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Non-Epileptic Seizures Related to Stress

Non-epileptic seizures manifest as a result of trauma and are the body's way of coping with intolerable distress. They are defined as non-epileptic because they are not caused by electrical disruptions in the brain, although they resemble epileptic seizures. Once referred to as pseudoseizures, this term has fallen out of favor because of its connotation. Non-epileptic seizures are not fake seizures and people experiencing them do not know they are non-epileptic events.

  1. Types and Causes

    • There are two types of non-epileptic seizures: physiologic and psychogenic. Physiologic non-epileptic seizures can be caused by a severe drop in blood sugar or blood pressure, reduced flow of oxygen or blood to the brain or changes in heart rhythm, while psychogenic non-epileptic seizures result from physical or emotional trauma -- physical or sexual abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce or other highly stressful events.

    Diagnosis

    • Because of their physical similarity to epileptic seizures, non-epileptic seizures can be difficult to diagnose. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that as many as 20 percent of patients evaluated at adult epilepsy centers experience non-epileptic seizures. When unsure of a diagnosis, doctors tend to err on the side of caution and prescribe anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) which do not relieve non-epileptic seizures and which do have side effects. People can experience both types of seizures. Non-epileptic seizure patients also can experience epileptic seizures, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. Many times doctors diagnose using EEG-video monitoring which takes place over time in order to capture a seizure taking place.

    Treatment

    • Once a non-epileptic seizure has been diagnosed, doctors prescribe counseling in order to find the cause of stress or trauma which results in this type of seizure. Counseling provides the foundation to ensure successful treatment for patients with non-epileptic seizures. If you think you have experienced any type of seizure, seek treatment so that a medical practitioner can diagnose the type and cause and recommend a treatment program for you.

    Characteristics

    • For the most part, seizures occur randomly and cannot be predicted. A person experiencing a seizure may display jerky movements, trembling, may not respond to sights or sounds, or may seem to have a far-away look. Seizures typically end in a few minutes and end on their own. Be aware that people often experience confusion after a seizure. The American Brain Tumor Association recommends that if you are present when someone is having a seizure that you remove any food or objects they may have in their mouth, get them on the ground (so they don't fall down or hurt themselves), and don't restrain their moving limbs. Call for emergency assistance if the person is having trouble breathing, injures himself, if the seizure lasts for five minutes or is followed by a second seizure, if the person is pregnant or has diabetes, or if the person feels ill after the seizure.

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