Anxiety is that unpleasant emotion often accompanied by distressing symptoms, and it can affect anyone—children, teens, and adults alike. Today, it’s a frequent topic of discussion. Books, articles, videos, social media posts… resources and advice abound.

This abundance of information can also become confusing. Between theories, personal stories, and the “tips and tricks” found online, it’s not always easy to know what to believe or what to try… especially when anxiety is already at its peak!

When you live with epilepsy, emotions can sometimes take up a lot of space.

Anxiety can be part of your daily life. It often shows up when you imagine what might happen or fear the consequences of a situation.

It can come from:

• The uncertainty surrounding seizures, their unpredictability, and the loss of control over one’s body.
• The fear that another seizure will occur.
• The side effects of medication.
• Stress related to a change, or to changing treatment.
• The fear of getting hurt during a seizure

If you feel this way, know that you are not alone. These emotions are normal and understandable. Recognizing them, talking about them, and asking for support is a step toward greater well-being

Anxiety can manifest in countless ways, and each person experiences it differently. It mainly affects us psychologically: uncertain situations are often perceived as threats, with a tendency to overestimate risks and imagine the worst-case scenario.

Among the most common symptoms are:

• Sleep trouble
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Nausea
• Palpitations or a rapid heartbeat
• Irritability
• Diarrhea or abdominal discomfort
• Headaches
• Irrational fears
• Feeling of suffocation or tightness in the throat
• Trouble to focus

These signs can vary in intensity from time to time. Recognizing them is a first step toward understanding them and finding ways to ease them.