Resources:
Epilepsy
The following are resources for patients with epilepsy. It is compiled for patients in British Columbia, and was assembled by Christopher Benjamin, PhD.
✅ General information
Self-management: Learn strategies to take control of your health and cope with daily life with online resources form the Managing Epilepsy Well network.
Learn about epilepsy. People can have a single seizure for many reasons. Generally, if you have multiple seizures you have epilepsy. The BC Epilepsy Society has extensive information about seizure types, safety, medical testing, etc.
Podcast: A free series on living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy Expert Seminars: A series of lectures on key topics in epilepsy, courtesy of the BC Epilepsy Society.
🧠 Memory support
HOBSCOTCH is a 1:1 weekly program offered to help you learn strategies to improve your memory.
It is available via the BC Epilepsy Foundation.
More details are available from the HOBSCOTCH website at Dartmouth.
🧑🤝🧑 Support groups
Online forums: a list maintained by the BC Epilepsy Society.
Peer support: In-person and virtual support groups exist in BC for people with epilepsy, their parents, and families, courtesy of the BC Epilepsy Society.
🧠 Substances
Evidence clearly demonstrates that long-term (and short-term) marijuana or alcohol use can lead to memory impairment, even if the user does not feel this is the case.
Free substance use clinic: The Rapid Access Clinic in Vancouver (604 806 8867) will help you evaluate and, if necessary, treat substance use
💤 Sleep
Healthy sleep is essential for good memory. It is important to have a good sleep routine. When you exercise you sleep more heavily. If you snore, a sleep study can help rule out sleep apnea which can impact your ability to pay attention and think quickly.
CDC sleep guidelines (US).
🏃 Exercise
Exercise is one of the few things proven to improve the clarity of your thinking, your sleep, and may delay the onset of dementia. If you have concerns about exercise safety, message your neurologist to ask.
🧘 Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness exercises help decrease anxiety, and may also improve attention. An in person meditation group is best, but many good apps also exit.
UCLA Mindful app (apple) (google play): A large number of applications exist to introduce to meditation. This is a free introduction.
👶 Pregnancy and parenting
If you could, unintentionally or intentionally, become pregnant it is essential to discuss this with your neurologist. Some seizure medications may impact a foetus. The child of a person with seizures is typically not at greater risk of seizures than other people. Ask your neurologist.
All parents can improve. The ‘Circle of Security’ is an inexpensive, simple, evidence-based parenting program that can be done virtually.
Circle of Security. You can find an overview video on the right. A list of facilitators is on their website; a large number of Canadian and US facilitators offer the course virtually.
💬 Therapy and mood
Depression and low mood are extremely common in epilepsy, as are difficulties with adjusting to epilepsy – the fear of seizures occurring at any time, and concerns about stigma.
Wellness program (BC): 1:1 counselling for individuals with epilepsy in BC offered by the BC Epilepsy Society
Project Uplift is an online course for individuals with epilepsy focused on improving your mood. It is also being offered through the BC Epilepsy Society.
Counseling BC offers a list of counsellors in British Columbia.
🫱🫲 Caregiver resources
Peer support: In-person and virtual support groups exist for family and friends of people suffering from epilepsy (BC Epilepsy Society).
Mood: project uplift for caregivers (BC). A free 8 week skill-building program for caregivers focused on helping manage stress.