Neurologist and Epileptologist Dr Lisa Gillinder says that a widespread lack of understanding about what epilepsy is, and how it presents, can stop people from seeking help and, ultimately, stand in the way of diagnosis.
“Epilepsy can generate basically any symptom you could think of, taking the form of any function or malfunction of the brain’s usual activity. The things people experience can be bizarre – they might even feel very embarrassed by them and be reluctant to seek medical care.
“Many times in the clinic, I’ve had patients say to me, ‘please don’t think I’m crazy, but when I have my seizure, I think I can predict the future’. Believe it or not, that’s not unusual at all during a temporal lobe seizure.
“But for a person to experience that and not know what it is – the fear of being judged for saying something that could be construed as ‘crazy’ – can be difficult to overcome.
“There isn’t always a broader recognition in the community that seizures come in forms other than convulsions.
“Things like out of body experiences, changes to the perception of reality, or what we call derealisation, where you feel like things around you are not normal, unusual body sensations, alterations to vision, hearing or speech, or unusual behaviours or motor movements are all potential seizure symptoms. In some cases, these symptoms can be misdiagnosed as anxiety or panic disorders, behavioural or psychiatric issues, or other medical issues.
“Sadly, I’ve seen cases where people have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder rather than epilepsy.
“So, if you’re having unusual episodic neurologic symptoms, even if you maintain awareness through it and even if you are having no physical manifestations, that could still potentially be a seizure and you should discuss it with your doctor.”
Have questions? Reach out to the Living Well team on 1300 852 853.
