Natural Ways to Control Non-Epileptic Seizures

Non-epileptic seizures also known as dissociative seizures are the paroxysmal events which do not involve any disrupted electrical activity in the brain. It is very different from an epileptic attack in the cause but might resemble them outwardly. These seizures are real, and the people who get them do not have any voluntary control over them. There are various natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures which can help control the occurrence.

Unlike epileptic seizures, the non-epileptic seizures are not caused by any physical disorder of the brain. Non-epileptic seizures are caused due to traumatic psychological conditions (psychogenic non-epileptic seizures). Some of the causes of non-epileptic seizures are extreme emotional stress due to an accident or illness, end of a relationship, abuse, grief, mental pain, being bullied, or any other condition which triggers stress. The seizures are the physical manifestation of a trauma which the patient cannot speak out. Non-epileptic seizures are more common in people with depression or anxiety.

The symptoms of non-epileptic seizures are often similar to the epileptic seizures. They include, convulsion, repetitive motions falling down, stiffening, jerky, rhythmic or twitching motions, biting of tongue, confusion, altered senses, loss of bladder control and even loss of consciousness. This condition is best diagnosed by experts and certain prescription medicines may be given. However, in addition to that or for some people who prefer natural treatment, it is worth knowing about the natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures.

People suffering from non-epileptic seizures are often told they cannot be cured with medication, but there are many natural ways with which we can help control seizures and improve the quality of life.

1. Sensory Grounding: This is one of the most effective natural ways to control non-epileptic seizures. Sensory grounding means focusing on your senses and stimulating them in a positive way to prevent seizures and other symptoms. If you are the one who gets the signal that you might get an attack soon, sensory grounding could be of great help. There are various ways to practice it,

   • Focus on the things around you and try and describe them to yourself. This might help divert your mind.
   • Feel something rough and textured with your fingers and focus on what it feels like. Feel the ground with your feet and imagine how solid it feels.
   • Listen to the sounds around you e.g. Chirping of birds, people talking or the traffic noise.
   • Remind yourself about where you are, what day of the week it is, what year it is, etc.
   • Tell yourself you are safe.
   • This natural remedy for non-epileptic seizures helps divert the mind by changing focus.

2. Relaxation: Non-epileptic seizures arise when you are stressed or tensed. Relaxation therapy would be of great help and various forms of relaxation techniques are a used to control non-epileptic seizures naturally. There are various relaxation CD’s available which can help you with guided relaxation methods, which help relax the tense muscles. You can also just listen to your favorite music and give your mind some time to unwind. Listening to various sounds or playing

3. Abdominal Breathing: During a non-epileptic seizure many people suffer from hyperventilation i.e. difficult, quick, and shallow breathing. Breathing exercises are one of the best natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures. Abdominal breathing helps control the breathing and calms you down. It can be practiced anywhere, or if you feel you are going into a seizure, or when you stressed or anxious. Sit comfortably and place one hand on the abdomen. Slowly breathe in through the nose and feel the stomach expand beneath your hand. Pause and then breathe out. Rest for a moment and begin again. Practicing this routinely can help in reducing stress and can even help control the frequency of seizure attacks.

4. Understand Your Triggers: Understanding the triggers can help control non-epileptic seizure naturally, as it makes you aware of what must be avoided. Make a note of what happened, where you were, what you were doing or what were you watching, when the seizure started. This way you could understand the trigger which previously you were unaware of and plan a routine to avoid such triggers.

5. Avoid Being Overcautious: Being aware is important but being overcautious might increase the frequency of your illness. This approach is a positive approach and one of the natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures. Never look for problems, instead search the solution. Many people after getting an attack stop their normal activities. They stop going out, using buses, meeting people and stay in the house most of the time fearing an attack again. This way they are likely to get more bored, lonely, depressed, and frustrated leading to depression and an increase in the stress levels.

   Find out ways to tackle the problem. Don’t put lives on a hold; try out these natural remedies for non-epileptic seizure by following few things as mentioned below,

   • Plan an outing with a friend
   • Engage in fun and interesting activities
   • Practice your favorite hobby
   • Draw and paint a picture
   • Plan things to look forward to.

   This way you will feel refreshed and reduce the level of stress and anxiety, which can also decrease the frequency of seizures.

6. Talk About Your Feelings: Bottling up feeling and not letting them out in bits can lead to an uncontrollable and an outrageous outburst or a non-epileptic seizure attack. Talking about the difficult feelings and emotions as discussing them with the near and dear ones can help deal with them. If required, seek advice from professional help or join support groups that encourage you to talk about your problems and vent your emotions. This acts as a natural stress buster and is definitely one of the natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures.

   People suffering from non-epileptic seizures may require medical advice from time to time and some may also need assistance in their activities. Hence, it is necessary to follow medical advice and practice rehabilitation therapies as well. The natural remedies for non-epileptic seizures are very effective and with regular practice they can help in improving the quality of life and reducing non-epileptic seizures.

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