Explains anxiety and panic attacks, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.
What are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety can be experienced in lots of different ways. If your experiences meet certain criteria your doctor might diagnose you with a specific anxiety disorder.
Some commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders are:
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) – this means having regular or uncontrollable worries about many different things in your everyday life. Because there are lots of possible symptoms of anxiety this can be quite a broad diagnosis, meaning that the problems you experience with GAD might be quite different from another person’s experiences.
Social anxiety disorder – this diagnosis means you experience extreme fear or anxiety triggered by social situations (such as parties, workplaces, or everyday situations where you have to talk to another person). It is also known as social phobia. See our page on types of phobia for more information.
Panic disorder – this means having regular or frequent panic attacks without a clear cause or trigger. Experiencing panic disorder can mean that you feel constantly afraid of having another panic attack, to the point that this fear itself can trigger your panic attacks. See our page on panic attacks for more information.
Phobias – a phobia is an extreme fear or anxiety triggered by a particular situation (such as going outside) or a particular object (such as spiders). See our pages on phobias for more information.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – this is a diagnosis you may be given if you develop anxiety problems after going through something you found traumatic. PTSD can involve experiencing flashbacks or nightmares which can feel like you’re re-living all the fear and anxiety you experienced at the time of the traumatic events. See our pages on PTSD and complex PTSD for more information.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – you may be given this diagnosis if your anxiety problems involve having repetitive thoughts, behaviours or urges. See our pages on OCD for more information.
Health anxiety – this means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to illness, including researching symptoms or checking to see if you have them. It is related to OCD. You can find out more about health anxiety on the Anxiety UK website.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) – this means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to your physical appearance. See our pages on BDD for more information.
Perinatal anxiety or perinatal OCD – some people develop anxiety problems during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. See our pages on perinatal anxiety and perinatal OCD for more information.
You might not have, or want, a diagnosis of a particular anxiety disorder – but it might still be useful to learn more about these different diagnoses to help you think about your own experiences of anxiety, and consider options for support.
Anxiety and other mental health problems
It’s very common to experience anxiety alongside other mental health problems, such as depression or suicidal feelings. If you have symptoms of both anxiety and depression but don’t fit one more clearly than the other, you might be given a diagnosis of ‘mixed anxiety and depressive disorder’.
Living with GAD & panic attacks after losing my Dad
“I really believe that talking is one of the best therapies you can have.”Read Zoe’s story
Around the year 2000 I started suffering Depression, Anxiety and what I remember most about it was I had no get up and go about me. (I just couldn’t be bothered). As far as the anxiety was concerned I would get up tight about things to a point where I realised I was holding my breath. ( Not a clever idea is it?)
There are two things that stick in my mind even all these years later about my depression and anxiety,
Around this time our daughter was 8/9yrs old and we decided to hire a static caravan in Northumberland here in the UK along with my parents. As my wife wasn’t sure of the way there my father said he knew how to get where we were going.
It was on the road home an anxiety issue arose because despite being told to follow my father, my wife overtook my father and I and up ahead their was a fork in the road. She should have taken the fork to the right when she took the fork to left. This meant my father and I waiting at that junction anxiously till they reappeared.
Having Depression and anxiety quite often meant I couldn’t go further than my front door. I am a uniformed Salvationist of the Salvation Army and I can even remember every Sunday for weeks on end putting my uniform on (except jacket) until it came time to go and I would come to put jacket on and I couldn’t. Nerves and anxiety got the better of me and I used to ask my wife to call the Church to say I wouldn’t be there.
The main factor that played a part in my recovery was every week my father came to see me and we didn’t just talk about my depression we had general conversations as well. I also used to get regular visits from my then pastor who used to suffer from Clinical Depression, again the discussion I had with him again were general.
There’s a saying on one of the UK’s tv channel’s says “It’s good to talk”.
Everyone has changes in their mood, but with bipolar disorder these changes can be extreme, overwhelming and have a big impact on your life.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
If you have bipolar disorder, you’re likely to have episodes of depression (feeling very low) and mania (feeling very high). You may feel well between these episodes.
Bipolar symptoms can make daily life hard and affect your relationships and work.
During a depressive episode, you may:
feel sad, hopeless or irritable
lack energy and appetite
lose interest in everyday activities
have difficulty concentrating or remembering things
feel empty, worthless, guilty or despairing
have difficulty sleeping.
During a manic episode, you may:
feel full of energy
feel self-important or have lots of ideas and plans
be easily distracted, irritated or agitated
have no desire to sleep or eat
make decisions or say things that are out of character, risky or harmful.
Some people experience psychosis during a severe episode of depression or mania. This means you may see or hear things that aren’t there or believe things that aren’t true.
Episodes can last for several weeks or months with periods of less extreme mood in between. Depending on how you experience these moods and how severe they are, your doctor may diagnose you with a particular type of bipolar disorder. Mind has more information on these different types.
What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but researchers believe a combination of factors make someone more likely to develop it. These include:
genetics – if you’re related to someone with bipolar disorder, you’re more likely to develop it yourself
chemical imbalance in the brain – too much or too little of certain chemicals could make you develop depression or mania
childhood trauma – abuse, neglect or bereavement in childhood can cause you to develop bipolar disorder. This could be because of the impact on your ability to regulate your emotions
stressful life events – a relationship breakdown or financial difficulties can be the trigger for bipolar symptoms.
You usually develop bipolar disorder before you’re 20. It’s rare to develop it after the age of 40.
Getting support
Treatment for bipolar disorder aims to reduce the severity and number of episodes of depression or mania you experience. The right treatment for you will depend on your type of bipolar, current symptoms, and your preferences and circumstances.
If you think you have bipolar disorder, start by speaking to your GP. It can help to keep a record of your moods to help you both understand your mood swings. You can download a mood scale and mood diary from the Bipolar UK website. Your GP may then refer you to a psychiatrist, who can give you a diagnosis.
There are different types of help you can get with bipolar disorder.
Talking therapy
There are different talking therapies that have been shown to work well for people with bipolar disorder.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you recognise how your feelings, thoughts, and behaviour influence each other and build strategies to change these patterns.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on your relationships with others and how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour are affected by your relationships and vice versa.
What you’re offered may depend on what’s available in your area and what you and your GP feel would be best for you.
Medication
There are different medications available to treat bipolar disorder. It’s likely your GP or psychiatrist offer you one of more of the following:
medication to prevent episodes of depression and mania. These are known as mood stabilisers
medication to treat the symptoms of depression and mania as they happen.
You may work with healthcare professionals to learn to monitor your mood and recognise what triggers your depression and mania. They may help you to develop a crisis or risk management plan so you know how to manage any early warning signs. This may involve friends and family, so they know how to recognise any early signs of distress and support you.
You can also help yourself by taking care of your physical health as well as your mental health and making sure that you get regular exercise, good quality sleep, and eat a healthy diet.
Psychosis is characterized by an impaired relationship with reality. It’s a symptom of serious mental disorders. People who are experiencing psychosis may have either hallucinations or delusions.
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur within the absence of an actual stimulus. For example, a person having an auditory hallucination may hear their mother yelling at them when their mother isn’t around. Or someone having a visual hallucination may see something, like a person in front of them, who isn’t actually there.
The person experiencing psychosis may also have thoughts that are contrary to actual evidence. These thoughts are known as delusions. Some people with psychosis may also experience loss of motivation and social withdrawal.
These experiences can be frightening. They may also cause people who are experiencing psychosis to hurt themselves or others. It’s important to see a doctor right away if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
Delusions and hallucinations are two very different symptoms that are both often experienced by people with psychosis. Delusions and hallucinations seem real to the person who is experiencing them.
Delusions
A delusion is a false belief or impression that is firmly held even though it’s contradicted by reality and what is commonly considered true. There are delusions of paranoia, grandiose delusions, and somatic delusions.
People who are experiencing a delusion of paranoia might think that they are being followed when they aren’t or that secret messages are being sent to them. Someone with a grandiose delusion will have an exaggerated sense of importance. Somatic delusion is when a person believes they have a terminal illness, but in reality they’re healthy.
Hallucinations
A hallucination is a sensory perception in the absence of outside stimuli. That means seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling something that isn’t present. A person who is hallucinating might see things that don’t exist or hear people talking when they’re alone.
Each case of psychosis is different, and the exact cause isn’t always clear. There are certain illnesses that cause psychosis, however. There are also triggers like drug use, lack of sleep, and other environmental factors. In addition, certain situations can lead to specific types of psychosis developing.
Some kinds of psychosis are brought on by specific conditions or circumstances that include the following:
Brief psychotic disorder
Brief psychotic disorder, sometimes called brief reactive psychosis, can occur during periods of extreme personal stress like the death of a family member. Someone experiencing brief reactive psychosis will generally recover in a few days to a few weeks, depending on the source of the stress.
Drug- or alcohol-related psychosis
Psychosis can be triggered by the use of alcohol or drugs, including stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. Hallucinogenic drugs like LSD often cause users to see things that aren’t really there, but this effect is temporary. Some prescription drugs like steroids and stimulants can also cause symptoms of psychosis.
People who have an addition to alcohol or certain drugs can experience psychotic symptoms if they suddenly stop drinking or taking those drugs.
Organic psychosis
A head injury or an illness or infection that affects the brain can cause symptoms of psychosis.
Psychotic disorders can be triggered by stress, drug or alcohol use, injury, or illness. They can also appear on their own. The following types of disorders may have psychotic symptoms:
Bipolar disorder
When someone has bipolar disorder, their moods swing from very high to very low. When their mood is high and positive, they may have symptoms of psychosis. They may feel extremely good and believe they have special powers.
When their mood is depressed, the individual may have psychotic symptoms that make them feel angry, sad, or frightened. These symptoms include thinking someone is trying to harm them.
Delusional disorder
A person experiencing delusional disorder strongly believes in things that aren’t real.
Psychosis is diagnosed through a psychiatric evaluation. That means a doctor will watch the person’s behavior and ask questions about what they’re experiencing. Medical tests and X-rays may be used to determine whether there is an underlying illness causing the symptoms.
Diagnosing psychosis in children and teenagers
Many of the symptoms of psychosis in adults aren’t symptoms of psychosis in young people. For example, small children often have imaginary friends with whom they talk. This just represents imaginative play, which is completely normal for children.
But if you’re worried about psychosis in a child or adolescent, describe their behavior to a doctor.
Treating psychosis may involve a combination of medications and therapy. Most people will experience an improvement in their symptoms with treatment.
Rapid tranquilization
Sometimes people experiencing psychosis can become agitated and be at risk of hurting themselves or others. In these cases, it may be necessary to calm them down quickly. This method is called rapid tranquilization. A doctor or emergency response personnel will administer a fast-acting injection or liquid medicine to quickly relax the patient.
Medication
Symptoms of psychosis can be controlled with medications called antipsychotics. They reduce hallucinations and delusions and help people think more clearly. The type of antipsychotic that is prescribed will depend on the symptoms.
In many cases, people only need to take antipsychotics for a short time to get their symptoms under control. People with schizophrenia may have to stay on medications for life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy means meeting regularly to talk with a mental health counselor with the goal of changing thinking and behaviors. This approach has been shown to be effective in helping people make permanent changes and better manage their illness. It’s often most helpful for psychotic symptoms that don’t completely resolve with medications.
Psychosis doesn’t have many medical complications. However, if left untreated, it can be challenging for people experiencing psychosis to take good care of themselves. That could cause other illnesses to go untreated.
Most people who experience psychosis will recover with proper treatment. Even in severe cases, medication and therapy can help.
Zonisamide is used together with other medicines to treat partial seizures in adults and teenagers at least 16 years old.
Zonisamide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Taking zonisamide can cause permanent vision loss. Tell your doctor right away if you have any eye pain or redness or any changes in your vision.
Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking zonisamide. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use zonisamide if you are allergic to it.
You may not be able to take zonisamide if you have ever had a severe allergic to a sulfa drug.
if you have ever had metabolic acidosis (too much acid in your blood); or
if you have been on a ketogenic diet (high-fat, high-protein, low-carb).
Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking zonisamide. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Zonisamide may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of zonisamide on the baby.
You should not breastfeed while using zonisamide.
Zonisamide is not approved for use by anyone younger than 16 years old.
How should I take zonisamide?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Zonisamide can be taken with or without food.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
While using zonisamide, you may need frequent blood tests.
Do not stop using zonisamide suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures. Follow your doctor’s instructions about tapering your dose.
Do not share zonisamide with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include slow heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting, and slow or shallow breathing.
What should I avoid while taking zonisamide?
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how zonisamide will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.
Zonisamide side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: any form of skin rash, hives; fever, swollen glands, feeling weak or tired, severe muscle pain, unusual bruising or bleeding; yellowing of your skin or eyes; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: sudden mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Zonisamide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:
eye pain or redness or any changes in your vision;
decreased sweating, feeling very hot;
signs of metabolic acidosis–confusion, vomiting, lack of energy, irregular heartbeats;
symptoms of a blood cell disorder–fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;
symptoms of a kidney stone–severe pain in your stomach or lower back, blood in your urine;
increased or worsening seizures;
the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild; or
severe skin reaction–fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
16 years of age and older: -Initial dose: 100 mg orally once a day -Titration: After 2 weeks at 100 mg/day, the dose may be increased to 200 mg/day as either a single or divided dose (100 mg orally 2 times a day) for at least 2 weeks; it can then be increased to 300 mg/day, then 400 mg/day either as a single daily dose or divided into 2 daily doses, with the dose stable for at least 2 weeks to achieve steady state at each level -Maintenance dose: 400 mg/day -Maximum dose: 600 mg/day
Comments: -This drug may be taken with or without food. -Capsules should be swallowed whole. -Because of the long half-life of this drug, up to 2 weeks may be required to achieve steady state levels upon reaching a stable dose or following dosage adjustment. -The prescriber may wish to prolong the duration of treatment at the lower doses in order to fully assess the effects of this drug at steady state (noting that many of the side effects are more frequent at doses of 300 mg per day and above). Although there is some evidence of greater response at doses above 100 to 200 mg/day, the increase appears small and formal dose response studies have not been conducted.
Use: As adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures
Usual Pediatric Dose for Seizures:
Less than 16 years of age: Not recommended 16 years of age and older: See adult dosing
Taking zonisamide with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking zonisamide with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or depression.
Other drugs may interact with zonisamide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.
Caring for someone with bipolar disorder can be very hard, whether you’re a partner, parent, child, or friend of someone who has this condition. It’s stressful for everyone it touches.
It’s tough to strike a balance. You want to be supportive and empathetic, because you know the person with bipolar disorder isn’t to blame for their illness. But their behavior may affect you, and you have to take care of yourself and your needs, not just theirs.
Although there’s no easy solution, these tips may help.
Learn. Read information from reputable web sites, books, and articles that explain the condition. The more you know, the better.
Listen. Pay attention to what your loved one has to say. Don’t assume that you know what he or she is going through. Don’t dismiss all of their emotions and feelings as signs of their illness. Someone with bipolar disorder may still have valid points.
Encourage them to stick with treatment. Your love one needs to take their bipolar medication and get regular checkups or counseling.
Notice their symptoms. They may not be able to see it as clearly as you do when their bipolar symptoms are active. Or they may deny it. When you see the warning signs of mania or depression, you can try to make sure they get help ASAP.
Do things together. People who are depressed often pull away from others. So encourage your friend or loved one to get out and do things he or she enjoys. Ask him to join you for a walk or a dinner out. If he says no, let it go. Ask again a few days later.
Make a plan. Because bipolar disorder can often be an unpredictable illness, you should plan for bad times. Be clear. Agree with your loved one about what to do if their symptoms get worse. Have a plan for emergencies. If you both know what to do and what to expect of each other, you’ll feel more confident about the future.
Stick to a schedule. If you live with someone who has bipolar disorder, encourage them to stick to a schedule for sleep and other daily activities. Some research shows that it’s helpful to have a regular routine. The person will still need medicine and counseling, but look for everyday things, like exercise and a healthy diet, that supports their overall health.
Express your own concerns. Since your loved one’s behavior can have a huge effect on you, it’s OK to discuss. Don’t blame the other person or list all of his mistakes. Instead, focus on how his actions make you feel and how they affect you. Since this can be really hard to do, you might find it easiest to talk about it together with a therapist.
Take care of yourself. As intense as your loved one’s needs may be, you count, too. It’s important for you to stay healthy emotionally and physically.
Do things that you enjoy. Stay involved with other people you’re close to — social support and those relationships mean a lot. Think about seeing a therapist on your own or joining a support group for other people who are close to someone who has bipolar disorder.
Vagus nerve stimulation involves the use of a device to stimulate the vagus nerve with electrical impulses. An implantable vagus nerve stimulator is currently FDA-approved to treat epilepsy and depression. There’s one vagus nerve on each side of your body, running from your brainstem through your neck to your chest and abdomen.
In conventional vagus nerve stimulation, a device is surgically implanted under the skin on your chest, and a wire is threaded under your skin connecting the device to the left vagus nerve. When activated, the device sends electrical signals along the left vagus nerve to your brainstem, which then sends signals to certain areas in your brain. The right vagus nerve isn’t used because it’s more likely to carry fibers that supply nerves to the heart.
Why it’s done
Vagus nerve stimulationOpen pop-up dialog box
About one-third of people with epilepsy don’t fully respond to anti-seizure drugs. Vagus nerve stimulation may be an option to reduce the frequency of seizures in people who haven’t achieved control with medications.
Vagus nerve stimulation may also be helpful for people who haven’t responded to intensive depression treatments, such as antidepressant medications, psychological counselling (psychotherapy) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved vagus nerve stimulation for people who:
Are 4 years old and older
Have focal (partial) epilepsy
Have seizures that aren’t well-controlled with medications
The FDA has also approved vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of depression in adults who:
Have chronic, hard-to-treat depression (treatment-resistant depression)
Haven’t improved after trying four or more medications or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or both
Continue standard depression treatments along with vagus nerve stimulation
Additionally, researchers are studying vagus nerve stimulation as a potential treatment for a variety of conditions, including headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, bipolar disorder, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.
Risks
For most people, vagus nerve stimulation is safe. But it does have some risks, both from the surgery to implant the device and from the brain stimulation.
Surgery risks
Surgical complications with implanted vagus nerve stimulation are rare and are similar to the dangers of having other types of surgery. They include:
Pain where the cut (incision) is made to implant the device
Infection
Difficulty swallowing
Vocal cord paralysis, which is usually temporary, but can be permanent
Side effects after surgery
Some of the side effects and health problems associated with implanted vagus nerve stimulation can include:
Voice changes
Hoarseness
Throat pain
Cough
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Difficulty swallowing
Tingling or prickling of the skin
Insomnia
Worsening of sleep apnea
For most people, side effects are tolerable. They may lessen over time, but some side effects may remain bothersome for as long as you use implanted vagus nerve stimulation.
Adjusting the electrical impulses can help minimize these effects. If side effects are intolerable, the device can be shut off temporarily or permanently.
How you prepare
It’s important to carefully consider the pros and cons of implanted vagus nerve stimulation before deciding to have the procedure. Make sure you know what all of your other treatment choices are and that you and your doctor both feel that implanted vagus nerve stimulation is the best option for you. Ask your doctor exactly what you should expect during surgery and after the pulse generator is in place.
Food and medications
You may need to stop taking certain medications ahead of time, and your doctor may ask you not to eat the night before the procedure.
What you can expect
Before the procedure
Before surgery, your doctor will do a physical examination. You may need blood tests or other tests to make sure you don’t have any health concerns that might be a problem. Your doctor may have you start taking antibiotics before surgery to prevent infection.
During the procedure
Surgery to implant the vagus nerve stimulation device can be done on an outpatient basis, though some surgeons recommend staying overnight.
The surgery usually takes an hour to an hour and a half. You may remain awake but have medication to numb the surgery area (local anesthesia), or you may be unconscious during the surgery (general anesthesia).
The surgery itself doesn’t involve your brain. Two incisions are made, one on your chest or in the armpit (axillary) region, and the other on the left side of the neck.
The pulse generator is implanted in the upper left side of your chest. The device is meant to be a permanent implant, but it can be removed if necessary.
The pulse generator is about the size of a stopwatch and runs on battery power. A lead wire is connected to the pulse generator. The lead wire is guided under your skin from your chest up to your neck, where it’s attached to the left vagus nerve through the second incision.
After the procedure
The pulse generator is turned on during a visit to your doctor’s office a few weeks after surgery. Then it can be programmed to deliver electrical impulses to the vagus nerve at various durations, frequencies and currents. Vagus nerve stimulation usually starts at a low level and is gradually increased, depending on your symptoms and side effects.
Stimulation is programmed to turn on and off in specific cycles — such as 30 seconds on, five minutes off. You may have some tingling sensations or slight pain in your neck and temporary hoarseness when the nerve stimulation is on.
The stimulator doesn’t detect seizure activity or depression symptoms. When it’s turned on, the stimulator turns on and off at the intervals selected by your doctor. You can use a hand-held magnet to initiate stimulation at a different time, for example, if you sense an impending seizure.
The magnet can also be used to temporarily turn off the vagus nerve stimulation, which may be necessary when you do certain activities such as public speaking, singing or exercising, or when you’re eating if you have swallowing problems.
You’ll need to visit your doctor periodically to make sure that the pulse generator is working correctly and that it hasn’t shifted out of position. Check with your doctor before having any medical tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which might interfere with your device.
Results
Implanted vagus nerve stimulation isn’t a cure for epilepsy. Most people with epilepsy won’t stop having seizures or taking epilepsy medication altogether after the procedure. But many will have fewer seizures, up to 20 to 50 percent fewer. Seizure intensity may lessen as well.
It can take months or even a year or longer of stimulation before you notice any significant reduction in seizures. Vagus nerve stimulation may also shorten the recovery time after a seizure. People who’ve had vagus nerve stimulation to treat epilepsy may also experience improvements in mood and quality of life.
Research is still mixed on the benefits of implanted vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of depression. Some studies suggest the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation for depression accrue over time, and it may take at least several months of treatment before you notice any improvements in your depression symptoms. Implanted vagus nerve stimulation doesn’t work for everybody, and it isn’t intended to replace traditional treatments.
Additionally, some health insurance carriers may not pay for this procedure.
Studies of implanted vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, headaches and rheumatoid arthritis have been too small to draw any definitive conclusions about how well it may work for those problems. More research is needed.
In the UK alone, 1 in 5 people has a disability, with 80% of those having an invisible disability.
What is an invisible disability?
A person is considered to have a disability if he or she has difficulty performing certain functions (seeing, hearing, talking, walking, climbing stairs and lifting and carrying), or has difficulty performing activities of daily living, or has difficulty with certain social roles (doing school work for children, working at a job and around the house for adults).
Invisible disabilities, also known as Hidden Disabilities or Non-visible Disabilities, are disabilities that are not immediately apparent. Typically, they are chronic illnesses and conditions that significantly impair normal activities of daily living.
Living with these conditions can make daily life more demanding for many people. They affect each person in different ways and can be painful, exhausting, and isolating. Without visible evidence of the hidden disability, it is frequently difficult for others to acknowledge the challenges faced and as a consequence, sympathy and understanding can often be in short supply.
Examples of Hidden Disabilities While this list is by no means exhaustive, some examples of hidden disabilities include:
Autism
Brain injuries
Crohn’s Disease
Chronic pain
Cystic Fibrosis
Depression, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, and language processing disorder
Lupus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Visual and auditory disabilities. These could be considered visible if the person with the disability didn’t wear support aids such as glasses or hearing aids
During the COVID-19 pandemic, invisible disabilities have become a talking point, which is why it is important to raise awareness of them.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common condition where sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain cause seizures or fits. There are lots of possible symptoms of epileptic seizures, including uncontrollable shaking or losing awareness of things around you. The main treatment for epilepsy is medicine to help prevent seizures. It’s often not clear what causes epilepsy. Sometimes it runs in families or is caused by damage to the brain from trauma such as a severe head injury.
Assistive technology can promote a sense of independence for those living with epilepsy, whilst providing peace of mind and reassurance for loved ones and carers.
Epilepsy sensors are used to monitor people with epilepsy while they are asleep in bed. Patented sensor technology detects a person’s movement in bed and is able to differentiate normal movements from epileptic seizures enabling tonic clonic seizures to be detected the moment they occur. They help carers respond quickly when needed, and avoid disturbing a person’s sleep when they are not. The sensitivity of the sensor can be adjusted to best suit the person’s requirements.
This sensor is suitable for use with children as well as adults.
Outside the home
Our GPS falls detector recognises when a person falls and connects straight through to our alarm response centre – ensuring help is on its way when you need it most. The alarm can be set up to alert an emergency contact or we can request an ambulance right away – the plan can be tailored to your individual needs.
This is a great solution for teenagers or adults with epilepsy. In many cases a parent or carer for someone with epilepsy will undertake regular checks or need to be on hand 24/7. This means constant worry for the care giver and a loss of independence for the individual. Our Footprint device will automatically raise an alert if it detects a fall, (no need to press a button) as well as being able to locate where you are. This enables appropriate care to be provided quickly, without the need for manual checks.
A Helping Hand
Our products and plans are tailor made to help you or your loved ones stay safe. Explore the range below and see how Progress Lifeline can assist those with Epilepsy.
Epilepsy bed sensor
These are used to detect seizures whilst in bed. They are able to detect movements that are associated with a tonic clonic type seizure.
Footprint GPS Alarm & Falls Detector
The Footprint is a GPS location device, pendant alarm & falls detector all-in-one.
Falls Detector
The Falls Detector can be worn as a pendant or as a watch. When a fall is detected, the device automatically connects the wearer to our alarm response centre – no need to even press the button.
Key Safe
A KeySafe can be installed externally to allow safe and secure emergency access to your home. (A code is used by contacts that you approve to help in an emergency).
Emergency Home Response
Add our Emergency Home Response service to any alarm package for just £11 per month. Our responders provide 24/7 assistance to you at home if your family and named contacts can’t get there.
Yesterday I posted a video of how I recently suffered two seizures, one simple and the other complex.
On my mobile I have an app called ‘Seizure tracker’ and one of the things it asks is possible trigger of which ‘Emotional Stress’ is in the drop-down menu.
Vagus nerve stimulationOpen pop-up dialog box
Disablities & Mental Health Issues 