Sometimes you may become aware that specific events or circumstances can set off or “trigger” your seizures. These are usually called seizure triggers.
A seizure trigger is anything that makes a seizure more likely to happen in someone who already has epilepsy. Triggers don’t cause epilepsy, but recognising them can help you reduce risk and improve seizure control.
Triggers for seizures are not the same as the cause for your epilepsy. Triggers change the likelihood of a seizure. Causes explain why a person has epilepsy. Causes of epilepsy include things such as structural damage to the brain from events like a stroke or head injury, genetics, brain infections or tumours. A lot of the time, a cause of epilepsy cannot be determined.
Triggers differ from person to person. Identifying your seizure triggers can help you to reduce or even avoid seizures.
Common seizure triggers
Some reported seizure triggers include:
Lifestyle triggers
- Lack of sleep, physical exhaustion, stress, excitement, emotional upset, alcohol, illicit drugs.
Health‑related triggers
- Illness, fever, hormonal changes (including menstruation), dehydration, overheating.
Medication‑related triggers
- Missed doses, late doses, interactions with other medications.
Environmental triggers
- Flickering lights, geometric patterns, long gaming sessions, heat exposure.
Individual triggers
- Specific times of day, waking up, particular activities, sensory overload.
Triggers often cumulate or combine. For example, stress can affect sleep, and poor sleep can increase fatigue, or, drinking alcohol can be associated with late nights, poor sleep and missed medication — both situations creating a higher likelihood of a seizure.
Not everyone has identifiable triggers – and that’s completely normal. Some seizures happen without any clear warning or pattern.
What are your seizure triggers?
What are your If you’re not sure the best way to find out is to keep a diary of not only your seizures, but the circumstances around your seizures. Document things such as:
- what to record – note things like if you were unwell, feeling stressed, drinking alcohol, had just woken up, not slept well, or having your period.
- how long to track – keep notes for at least 3-6 months to see patterns.
- what patterns to look for –
- seizures after waking
- seizures during sleep
- seizures during illness
- seizures around menstruation
- seizures after late nights
- seizures during periods of high stress
- seizures after drinking alcohol
- seizures during growth spurts (for children and young people)
- Share your diary with your treating doctor or epilepsy nurse – it can help guide treatment decisions.
Click here to request one of our hardcopy Seizure Diaries
Reducing your exposure
If you have an idea what your seizure triggers might be, then you can work on reducing your exposure to these triggers, such as:
- build a regular sleep routine
- use reminders for medication
- manage stress with simple strategies
- plan rest during busy periods
- avoid alcohol or reduce intake
- take breaks during screen‑based activities
- stay hydrated and avoid overheating
- talk to your doctor about medication interactions
Some triggers – like illness, hormonal changes, or stress – can’t always be avoided. Focus on what you can control, and talk to your doctor if you notice a pattern that worries you.
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