In Canada, it is estimated that 0.6% of people are diagnosed with epilepsy every day; that is 42 people per day. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects people of all ages and is characterized by unpredictable seizures. Epilepsy is a spectrum condition with a wide range of seizure types that vary between individuals but can also cause other health issues.
Unprovoked seizures can severely impact the quality of your life and those experiencing epilepsy can impact your ability to perform everyday tasks. Even after a seizure, there is sometimes an emotional impact that can leave patients with anxiety, depression or low self-esteem.
The government of Canada recognizes epilepsy as a disorder that causes neurological impairments and recognizes that working with a neurological impairment such as epilepsy can make assigned tasks additionally challenging.
In Canada, if you or someone you care for has epilepsy, you may qualify for The Canadian Disability tax credit, where you can receive financial relief to help support with treatment and testing.
Offered through the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canadian government does provide a person with epilepsy assistance by applying for The Canadian Disability Tax Credit which is determined on a per-case basis but can help an individual with epilepsy with financial support for up to $35,000.
Qualifications for a disability are determined by two factors:
Being a person with a disability and not able to perform basic tasks in your daily life
Coping with a slowed disability, meaning it can take you longer to perform daily tasks
Both are eligible for benefits and both qualify to receive up to the same amount of benefits.
The compensation works with a percentage of the benefit offered by the federal government and another percentage offered by the provincial coverage, which means that coverage from each province may vary.
How Does a Person With Epilepsy Qualify for The Canadian Disability Tax Credit?
In order to qualify for the Canadian Disability Tax credit you must:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Showcase that either you cope with a prolonged impairment, marked restriction, have two or more significant restrictions, or are dependent upon life-sustaining therapy
In order to apply for this Tax Benefit, you must fill out and submit a DTC certificate or T2201 to the CRA. The CRA recommends that individuals prepare for an average application to take 3-9 months to process depending on the time of year, processing centre location and the complexity of your application. In order to certify the Disability Tax Credit, the CRA requires a signature from your medical practitioner. Once your application is certified by your doctor, you are then able to submit it to the CRA.
If you suffer from epilepsy, treatment is often an ongoing and vigilant process. One that requires patience, persistence and a bit of education in order to build a treatment plan that is designed to work for you. With epilepsy, you may find emotional symptoms arise as a result of the disorder including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and feelings of shame.
The unpredictability of epilepsy naturally creates stress and fear in individuals and is sometimes paired with a societal stigma that says individuals with epilepsy should go “back to normal” after a seizure or an episode.
Emotional stress and anxiety can trigger seizures in people with anxiety and higher levels of anxiety can be more damaging to the individual and can also be the trigger for more seizures. Dealing with negative emotions and thoughts related to epilepsy is a part of treatment that can substantially improve a patient's perspective and increase their overall well being while helping to manage their disorder. Managing stress and anxiety can not only help lower the number of seizures and help individuals lead healthier, more stress-free lives.
What Are Some Treatment Options for People With Epilepsy?
If you are suffering from anxiety, depression or low self-esteem because of your epilepsy, together we can work on:
Controlling or decreasing negative thoughts - if your anxiety is leading you to ruminate or you find yourself cycling through negative thoughts, therapy can help you identify these thoughts, question whether or not it is helpful and help you control and manage these thoughts so that they are not intrusive to your well being.
A Healthy Routine - A healthy sleep and meal schedule can surprisingly work wonders for your personal and emotional well being. At the end of the day, your body needs as much care as your mind, and when we can nurture both to the best of our ability, it helps us develop a healthy foundation for healing. Issues like brain fog, and concentration can be side effects of not getting enough sleep or nutrition and can make anxiety and depression worse.
Journaling - Journaling is not only a great way to track your progress but to also manage your thoughts. Writing can often be an outlet for many people to release their thoughts and is a stepping stone towards acknowledging them and letting them go.
Final Thoughts
As we each have individual needs, treatment options for managing epilepsy may vary from person to person, with each treatment aimed at helping individuals lead healthy, happy lives.
We’d love to help you get to your best self. At Sana Counselling, we offer both online and in-person counselling options. If you would like to explore the option of counselling with a focus on somatic counselling approaches to help you manage your epilepsy, we offer a free consultation to assess your needs.
If you’re looking for epilepsy therapy, do not hesitate to reach out to us to see what works best for you. Book a consultation with us when you’re ready.