Can my seizures lead to a more serious mental illness?

Hello Roxane,

I hope that I will be able to reassure you about your question.

First, you should know that panic attacks are much more common than we think. The vast majority of people who experience or have experienced panic attacks do not develop serious mental disorders.

However, it is important to know that when we experience recurrent panic attacks, it can be caused by too much anxiety and/or stress, by emotions that are not fully "digested", or by problematic lifestyle habits, to name a few.

Sometimes panic attacks can be explained by a panic disorder, which is an anxiety disorder according to the DSM-5. This is a disorder that psychologists and other mental health professionals are accustomed to treating in a psychotherapy setting

You should also know that it is common when we experience panic attacks to have certain thoughts such as fear of "going crazy" or "losing control", which do not happen. When the necessary changes are put in place and help is sought, panic attacks become less frequent, less intense, and eventually non-existent.

With that, I hope you find my response helpful. You are welcome to reply to this message if you wish to continue the conversation.