Managing Epilepsy - Anxiety and Depression

A personal observation by Wayne A Roberts

Anxiety and Depression

Whilst considering and formulating ideas and subject matter for this series of articles I am confronted with many anxieties. Am I good enough? Do I have enough experience on the subject matter? Is my opinion objective and unbiased? Am I making my point clearly and relating the information contained within in a relative form? Whilst these concerns are both normal and daunting they drive what we commonly know as anxieties from deep within. It’s only through personal analysis that I don’t allow them to overwhelm me and inturn I am inspired with the drive to compete the subjective project. What are these anxieties and what if any functions do they have?

If I attempt to determine exactly what it is that I am anxious about (naming or labelling the emotions and feelings that surround the issue) then perhaps I am just nullifying or negating the issues. These anxieties are not necessarily irrational thought forms but more reservations of my capabilities and performance in attempting to create an awareness or point of view in a field of which I have no formal training in an attempt to be taken seriously. In other words, will I be judged by peers of higher educational standards and will they attempt to demean or denigrate my words as fraudulent and misleading.

So what is anxiety? Certainly not just a simplex concern about what could be interpreted as irrational fears. For example, someone recently diagnosed with epilepsy has every right to be anxious and depressed. At the same time a feeling of relief and/or elation in diagnosis of the cause of seizure activity being realized would be present. (The double edged sword principle. Elation followed by fear of the unknown). These responses can be both consciously or sub-consciously driven and in stating this the real definition of anxiety (a major driving force in depression) begins to become clear. The notion of premonition also captures the essence of anxiety, as it infers a certain feeling of dread or loss. In addition it places the experience of the sufferer feeling it, as emotional trauma is of a bodily state as well as psychological (i.e. rapid or increased heart rate, butterflies in the pit of your stomach, a feeling of unwellness or other such sensations)

Dr Sigmund Freud’s analysis poses an interesting point of view and is worth considering in the Management and understanding of epilepsy and the anxieties and depression associated with it. Increases in instinctual anxiety or tensions without any discharge gives rise to unpleasant or depressive experiences, whilst discharge in some form reducing the build up of instinctual tension to regain an acceptable balance results in a more pleasurable result.

For example, a newly diagnosed sufferer of epilepsy is exposed to these types of instinctual tensions. As an individual with little or limited understanding of how this condition is affecting them and will continue to do so in the future they will sub consciously allow these tensions and anxieties to build (often into abhorrent levels) resulting in severe depressive bouts. The uncertainty and fear becomes the driving force and it’s not uncommon for imaginary forces to run wild based on limited factual information gained about one’s condition. Most sufferers feel this and continue to ride this roller coaster whilst dealing with the substantial changes they are faced with on a daily basis brought about by the diagnosis and continuing parables thrown at them by their condition and its affect on their day to day living.

It is through group discussion, self awareness and self education that you can begin to break down these anxieties and begin to manage your condition on a psychological level. Groups such as The Australian Epilepsy Support Group have been formed for such a purpose. Confronting these fears and anxieties and open, honest discussion with other sufferers often leads to the elated release of these associated tensions and in turn affect a return to the equilibrium or balance that I spoke of earlier. If no release is sought then more often than not the tensions and anxieties will fester and in turn bring about severe depressive bouts.

Depressive anxiety is a dangerous and powerful condition interfering with the free and expressive thought of an individual and his/her experiences of the outside world. These types of fears are generally based on retaliation, a feeling of persecution and a sense of helplessness. Whilst depressive anxiety involves tensions created in ones mind involving the loss of love for ones self the qualities defined in this anxiety are different from those expressed in self persecutory anxiety (‘poor me’). They also form the basis for such emotions as tenderness, empathy, and a sense of good will or well being. Basically what this involves is taking responsibility for one’s own feelings and their consequences (in other words “owning the condition and all it encompasses). Therefore the capacity to deal with depressive anxiety becomes a major achievement in your developmental journey towards maturity, self awareness and the successful management of your condition.

In closing I would like to add that many achievements both personal and on a world wide scale are thought to be related to a need to make a contribution in some way, generally arising from a repressed need or concern, thus demonstrating how anxiety not only stimulates development, but is a factual and day to day occurrence that every living creature deals with.

Yours faithfully

Wayne A Roberts

Wednesday, 18 January 2006

Australian Epilepsy Support Group

Australian Epilepsy Support Group Support and advise for people coping with epilepsy, dealing with government departments (Centrelink, SSAT, etc)

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Managing Epilepsy - Depression and Epilepsy

A personal observation by Wayne A Roberts. my ten cents worth.

Managing Epilepsy - Anxiety and Depression

Managing Epilepsy - Anxiety and Depression. A personal observation by Wayne A Roberts