Seizures

Seizures are caused by sudden, abnormal, or excessive electrical activity in the brain, sometimes due to epilepsy (which is a condition of recurrent, unprovoked seizures that may be caused by underlying brain dysfunction). If you have a seizure, you might fall, black out, your arms and legs might make jerking movements—and throughout the episode, you might not even be aware of what’s going on. Yep, it’s dang scary. Some people get an aura that tells them a seizure is coming, but most of the time seizures arrive out of the blue. Sometimes, you can still be conscious, but many people don’t remember their episodes. In that sense, a seizure can actually be scarier in the moment for the people who witness it! Seizures can be generalized (involving the whole brain) or focal (just in one specific area). Epileptic seizures are the most common type, and having a seizure might mean that you have epilepsy, but it’s also possible something else is going on. Seizures can be a neurological symptom that may occur with chronic infections like Lyme and other illnesses, for example. Non-epileptic seizures can be caused by high fever, lack of sleep, medications (such as antidepressants and smoking cessation therapies), or head trauma. Both natural and conventional anti-seizure medications are used to treat seizures. Recently the FDA approved a CBD-only drug (Epidiolex) for people with two types of seizure disorders called Dravet and Lennox–Gastaut syndromes, and it seems to have relatively few side effects. Herbal remedies include skullcap, valerian, kava, and mistletoe, among others, although there's no strong evidence that these work for everyone. If you are experiencing seizures, make sure you see a practitioner right away. This is not a symptom to ignore, and with your practitioner’s help, you’ll be able to figure out the cause, determine treatment options, and figure out any lifestyle adjustments you should make. Seizures can be a challenging symptom to navigate, especially when you first experience them, but remember that you are not alone! Your WanaFam has your back.