According to neurology.org, depressive disorders are the most common type of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy and a study done by St George’s University in the UK found that 1 in 4 people living with epilepsy also suffer with depression. Also, one of the most commonly discussed issues in online Facebook groups and forums about epilepsy is how to deal with depression when living with epilepsy and what medications prescribed for depression may influence epilepsy medications.
To sum all of the above up, depression and epilepsy may go hand-in-hand for some people. I am one of those people.
For me, my depression started occurring around the same time as my epilepsy, around age 16. Similar to my epilepsy, my depression comes and goes in different severity levels throughout the years. Sometimes, I don’t even notice it. Other times, it controls elements of my life, such as if I’m able to work a lot or how many activities I can do in one day.
Sometimes, both my depression and my epilepsy can be harder to deal with than they normally are and that’s okay. Throughout the years, I have learned how best to deal with flare-ups. Here is how I deal with them:
(1) I talk to my family, friends and loved ones: Making sure that my family, friends, and loved ones know about where my health is at is a very important factor. Having these conversations can be difficult! But they make sure that I am safe and that I get the time and resources needed for self care.
(2) I meet with my medical team: Sometimes, scheduling appointments can feel like a huge pain but I find that it is always well worth it to consult my medical team. My medical team includes my family physician/general practitioner, my neurologist, my counsellor, my chiropractor, and my registered massage therapist. Yes, those last two may seem like an odd necessities to have on the list, but I truly believe our bodies are all connected so this really helps me!
(3) I don’t feel bad for prioritizing my self-care: When I am dealing with flare-ups, I cut back work hours, cancel outings, and put focus into healing activities for myself such as exercise, meditation, and spending time outdoors. This is okay to do! I always go by the saying ‘you can’t fill anyone else’s cup if you have an empty water jug’.
How do you deal with flare ups? Let me know by emailing me at christine@bcepilepsy.com!
Christine Jamieson works for the BC Epilepsy Society as our Epilepsy Outreach & Education Worker and is a person living with epilepsy who holds the titles of Miss British Columbia 2018/2019 and Miss Canada 2019. Christine believes in impacting the world for the better and is a strong advocate for epilepsy and mental health.