What can trigger further attacks?

‘Triggers’ is a term used to describe something that brings on individual attacks within seconds to hours.

About four out of five people who experience NEA are aware of triggers for (at least some) of their attacks. Triggers may involve:

• Emotions. NEAs are most commonly triggered by emotions such as feeling stressed, upset or anxious.

• Bodily sensations. Physical symptoms can also trigger attacks (such as feeling ill, having lost sleep, or feeling exhausted).

• Sensations. A smaller number of people are aware of external attack triggers such as crowded places, flashing lights or other visual impressions.

• Experiences. NEAs can also be triggered by experiences such as epileptic seizures, faints, undergoing general anaesthesia (or waking from the anaesthetic) and dental procedures.

Find out what factors can make attacks continue once they have started

Read more about why the attacks have not stopped