The holidays are a time for fun, enjoyment, and spending time with family and friends. For those people with epilepsy, the holiday season can be quite challenging. Learning how to celebrate during the holidays without causing seizures is important. In this blog, we will be discussing useful tips that epilepsy patients can use when celebrating the festive season to avoid a seizure.
What is epilepsy? How can it be triggered?
Epilepsy is a chronic central nervous system disorder that gives rise to seizures that can be recurrent. These recurrent seizures can be different in intensity and frequency, which requires people to know the kinds of triggers they have. People with epilepsy may have an increased risk of having seizures during the holidays due to some of the common triggers like:
- Stress: The holiday season tends to increase people’s anxiety because of family gatherings or any family stress from traveling and changes in regular schedules. Stress is a consistent seizure trigger; thus, dealing with it properly is crucial.
- Lack of Sleep: Staying up late or waking up early affects sleep, leading to sleep-related fatigue that expresses itself in seizures.
- Flashing lights: Colorful lights are attractive, but too many people use them in parties and holidays, and some are so sensitive to light that it might trigger a seizure.
- Often during holidays, family and friends celebrate special occasions by toasting with alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can have an adverse effect on medications for seizures and increase the chance of a seizure occurring.
Precautions during the festive periods can avoid an enchanting experience turning tragic for those with epilepsy.
Some suggestions that can be useful include;
- Enhance the Quality of Care Provided to Self
In the holiday season, there might be a lot of guests with lots of food and beverages to prepare, which is why self-care can be neglected, but it shouldn’t. You should always take care of yourself by:
- Sleeping Properly: High standards of energy are required when engaging in a busy day; therefore, getting enough sleep each night should help reduce fatigue.
- Finding Ways to Relax: Although a lot is happening during the holidays, it is a good time to just practice some mindfulness activities like yoga or meditation.
- Set Time and Be Ready
The statement that “if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail” applies here; if there is a lot of preparation and planning, there is a better chance of managing awful surprises like a seizure.
- Create a Plan for Seizures (SAP): Make a list and elaborate on plans to cover every action in case a seizure occurs, including emergency contacts and first aid procedures. Share this plan with family and friends attending the events where these seizures may occur.
- Travel Readiness: When traveling, whether for business or leisure vacations, people must carry enough medication for the duration they are meant to be away plus some extra for any delays. It is also advisable to keep the medications in the handbag for simple reach.
- Say What You Are Looking For
Good communication with family or friends can always be useful.
- Reiterate nutrition: It is always beneficial to tell the people hosting you about your nutrition needs. Bringing your food can guarantee you have safe options available.
- Explain Triggers: It is always helpful to the people around you to know the particular issues that trigger you so that they can help you in making the place comfortable.
- Adapt to the Circumstances
It is important to highlight that flexibility is essential during the holidays.
- Be Ready to Reconsider Plans: If you get to a point where you’re about to get tired or you feel overwhelmed, it is okay to walk away or skip some activities.
- Suggest Online Events: If going out with friends becomes too overwhelming, it is fair to suggest online events in place of physical ones.
- Control Social Situations
These social events can be daunting, but they should also be achievable.
- Encourage Smaller Organised Get-togethers: Smaller gatherings seem to provide a better and more relaxed environment than large parties.
- Encourage Limitations on Alcohol: If you have to drink, then only drink moderately, and try not to let alcohol interfere with any medication you’re taking.
Don’t forget to enjoy the festive spirit! Happy holidays.
Conclusion
We should celebrate Christmas fully, without excluding people with epilepsy. By being aware of possible triggers, as well as utilizing straightforward measures for self-care and communication, these individuals with epilepsy can remain worry-free while actively celebrating the holidays. The use of planners, flexibility, and family support will be crucial during the celebration of the holiday times.
During the festivities of the season, let’s make memories that we will hold dear for years to come while remembering not to compromise our health. Season’s greetings!
