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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / September 2003Depression AND Epilepsy
Hello Everyone: What comes first, epilepsy or depression? Is it a combination of both or does medication make a person with epilepsy depressed? The reason I'm asking is because my neurologist asked me "if I was sad" and I'm not sure if that was a trick question or not and then there's what happened with my sister today. . . she seems to think I'm depressed ( I disagree ). Thanks for your input. Karen :) >Hello Everyone: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Karen :) I give you a quote from my GP which I will remember always, as it was probably the best medicine she ever gave me... "Epilepsy and depression go hand-in-hand - it's quite normal." It was my first experience of clinical depression, I had no idea what was happening to me, and the first time anybody had suggested that *anything* about epilepsy was ever normal.  SignatureMalcolm http://www.mtdomain.demon.co.uk Howdy! Have to agree with Malcom on this one! Speaking for myself... Am I depressed BECAUSE I have epilepsy? - definately Is my depression a symptom of my epilepsy? - could be Is my depression a side effect of my meds? - possibly There we have it -- psychological, physiological and/or chemical! SignatureDave ???? http://www.howdydave.com > >Hello Everyone: > > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > was happening to me, and the first time anybody had suggested that > *anything* about epilepsy was ever normal. "Dave ©¿©¬" wrote: > Howdy! > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > physiological and/or > chemical! For myself, I agree with the first two, but I was experiencing symptoms of depression before I was placed on meds, before I knew I had epilepsy, so I can't blame any medication for this. Of course, I felt terrible fairly often because of the seizures, so maybe I was depressed about feeling shi**y so often. Maybe we should have differentiated for k s e that there can be depression directly related to seizure activity (gee, who wouldn't be), and the other type that hangs on even if the seizures are controlled. Barb > -- > Dave ©¿©¬ [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Malcolm > > http://www.mtdomain.demon.co.uk Barb, when you wrote, "maybe we should have differentiated for k s e that there can be depression directly related to seizure activity (gee, who wouldn't be), and the other type that hangs on even if the seizures are controlled", that's exactly what I wanted to know. The reality of what's going on is hitting me, but not hard like some might think. I can tell that I am mentally preparing myself for the official diagnosis and about my drivers license being revoked too, because I'm SO calm about all of this; I even went to the library to get myself a bus schedule. It's strange to think that in a few weeks I might not zone out like I do and be 100% present for the first time in forever. I've been like this my whole life you know. I'm not sure what or why my family's reasons were for ignoring symptoms (I guess they thought it was normal that I stopped talking mid-sentence as my eyes rolled back and forth). I'll never know the answer to some of those questions. I've decided that when I do lose my licence (here in CA it's for 3, 6 or 12 months until you're proven seizure-free) I'll just use the bus time to read my textbooks (it will probably be a blessing in disguise). Thanks for being there everyone. Karen > Barb, when you wrote, "maybe we should have differentiated for k s e > that there can be depression directly related to seizure activity (gee, > who wouldn't be), and the other type that hangs on even if the seizures > are controlled", that's exactly what I wanted to know. When I have a seizure, which only happens with illnesses now (not colds or sore throats but something more serious), the amount of distress immediately following a seizure just isn't as severe. I don't know if it has anything to do with the antidepressant I take. I was talking more about the day to day depression that hangs on whether a person is having seizure activity or not, and this is the kind of depression that studies are geared toward that show we have a higher propensity to have. There are different theories about why this happens and the majority are based on a medical explanation and not a psychological explanation. > The reality of what's going on is hitting me, but not hard like some > might think. I can tell that I am mentally preparing myself for the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > stopped talking mid-sentence as my eyes rolled back and forth). I'll > never know the answer to some of those questions. Karen, I walked around for approximately 20 years undiagnosed, untreated, and nobody (family, co-workers, friends) noticed a thing. The funny thing is I worked at a sheltered workshop where many of the clients had seizure disorders. I was the only secretary for the social workers and program director and none of them noticed a thing although I was having seizures literally right in front of them. > I've decided that when I do lose my licence (here in CA it's for 3, 6 or > 12 months until you're proven seizure-free) I'll just use the bus time > to read my textbooks (it will probably be a blessing in disguise). I like your positive attitude!!! Barb > Thanks for being there everyone. > > Karen At least you are making progress. Depression is now hitting me very hard. I've basically lived a lie for 13 years. I told my mother about my diagnosis and she told me this was mentioned years ago. I asked her why I didn't know. All she said was "we didn't do it". This shows to me that something did happen and I could have not had seizures all this time if my parents would have taken me to a psychologist years ago. Here I thought I had epilepsy all this time, when in reality I have PTSD that induces seizures under stressful events. Now to figure out what happened. That could be a challenge. My husband is getting worried about me because ever since I've been home, I just want to sleep. I don't get dressed unless I absolutely have to. I don't answer the phone, eat, nothing I enjoy. All I do is watch TV, go online to check email every now and then and that's it. I feel empty, betrayed, scared and worthless. I've basically lost my job of 6 years and for what? Sorry to unload my problems on you guys. Jennifer > Barb, when you wrote, "maybe we should have differentiated for k s e > that there can be depression directly related to seizure activity (gee, [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Karen Howdy! A point of clarification... Psychological, physiological and chemical ARE all valid reasons for depression. I was only talking about my case in particular. SignatureDave ???? http://www.howdydave.com > > Howdy! > > [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > > > Malcolm > > > http://www.mtdomain.demon.co.uk Now that a few days have passed since I met with my neurologist, I'm thinking that she was asking me whether or not I was "sad" to feel me out and see if I was being genuine or not ( I do have the tendency to be VERY quiet when I'm nervous and can see how that might confuse one's interpretaton of how I am actually feeling (if that makes sense). I am an optomistic person. I have to be, but I deep down inside I'm afraid that I'll become depressed if and when I'm given medication to stop my absense seizures. I seem to be flip-flopping back and forth between feeling totally secure to scared out of my wits. The EEG is just a few days away and well, I'm scared. I'm okay, but a bit nervous. I know it's technically no big deal and the procedure is a simple one, but emotionally, I'm mixed up by the idea. I mean, a few months ago I would have never dreamed that I'd be having electrodes stuck to my head to see if I had epilepsy. . . Thanks for listening (again). Karen > Hello Everyone: > > What comes first, epilepsy or depression? Karen, that is a question even the medical people don't know for certain. There is quite a bit of information on the web about depression and the epilepsy connection. > Is it a combination of both or > does medication make a person with epilepsy depressed? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > what happened with my sister today. . . she seems to think I'm depressed > ( I disagree ). Depression involves more than just feeling sad. It can affect your ability to focus/concentrate, can take away drive and motivation, affect your daily functioning ability, may increase or decrease appetite, and just all sorts of things. In fact, some of the symptoms are so subtle that person may not recognize them for what they are. If you do web medical research, avoid any sites that are not affiliated with a medical physician or medical organization or legitimate drug manufacturer. There are too many junk sites out there offering inappropriate advice or information. Barb > Thanks for your input. > > Karen :) >> The reason I'm asking is because my neurologist asked me "if I was sad" >> and I'm not sure if that was a trick question or not and then there's [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >of things. In fact, some of the symptoms are so subtle that person may not >recognize them for what they are. Headaches, body aches, irritability ________________________________ Eliska http://www.ArtChiK.com Caricature Entertainment Portraits of Pets and People Hi Evryone. You are talking about depression. My seizures started just before I graduated 1971. I was a shy person while I was in school. I was just starting to open up when they started. It was hard for me to handle the problem so I slowly got lower and lower. It got to the point where I was thinking of suicide. I guess luck on my side. One day I was in my room. I had a picture of Jesus on the wall I sat and watched it for a long time. Suddenly I had the sensation where I left my body and I was above the roof looking down at myself. That episode helped me I started to accept my seizures and I got better. I'm not depressed so far. Christine hey... i don't know what comes first, but i had depression before i had epilepsy... my epilepsy came out years after my first onset with depression/anxiety, but they are triggered by a brain tumour they just found... i might of had this thing during my first depression episodes. and maybe some of my panic attacks were complex partials??? who knows. i don't. i wish i did. i'm on anti-seizure meds, and i want to go back on anti-depression meds as well, but most of these SSRI's like paxil, celexa, etc, all have warnings about taking these meds if the patient has a history of seiziures. my very first seizure was about 2 weeks into going back on Prozac a while ago. i think its all related. anyone out there on seizure and depression meds and doing ok? i'm on dilantin, and my doc wants me on celexa, i'm a little apprehensive. any help? thanks, phil > Hello Everyone: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Karen :) The meds for seizures are depressants aren't they? They definitely mellow me out. I don't think I'm depressed. I don't like to do as many things as I used to but I don't feel depressed at the moment. When I was first diagnosed I was depressed. I had to stop partying and I had to deal with everything that came with epilepsy at once. The first couple of years were hard. People always asked me if I was depressed. Alot of my friends didn't want to party with me any more. I felt like a freak. I realized I didn't have any friends because everyone disappeared when I needed them. That sort of thing took some getting used to. I also remember getting depressed as a kid before I was diagnosed. I blame that on my family life. Kris > Hello Everyone: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Karen :) |
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