Epilepsy is a condition that causes an electrical disturbance in the firing of the neurons in the brain, resulting in strange behaviors, sensations and convulsions. For the millions of Americans--children and adults alike--diagnosed with this condition, though, the effects of epilepsy go beyond the physical aspects of the seizures themselves.
Thinking and Memory
Epilepsy can alter your memory and change the way you think. Before your diagnosis, you may have spoken with eloquence, and had a memory so grand that you laughed at the mere thought of post-it notes. However, over time, the seizures can rob you of both. Epilepsy.com states that problems with thinking appear to affect those diagnosed with partial-onset seizures, or seizures that occur in one area of the brain, primarily the temporal lobe. This does not rule out the chance that people diagnosed with other types of seizures may be affected as well.
Seizures have an effect on the ability to think properly because they cause a disruption in a particular area of the brain responsible for a certain function. For instance, if a seizure occurs repeatedly in the area responsible for language, you will have difficulty naming an object when you see it. Since seizures can also stop communication between different areas of the brain, they can also prevent you from naming an object you already know.
As for memory, seizures affect the same area of the brain as gets affected in Alzheimer's patients--the hippocampus. This is the area where new information is received and stored for a short time. When seizures recur, and are either left untreated or a treatment is not successful, the hippocampus is slowly destroyed, hardening and shrinking over time. This makes it difficult for stored information to be retrieved when needed.
Mood and Emotions
Persons with epilepsy may experience moments of depression and sadness, according to Epilepsy Action Australia. This may be due to a loss of independence due to the inability to drive or frequency of seizures. These negative moods may also occur if multiple medications have been prescribed to help control the condition, but have been unsuccessful in doing so.
Anxiety is another common emotion with epilepsy--this may be due to worrying about the possibility of having another seizure and knowing it cannot be controlled. Irritability may be felt as well, and may be a side effect of anti-seizure medication.
Changes in mood are also common and have a completely different set of causes. Epilepsy Action of Australia states that mood changes may be due to an on-coming seizure, or may be the after-effect of the seizure itself. Societal myths about epilepsy and the often negative reactions of others when a seizure takes can also play a large role in a sufferer's mood change.
Physical Effects
Aside from the possible loss of memory and inhibited ability to think properly, persons with epilepsy may experience numerous physical effects of epilepsy. The physical effects will vary according to the seizure type one is diagnosed with.
Some experience an aura, or warning, just prior to a seizure taking place. Epilepsy.com states that each aura varies according to each person, and may occur minutes or hours before the actual seizure occurs. In some cases, the physical feeling is unpleasant, such as nausea or a headache; however, it gives a person with epilepsy time to prepare for a seizure, thus avoiding injury.
During a seizure, a sufferer may bite the inside of the cheek or the tongue, or may fall and get injured.
After a seizure has ended, it is common to suffer from muscular fatigue and even have muscular pain from the stiffening of the body. Headaches are a common sign as well, along with extreme fatigue and the need to sleep.
