For most alternative therapies, we unfortunately do not know if the therapy is helpful, harmful, or simply ineffective. The majority of adults with epilepsy believe that stress can provoke a seizure. Because stress can alter brain chemistry and electrical activity and disrupt normal sleep, it is possible that stress can worsen epilepsy in susceptible individuals. Stress can also cause a person to breathe rapidly, or hyperventilate. Some persons with epilepsy, especially those with absence seizures, are more likely to have seizures when they hyperventilate.
Relaxation therapy involves a variety of strategies designed to reduce stress and foster relaxation.
Breathing maneuvers, hypnosis, and other techniques can be used in relaxation therapy. Biofeedback involves learning to control bodily functions that are usually not under voluntary control. One can learn to control these functions by providing information about them to conscious awareness. For example, the heart rate can be modified by listening to a beep every time one's heart beats and concentrating on lowering or raising the heart rate. Similarly, biofeedback can be used for relaxation by concentrating on lowering the tension in the facial muscles or breathing at a slower rate.