Non Epileptic Seizures

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Seizure disorders are an unusual neurological event that occurs in the brain. Abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes strange behaviors or movements is a symptom of epilepsy. There are several types of seizure disorders that exist and it is important for a doctor give his patient a correct diagnosis for the type of seizure disorders that they have (Yard and Thurman, 2000). One type of seizure disorder that does not cause abnormal electrical activity in the brain is called non-epileptic seizures. Non-epileptic seizures are unique from other types of seizure disorders because of that fact that while it looks like a normal seizure, it is different because it is not caused by the brain and nervous system functions but rather it is …show more content…
A major problem is that a patient may be diagnosed with epilepsy when they actually are having non-epileptic seizures (Hammond, 2014). This is a major problem because the patient will be prescribed to the wrong type of medication, which will not help with the problem and can even make it worse with dangerous side effects. People with non-epileptic seizures or psychomotor seizures are to be treated with psychotherapy and psychiatric medications due to the fact that it is a psychological issue. Several causes for a non-epileptic seizure attack to occur include panic attacks, anxiety, stress, depression, or painful and difficult thoughts and feelings. Traumatic events such as physical or sexual abuse, death of a loved one, sudden loss, divorce, or sudden change can also be a cause to non-epileptic seizures. There are many physical signs of a non-epileptic seizure attack that include clear movements of a persons arm, legs, and head. A person who is experiencing an attack may lose consciousness, bite their tongue, tremor, twitch, shake or even lose control over their bladder. When a person is having a seizure attack they are a danger to themselves because they can easily harm themselves by falling on something hard and hitting their head or any other part of their body (clevelandclinic.org, 2008). It is important for a person who has non-epileptic seizures to do all that …show more content…
While even with psychiatric treatment the cause of a patient’s seizure can still remain unknown, the main goal for treatment is to eliminate or at least reduce their seizures (clevelandclinic.org, 2008). Psychotherapy, stress-reduction techniques (such as yoga, relaxation, and biofeedback training), therapy, and personal support can help reduce a patient’s seizure attack. It is necessary for a person who has non-epileptic seizures to seek mental help because their attacks are coming from stress or mental instability. It is proven that patients with non-epileptic seizures have greater emotional instability than healthy individuals. These impaired emotions include suppressed and unregulated emotions, as well as emotional avoidance and psychological distress (Novakova et al., 2015). Through therapy and psychiatric treatment, a patient can learn to control an attack with behavioral techniques and other forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. A patient with mental instability can also be helped through psychiatric

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