I know I post a lot on here but I am having deja vu episodes very regularly and I am so scared. Does anxiety cause this? Does anyone else get this?
I have had this frequently for years and had tests for all sorts which have come back ok but what causes Deja Vu? Can someone describe exactly how it feels for them?
I have read so much about seizures and epilepsy but this has been happening for as long as I can remember so would i not have had a fit by now?
hey jonathon have you ever see a neurologist and had an EEG test done?
jonathan, ive had déjà vu also for years. I will get random thoughts like I’ve done this before, they just pop into my head. I also get random weird memories from a long time ago that just pop in or random things somebody said along time ago without even thinking about it. I get random words just pop in my head. it’s very strange and I know exactly how it feels. But I don’t have seizures, I’ve been tested and everything is OK. The one thing that makes it worse is anxiety. When I completely let go and stop focusing and worrying about it, it dies way down. are you keeping busy enough? The worst thing you can do is sit around and think about this it will increase your anxiety and the déjà vu. See if you can make an appointment with a therapist who specializes in anxiety. and Randy had a good idea. Visit a neurologist. But first write down all of your questions and concerns.. and yes, anxiety and stress can definitely cause this because that’s what it did to me. And many other people. We just don’t hear about how many people go through this. You need to take care of yourself and not let fear take you over. Don’t stay caught in the loop of fear and you need to break it. I wasted years of my life with worry and fear and nothing bad ever happened. I got tired of my mind being tortured with fear so one day I just let it all go. everything calmed down and when I got any negative thoughts I quickly put it out of my mind and got busy. Do things that relax you . ❤
yes i have and all clear
Hi Jan, Your posts are really helpful and I do definately take all your advice on board which i really appreciate. I think where I am struggling is still to come to terms with it only being anxiety and although I have had all previous tests and all come back clear I am still clinging on to this epilepsy/seizure thing. As everytime these feelings wash over me I keep thinking this sis not normal and must be a focal seizure with no impaired awareness.
Hi Jan I do really appreciate all the advice that you have given to me and I do listen to you. I am just struggling with the fact that although my tests have come back clear everytime these feelings wash over me I keep thinking this cannot be anxiety and it is a focal seizure without impaired awareness as my symptoms match identical
I know exactly what you’re talking about because I allowed my thoughts to become my “reality“. It wasn’t until I learned that my thoughts about What I was going through were not based on fact or reality that I finally could let them go. of course sometimes I still will get a negative thought but it’s how you deal with it that matters . I basically acknowledge the thought for a few seconds then I say “this is a negative brain message not based on reality. It’s an example of catastrophic thinking. I don’t have time for this.“ then I immediately think of something positive or go do something. I do it each and every time and persistence is important. Eventually the brain will take over and eliminate the negative thought. when we have a pattern of negative thinking for years, it actually forms a groove in the brain where we automatically go. I’m not talking about a physical groove but a groove of negativity of thought. That’s why it’s sometimes hard to climb out of it. but with persistence it can be reversed ! ❤
It is just that these symptoms are so real and so much like epilepsy auras before a full seizure.
This taken from a reliable epilepsy website.
Focal aware seizures that start in the temporal lobe may include:
a ‘rising’ feeling in the stomach (like the feeling you get on a fairground ride where you 'leave your tummy at the top') deja vu (feeling like you've 'been here before') getting an unusual smell or taste a sudden intense feeling of fear or joy.
only advice i can give is if you truly feel its something more keep looking and pushing doctors to look further. people here will always tell you its just anxiety because its an anxiety website. unless you had an episode on the EEG it can be missed i have personal experience with it i have epilepsy and everyone on this site told me it was anxiety i knew it wasnt. not saying that anxiety isnt real or people dont have real issues with it because it is a real problem but sometimes its not just anxiety. keep looking into it until youre satisfied with it take what people say with a grain of salt including what im saying.
omg i am so worried now. so you think its epilepsy? sorry to ask what are your symptoms?
to ease your mind epilepsy is easily controlled these days... you should follow up with you doctor. All i can tell you is dont listen to what random people tell you on the internet im sure they have good intentions but there are times when in its not anxiety. if you truly feel its more than that get checked out im not a doctor i cant tell you one way or the other and i dont think others should be so quick to tell someone its not anxiety it could delay a diagnosis or someone from trying to figure out whats wrong with them. good luck to you and i hope its just anxiety youre going through.
so i have just spoken to my private neurologist and he responded with this to me.
Hi Jonathan The symptoms you describe are definitely not consistent with any form of seizure, neither a simple partial, focal seizure or generalised seizure. These symptoms are function and are caused by anxiety. If you are not happy with this information I advise you to see someone else for a second opinion, but I am aware also that I am not the only neurologist who has seen you before. This is really not a seizure. You do not have a form of epilepsy.
Your comment is also not entirely correct that you are aware and alert through seizures. This only happens with so-called simple-focal seizures where you have twitching and moving of some body parts. The symptoms you describe are very different and really there is no reason to be concerned.
May i ask Jonathan why you do not believe the writings of your neurologist?
You definitely are experiencing physical symptoms, there's no doubt about that and this could be anxiety or something non epilepsy related so you could ask your doctor if there's any else that may contribute to the feelings and symptoms. But the more you read, watch videos about epilepsy, the more this will build your fear of getting it. To the point that no amount of asking for help will ever actually help you because you've already set your mind on it.
I know it's scary truly i do, the potential for some unseen for to ruin or take your life. But these are things we cannot control. You're not living your life by getting consumed with fear. I get it, I've been there thinking i must have something seriously wrong with me.
Please speak to doctors as much as you need, talk to therapists but don't keep reading and watching things on epilepsy. Its only feeding your own personal hell.
Hi Caz, Thank you for the message. It is not that i dont believe the neurologist but then you get people like Randy who posted this below.
(unless you had an episode on the EEG it can be missed i have personal experience with it i have epilepsy and everyone on this site told me it was anxiety i knew it wasnt. not saying that anxiety isnt real or people dont have real issues with it because it is a real problem but sometimes its not just anxiety)
This is why I am now panicking even more.
True but then Randy also said "take what people say with a grain of salt including what im saying".
Randy shared their personal experience. One size doesn't fit all. As Randy said, if you really do not feel satisfied with the results by your Neurologist or present tests ran, ask your doctor for a second referral or of there could be anything other than anxiety causing it. Listen to the advice of your medical professional. Write a daily symptom/time diary to track your experiences to share with them. Although costly you could even invest in a smartwatch designed to help detect if you're having seizures.
But i guarantee you that constantly reading epilepsy sites and watching videos will only make it worse for you in your present mental state.
I have had and seen two neurologists and many doctors and had tests. The neurologist I did see was private and was well recommended and he said it was not seizures.
Do i take his opinion or people like Randy?
With no disrespect to Randy, their situation isn't your situation. If multiple doctors and neurologists have told you it isn't epilepsy, I'd take their opinions.
Time to start looking at different ways to manage your symptoms.
agreed.. ive just not had the best of luck with all this and if i can help prevent anyone from going through what i did i will. if youve got two specialists telling you youre fine then youre probably fine. my situation isnt yours and may just be a one off... but i still say if you feel its something more dont give up. to answer your question from an earlier post my symptoms were as followed: one day i woke up lightheaded and off balance with fatigue, panic attacks, anxiety among other less bothersome things, it was there 24/7, this lasted for 6 months or so, then i developed insmonia bad, all symptoms were still there AD's made it worse. then finally last month i was diagnosed.
Randy - Absolutely that's what the forum is for to share experiences and it sucks you had those issues but as you said, at the end of the day you need to be persistent with doctors if you still have concerns.
In your case, this did conclude with a diagnosis which hopefully you are managing now. But as you've also said, there's a limited amount this forum can do and the members of this group can only give advice based on the information given...in this case it sounds like a number of drs and specialists have verified in Jonathans situation epilepsy is not the cause.
Jonathan - as i say i would return to the dr, ask them what treatment options they recommend to help you manage this and if worried check what ELSE other than anxiety or epilepsy it might be. If they advise the clinical diagnosis as anxiety, ask them for a specific treatment plan to follow.
hi randy i am very sorry to hear this. could i ask you a couple of questions and sorry if i am being cheeky and you can tell me get lost but
firstly mind me asking your age?
also what type of epilepsy do you have or have been diagnosed with?
do you have tonic clonic seizures?