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Epilepsy Journal as an Aid for Seizure Control

Use Journal Writing to Discover How to Reduce the Risk of Seizures

Jan 25, 2009 Zoe Langley

The most effective way to stop seizures is by learning to prevent them. Journal writing is a valuable technique for learning ways to improve seizure control.

Writing in Epilepsy: A New Approach, Adrienne Richard says, "Dr. Joel Reiter and epilepsy counselor Donna Andrews recommend keeping not only a seizure log to record the occurrence and severity of seizures, but also keeping a seizure journal with entries that describe in careful detail what happened and why you think it happened at the particular time that it did."

Harvard trained neurologist, Joel Reiter and Psychologist Donna Andrews are the founders of the Andrews\Reiter Epilepsy Research Clinic in Santa Rosa, California. Theirs is the only epilepsy clinic in the United States focusing on teaching patients techniques for managing seizures on their own with minimal or no medication.

How to Keep a Seizure Log

The seizure log records each seizure, when it happened, its severity, how long it lasted. It notes how long before or after the last dose of medication the seizure occurred. A seizure log entry might look like this:

Date:
Day:
Time:
Time of Last Medication Dose
Length of Seizure:
Severity\type of Seizure:
Date of last seizure before this one

Keeping a Seizure Journal

The seizure journal is more comprehensive. Based on self-observation, the writer can make decisions to improve seizure control and take action to raise the seizure threshold.

Record every possible detail about the seizure. Be sure and include whether stress, hunger, anger, tiredness or other factors may have set off the seizure. Write out if drinking alcohol, caffeine, using non prescribed drugs before the seizure started may have caused it to happen.

Make notes of other possible influences on seizures, such as if the seizure happened while sitting up or lying down. Use the journal to identify possible triggers for seizures. Seizures don't happen without reason, something must set them off. That "something" is the seizure trigger. Learning to identify and address triggers can lead to better seizure control.

Don't Miss a Clue

Write, write, and write some more! Include any detail surrounding a seizure in the log or journal. Write out whether there may have been a medication problem, anything taken, like herbs and supplements, that might have set off the seizure. Write from the heart. Include thoughts and feelings surrounding the seizure that could have triggered it.

Find a Pattern

Make a habit of reading and thinking over the log and journal. Look for patterns that may yield clues about the seizures. Ask the following questions:

When are they most likely to happen; at night, in the morning, while watching television, after eating certain foods, in any particular situation?

Over time a pattern to the seizures may emerge. For example, seizures that happen regularly a certain time after eating may point to a food sensitivity.

Make Needed Changes

Once a seizure trigger is identified, take action to change it. Some possible changes include:

Changes in medication
Remove foods that trigger seizures
Avoid people, activities, or situations triggering seizures
Get help dealing with stressful situations that trigger seizures
Learn relaxation or meditation techniques to improve control over thoughts and emotions

Finally, keep writing, changing and revising strategies as needed.

Resources:

Seizure Triggers

Andrews-Reiter Epilepsy Research Program

Source:

Richard, Adrienne, and Reiter, Joel, MD, Epilepsy: A New Approach, Publisher: Walker and Company, New York, 1995.

The copyright of the article Epilepsy Journal as an Aid for Seizure Control in General Medicine is owned by Zoe Langley. Permission to republish Epilepsy Journal as an Aid for Seizure Control in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Comments

Jan 25, 2009 4:15 PM

Guest :

Hey Zoe... the article looks and sounds great. I think it is a really great idea to keep a journal to find the triggers and lower threshold! awesome stuff.

Jan 28, 2009 7:35 PM

Guest :

Great article! I believe seizure journals are an invaluable tool :)
~LivingFruity

2 Comments