Adjusting your life style can be the most effective management tip or tool
Bright, Flashing or Flouroscent lights
Avoid discos, strobe lights or flashing bulbs on holiday decorations.
Focus on distant objects when riding in a car to avoid flickering lights or patterns.
Use polarized or tinted glasses.
Use natural lighting when indoors.
Sleep
Avoid alcohol and nicotine prior to sleep.
Limit working or studying late at night. Stop work at least one hour before bedtime to allow time to relax.
Limit naps and don't nap in the early evening.
If anxious or worried, talk to someone or write down your feelings before going to sleep. Put this away and deal with these worries or concerns in the morning.
If you can't fall asleep within 15 minutes get up and do something else for 15 minutes. Then go back to bed and try again. Don't toss and turn in bed all night.
Try relaxation exercises before bedtime.
Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Try counseling to help cope with seizures or other problems.
Consider support groups for epilepsy, or groups for stress management, therapy, and other support.
Write down feelings in a diary on a regular basis. It helps you get feelings out, rather than hold them in, and can help you see the issues more clearly.
Learn relaxation exercises, deep breathing, yoga, or other strategies that help with stress and general well-being.
Exercise and Hyperventilation
Pace your exercise to avoid hyperventilation or getting too tired.
Avoid exercising in the middle of the day during hot weather.
Stay well hydrated.
Ask your health care team about any specific exercises to avoid.
Try relaxation or slow breathing exercises when anxious or if you begin to hyperventilate.
Pace your activity and avoid sports that may trigger hyperventilation.
Illness, Fever, Trauma
Stay well hydrated when you're sick. If you can't hold down food, fluids or pills, talk to your care team about medicine to help you stop vomiting and take your pills.
If you are on a diet for epilepsy, make sure you know how to manage your diet on sick days.
Diet
Talk to your primary care doctor too to make sure there's not a medical problem contributing to food sensitivities and seizures.
Have a well-balanced diet and eat at consistent times to avoid long periods without food.
Safety while sleeping
Make sure you religiously take seizure medications the way your health care provider has recommended.
Tell your doctor if you have problems falling asleep or waking up a lot. You may be having seizures at night, a sleep disorder, or problems with your mood. Not sleeping well at night can worsen seizure control for many people.
If seizures tend to occur only during sleep, ask your health care team if the times you take seizure medicines should be changed. For example, sometimes taking the larger dose or all of the medicine at night may help.