Dissociation versus Absence Seizures

[SeanCharles]

Here I go again! I feel like I am on major discovery or am connecting more dots!

I am posting this here because I have some confusion about another symptom I have that seem to be absence seizures which could be dissociation occasionally which as far as I know hasn't yet been witnessed by a 3rd party and are very obvious to me when these occur. I know from the various searching I have been doing that absence seizures and dissociation have some similarities and also do have some marked differences also. What happens is I can be doing a task and all of a sudden I stop doing this task or during work I remember would be going to do a task and what I notice is I'd freeze then suddenly realize that I froze and would continue to do what I was doing before I froze. Has anyone else experienced this either personally and or had it witnessed?

 

[Starfire]

Can only give you my experience. Recently had a concussion resulting in absence seizures. I didn't know they were happening. A physician friend noticed. Was an empty state where all activity ceased. Mine lasted from 3 seconds to 60 seconds. Went on an anti-seizure drug which reduced them to an occasional 3 to 6 seconds. I didn't notice neither did most friends as it was just a minute pause in conversation. Mistaken by others as *thinking*!

 

[spectre]

It can be described best as your subconscious mind trying to get a word in edge ways. A momentary pause where your mind has something to say or information it must process from the present or history. It is hard to say really, I have DID for instance but some personality changes are delayed for a few seconds. I have attributed this as the overlap period between the change. It sounds like for that time you not miss but lag in you are processing information faster than usual cutting off non essential functions until it is done.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Can only give you my experience. Recently had a concussion resulting in absence seizures. I didn't know they were happening. A physician friend noticed. Was an empty state where all activity ceased. Mine lasted from 3 seconds to 60 seconds. Went on an anti-seizure drug which reduced them to an occasional 3 to 6 seconds. I didn't notice neither did most friends as it was just a minute pause in conversation. Mistaken by others as *thinking*!

Been there and done that w a sense seizures. They are a temporary electro- chemical discharge where basic physical functions ( breathing ) continue but conscious thought, vision, speech are not able to be processed- lasting usually seconds ( typical)to minutes(unusual but not unheard of). Meds like Zarontin often can take care of them.

 

[shatter eyes]

Can an EEG rule this out?

 

[TruthSeeker]

Yes-the EEG tech will try to elicit absence seizures with flickering lights.

 

[SeanCharles]

Yes-the EEG tech will try to elicit absence seizures with flickering lights.

Ah ha! from the several EEGs (which have been both a sleep and one where i didn't sleep before) I have had done while I was under the care of a practicing Psychiatrist/Neurologist before I finally had stopped that treatment, I never had a seizure that was triggered by the strobe test, I do remember that specifically because I know from that testing that I don't have to worry about flashing triggering those. Unfortunately, I don't know what other results all the EEGs produced except that I do remember that I had beta wave activity which I now know can be lessened using biofeedback and possibly medication which I believe is the ADHD at work.

I have not yet had any biofeedback therapy yet, as I am having other issues which I know is partly a refusal to cooperate with therapy. This is potentially in the transitional stage after a therapy session which my mom was present during because my therapist and I had decided that her input about her concerns and her being mom would help with my continuing therapy.

 

[whiteraven]

Ah ha! from the several EEGs (which have been both a sleep and one where i didn't sleep before) I have had done while I was under the care of a practicing Psychiatrist/Neurologist before I finally had stopped that treatment, I never had a seizure that was triggered by the strobe test...,

I was diagnosed with epilepsy 35 years ago. I have different seizure types and have had issues understanding sometimes if I'm having a seizure or if I'm dissociating. Unfortunately, my seizures usually originate from deep within the brain and have only been detected in the past on EEG using nasopharyngeal leads. A surface EEG will not capture them.

Living with these types of seizures is really hard. If you haven't been talking with others who have similar episodes, I strongly encourage you to do so. Even if they don't understand dissociation, just talking with them may help clarify your own episodes. I still question sometimes which it is, seizure or dissociation. And there is likely an overlap. But gradually, I began to remember episodes from when I was younger - drop seizures, which I haven't had as an adult. I also discovered that meds help.

Now I also have seizures where I have olfactory hallucinations and the sense of jamais vu. Sometimes many, many times a day. I often wish I had something people could actually see, so I would be believed and didn't feel so crazy.

 

[SeanCharles]

My Therapists are diagnosing me with Psychosis because of the seizure auras I have and other odd things I have likely claimed as experiencing.

 

[TruthSeeker]

My Therapists are diagnosing me with Psychosis because of the seizure auras I have and other odd things I have likely claimed as experiencing.

Just curious, if you don’t mind answering:
How do you know they are seizure auras? Does a seizure typically follow each aura?

 

[SeanCharles]

From the research I have been doing, auras ARE seizure episodes. Whether they affect other areas of the brain and how determines the outcome and type of seizure behavior. I always have an aura, meaning an aura comes on, and typically doesn't last long and doesn't cause loss of consciousness. The longer the aura stays and the intensity of that episode has become a bit of helpful to me as I can prepare for an oncoming full seizure. PTSD Stress along with the normal stress is probably a factor in triggering seizures.

Unfortunately for me, I do have epileptic seizures which are caused by epilepsy. My last seizure, as all seizures I have previously had been hard, although they have been enlightening in many ways over the years since the onset in 1996. This last seizure in Jan of 2019 gave me the detail that answered the question: Do I have epileptic or non epileptic which can be determined by the eyes. If the eyes roll back, then it's epilepsy. Unfortunately I have tried two prescription medications and they both caused other seizures including absent spells which I was conscious of and wasn't observer by another party that I know of because nobody has mentioned any behavior.

 

[TruthSeeker]

From the research I have been doing, auras ARE seizure episodes. Whether they affect other areas of the brain and how determines the outcome and type of seizure behavior. I always have an aura, meaning an aura comes on, and typically doesn't last long and doesn't cause loss of consciousness. The longer the aura stays and the intensity of that episode has become a bit of helpful to me as I can prepare for an oncoming full seizure. PTSD Stress along with the normal stress is probably a factor in triggering seizures.

Unfortunately for me, I do have epileptic seizures which are caused by epilepsy. My last seizure, as all seizures I have previously had been hard, although they have been enlightening in many ways over the years since the onset in 1996. This last seizure in Jan of 2019 gave me the detail that answered the question: Do I have epileptic or non epileptic which can be determined by the eyes. If the eyes roll back, then it's epilepsy. Unfortunately I have tried two prescription medications and they both caused other seizures including absent spells which I was conscious of and wasn't observer by another party that I know of because nobody has mentioned any behavior.

i knew an aura was seizure activity typically present prior to the physical manifestation of various seizure types- been there, done that. Just was super confused if you are diagnosed with psychosis based on aura type. Do you see a neuropsychiatrist who specializes in psychiatry as it relates to epilepsy? In large university epilepsy clinics, they often have psych services with a psychiatrist who specializes in working w seizure patients-since the rate of mental illness is much higher in this population. Additionally, some people can have both forms of seizures-epileptic and non-epileptic. The triggers are essentially identical for both types. Seizures in some people can be induced by eye-rolling as well.

The advantage of seeing a pdoc who specializes in patients w epilepsy is that they have more experience/familiarity first hand with the seizure types meds and their adverse reactions. They also consult with the patient’s epileptologist (having multiple opinions/ back up resources)

Some seizure meds have a positive impact on depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Some can possibly cause seizures, been there, done that- and can cause depression, suicidal ideation, etc. I have tried many drugs over the years. I tried Keppra and had Kepprage-then switched to Briviact, a similarly structure but without the rage/anger inducer in most people. It works great but is new to US within last few years. I was psychotic on Keppra but not on Briviact.


I have epilepsy. The three triggers: Not enough food, poor sleep, combined with stress can trigger mine, but it is all three in combination. I have been on many medications over the years. I have auras- not usually long enough to get xtra meds in before an event- but I’m well controlled if I take care and stay away from drama and get food and sleep. A drop in sugar can be a precipitator to a seizure for me. Life Balance is key to consciousness. ?