Non-Epileptic Seizures: What You Need to Know
Read about what causes them and treatment methods.
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Chris Brown and His Seizure - Controversial Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Chris Brown recently suffered a non-epileptic seizure while in the studio recording music. While we often link seizures to epilepsy, these other types of seizures are not often talked about. Read more about how common non-epileptic seizures are, what causes them and how they are treated. — Kellee Terrell(Photo: Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET)
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What Is a Seizure? - Seizures are a result of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Also known as "convulsions," a person suffering from seizures may shake uncontrollably. But not everyone who has a seizure shakes. (Photo: Neil Borden/Getty Images)
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Non-Epileptic Seizures vs. Epileptic Seizures - Non-epileptic seizures (NES) are often longer than epileptic seizures; occur only when the person is awake and do not respond to anti-epileptic drugs, writes the Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsy, which Lil Wayne was diagnosed with, is a set of chronic neurological disorders that are identified by having periodic seizures.(Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
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Types of Non-Epileptic Seizures - A “physiologic seizure” can be induced by drugs and alcohol, low blood sugar, drop in blood pressure and abnormal sleep patterns. A “psychogenic seizure” is a way your body may react to severe mental stress. Depression, hallucinations, mild head injuries and sexual or physical abuse can trigger them. (Photo: Stockbyte/Getty Images)
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What Does a Seizure Look Like? - Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes and for the most part do not cause any harm. Common indicators that someone is having a seizure: Brief blackout followed by period of confusion; drooling or frothing at the mouth; snorting and grunting; loss of bladder or bowel control; body shakes; sudden falling; teeth clenching and a temporary halt in one’s breathing. (Photo: Charles Thatcher/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Charles Thatcher/Getty Images
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Other Causes for Non-Epileptic Seizures - Chris Brown’s seizures were attributed to stress and sleep deprivation, which make up 6-8 percent of all seizures, USA Today reported. Other causes include being diabetic, having high fevers, suffering a head injury, suffering a stroke, having heart disease and being addicted to cocaine. Seizures like the one that Brown suffered are more common than we think.
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Can Seizures Harm You? - Whether or not a seizure will have long-lasting effects depends on how severe, how long and how often they occur. People who have one seizure most likely will not have any brain damage, but for someone who has them often, that raises the risk. Also, people can hurt themselves during a seizure by falling, hitting their head, something falling on them or getting into an accident during one. (Photo: Siri Stafford/Getty Images)
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Treating Non-Epileptic Seizures - For people who do not have reoccurring seizures and are neurologically normal, treatment isn’t necessary. Yet for those who continue to have these types of seizures, recommended treatment can be counseling, anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds, Drugs.com writes. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)