Self-Management of Seizures
What is self-management of seizures?
Self-management in epilepsy means the all of the steps needed to manage seizures and the effects on your daily life. It doesn’t mean you manage epilepsy by yourself. Seizure management needs teamwork between members of your healthcare team, your family, and you. Consider the roles of everyone involved:
- The doctor and healthcare team brings the medical help to diagnose and treat seizures.
- You (and your family) bring your voices and experiences – information you have helps the medical team make the right diagnosis, recommend tests or treatments, and refer you to other providers or resources that may help you.
- You must live with the seizures, today and every day. How epilepsy affects you and your family will influence what recommendations your doctor makes and what choices you make.
- Together, you must decide what your goals are and make a plan on how to reach these goals.
- Then you and your family must get the information, learn the 'how to' skills, and find the right resources and supports to make it all work for you.
Why is epilepsy self-management important?
Self-management stresses critical self-management concepts that the Epilepsy Foundation's website is built on – information, community and empowerment. We strive to put these concepts into action – empowering people to be ‘in charge’, take action, so no one faces epilepsy alone.
Right now, too many people live with uncontrolled seizures and side effects. Seizures can disrupt a person’s daily life in so many ways. While most seizures are not dangerous, sometimes emergency situations occur that can cause serious harm. While treatment can help many people, it often takes too long to find the right one and then learn how to take it properly.
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Working with Your Healthcare TeamWhat does being a good manager of epilepsy look like?
Being a good manager can be affected by a number of things such as:
- How confident you feel in your ability to manage seizures
- How satisfied you are with your care and team
- Your ability to talk with your healthcare team
- Support from family and friends
- Your mood
- Feeling ‘in control’ and working together to set realistic goals and plans
How can self-management skills help?
Some examples of how learning self-management skills and resources may help you include:
- Talk to your healthcare team and others more easily.
- Keep track of treatments used to manage your seizures.
- Develop an individualized plan for seizure first aid.
- Know when to intervene to prevent seizure emergencies.
- Teach other people how to respond to your seizures appropriately.
- Stay safe in different situations.
- Modify my lifestyle and environment to lessen seizure triggers.
- Have a healthy lifestyle.
- Recognize and manage other conditions associated with epilepsy more easily.
- Recognize how epilepsy is affecting my life and what I can do to address these.
What are self-management programs?
Self-management programs help participants learn more about their condition. They teach people proven skills to improve their ability to manage their health. Self-management programs can help participants:
- Follow their medication schedule
- Reduce their stress or depressive symptoms
- Help better communicate with healthcare providers
Participants set goals, develop action plans, and learn skills to manage their condition using structured planning and feedback exercises. Your healthcare team may recommend a program to help.
Resources
Epilepsy Centers
Epilepsy centers provide you with a team of specialists to help you diagnose your epilepsy and explore treatment options.
Epilepsy Medication
Find in-depth information on anti-seizure medications so you know what to ask your doctor.
Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline
Call our Epilepsy and Seizures Helpline and talk with an epilepsy information specialist or submit a question online.
Tools & Resources
Get information, tips, and more to help you manage your epilepsy.
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