals might experience sudden feelings of brain fog, difficulty focusing on their surroundings, or detachment from reality. They can vary in intensity and duration, acting as crucial signals for the person to take precautions and seek a safe environment.
These sensations occur in the early stage of most seizures, also known as the aura phase. This period can give individuals a brief window of time to find a safe space, alert those around them, and potentially prevent accidents or injuries that could occur during the seizure itself.
Memory Impairment
Memory impairment is another common warning sign of an impending seizure, especially when it comes to complex partial seizures or focal seizures. These seizures may affect parts of the nervous system responsible for memory processing. Individuals may notice a sudden and temporary lapse in memory, such as forgetting recent events, struggling to maintain a clear train of thought, or feeling confused about their surroundings.
The memory impairment during the preictal phase can be distressing for people experiencing seizures. Recognising it as a potential precursor to a seizure can prompt individuals to take precautions, such as finding a safe environment and notifying those around them.
Déjà Vu
Déjà vu, or the sensation of experiencing something that feels familiar when it shouldn’t, is a crucial warning sign of a forthcoming seizure, particularly for people with temporal lobe epileptic seizures. During the aura phase of a seizure, individuals may suddenly feel as though they have lived through a particular moment before, even though it’s happening for the first time. This intense feeling of familiarity can be accompanied by a sense of detachment from reality in the present moment.
Recognising déjà vu as a warning sign can be crucial, as it signifies the onset of abnormal brain activity and may indicate an impending seizure. It provides individuals a valuable opportunity to take precautions, such as moving to a safe environment and informing others about their condition.
Exploring Emotional Warning Signs
Before seizures, individuals may experience emotional changes that serve as warning signs. The brain’s abnormal electrical activity during the preictal phase can influence the emotional processing centres, leading to these abrupt shifts in mood.
Below is a list of the common emotional warning signs of an impending seizure.
Sudden Mood Swings
Sudden mood changes often occur during the period leading up to a seizure, also known as the preictal phase. The brain’s activity during this phase can influence the areas responsible for regulating emotions, leading to dramatic mood fluctuations. Individuals may experience rapid shifts from calmness to anxiety, or happiness to sadness.
These mood changes can be unsettling and confusing, as they may occur without an apparent trigger. Individuals who regularly experience intense mood fluctuations before seizures should seek expert assessment for possible mood disorders or other mental health challenges.
Intense Fear or Anxiety
Right before a seizure, individuals may suddenly experience overwhelming feelings of fear, dread, or anxiety disproportionate to their current situation. These emotions can be triggered by the abnormal electrical activity in the brain that precedes a seizure and can serve as a vital cue for the individual to take precautionary measures.
Recognising the connection between these sensations and impending seizures can help individuals manage their condition more effectively. By understanding this warning sign, individuals can better prepare themselves and those around them for the possibility of a seizure.
Agitation
In the preictal phase, individuals might experience heightened restlessness, irritability, or a sense of unease. Alarming physical symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or heart palpitations, can accompany these indications.
For people with epilepsy, feeling agitated is a potential sign that you should take precautionary steps. When individuals notice these signs, they can seek a safe environment, inform those around them, and engage in relaxation techniques to alleviate the symptoms.
Overwhelming Emotions
Experiencing overwhelming emotions can serve as a significant warning sign of an impending seizure. During the period leading up to a seizure, individuals may suddenly feel overpowering emotions such as sadness, anger, or joy. These emotions arise seemingly out of nowhere due to the abnormal neurological activity that precedes a seizure and may gradually intensify.
Recognising the link between overwhelming emotions and upcoming seizures can be essential for effective seizure management. Informing others, finding a safe environment, and practising relaxation techniques can help mitigate the impact of these emotions and the potential seizure.
Differentiating Cognitive and Emotional Signs
Cognitive warning signs of seizures are primarily related to changes in thought patterns and perception. These include experiences like déjà vu, memory impairment, or altered mental clarity. These signs often manifest as disruptions in thinking, memory, and awareness.
On the other hand, emotional warning signs of seizures involve sudden shifts in mood and intense feelings. These emotional changes might include overwhelming fear, dread, irritability, or unexpected euphoria. These signs are generally related to rapid and pronounced fluctuations in emotional states.
Importance of Documenting Warning Signs
Documenting warning signs of seizures is crucial for efficient seizure control and communication with healthcare professionals. By keeping a detailed record of the specific changes occurring before a seizure, individuals can gain insights into personal risk factors or triggers and remove them from their environments.
This documentation helps create a clearer picture of the person’s condition, enabling healthcare providers to make more informed decisions about treatment and management strategies. Additionally, having a well-documented history of warning signs can empower individuals to take proactive measures to reduce the risk of injury or accidents during a seizure episode.
Seeking Help and Treatment
Seeking adequate treatment from a healthcare professional is vital for managing everyday life with seizures and ensuring overall well-being. A proper diagnosis can lead to tailored treatment plans, including anti-seizure medications, lifestyle adjustments, and seizure management strategies. Timely intervention helps treat seizures, reduces the risk of physical or mental health complications, and enhances the quality of life for individuals with seizure disorders.
Epilepsy Support with Unique Community Services
At Unique Community Services, we aim to provide proactive at-home support and create a better world for people with epilepsy. Our dedicated clinicians deliver humanised, proactive care services for individuals with repeated temporal lobe seizures, focal seizures, epileptic seizures, and non-epileptic seizures. We provide person-centred assistance for children and adults with repeated seizures in the comfort of their own homes, allowing them to stay close to their loved ones and avoid hospitalisation.
If you need a quality care provider for yourself or a loved one with seizures, Unique Community Services is the right place for you. We deliver bespoke epilepsy care services in Bristol, Leeds and Manchester.
Contact us now for a personalised care plan tailored to your needs.
