Epilepsy in schools: what does a focal seizure look like? 

See I'm epileptic, but I have the OTHER kind of seizure. You know, the one that's REALLY obviously a seizure. Had one in maths once and freaked the fuck out of the entire class. The upside is that everyone believes me, because I can't really fake my seizures. I can imagine a lot of people who have focal seizures like this must go completely undiagnosed by professionals, because it doesn't look like what people expect a seizure to be and thus isn't taken as seriously. Thank you so much for educating everyone on this. Seizures come in many different forms and ALL of them deserve recognition and care.

It's very strange when I have seizures like this without even knowing but still my parents look after me most people thought I was faking to get attention and lots of friends coming caring for me. About a year later people started believing it once when I got called in class I just had it it wasn't until I got into the nurse's office it had stop. Keep Safe Kids.

I've been having this kind of seizure constantly. I'll lose my strength, my vision will get really blurry or I'll black out. I can hear everything that's going on but I can't move or talk and I stare off, its like I'm stuck in my body and I cant do anything about it. I had a panic attack after some of them because I get frustrated when someone tries to yell at me with a bunch of questions. The only sign that shows that im aware of someone's presence is when tears start rolling down my face and my breathing gets really heavy and uncontrollable and I will smack my lips at times. Had one last night and had a massive headache.

I don't have seizures or epileptic episodes, but this is still interesting to watch

this is why these videos are needed. most people just think seizures are the Tonic clonic ones. I do have tonic clonic ones but it is imperative that people understand that there are other types.

I'm researching epilepsy for a book I'm writing where a character has it. Of course, due to the book's circumstances, I can take a few creative liberties, but this is still super helpful! Thanks!

Thank you for making these videos. It’s teaching me a lot about recognizing seizures. My 5 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with epilepsy.

Who else is watching this for reaserch perposes. This kid in my class today was having a focal seizure and i was like the only one that knew what to do. Everyone else thought he was just fooling around. I was the only one that was worrried or considering the fact that he might have had a seizure

I had epilepsy as a kid. I fortunately grew out of it as an adult. In elementary school I had to get tutoring for almost all the major classes like Math,Science,English,History. Around 6th grade one of my tutors noticed me totally starring off during our session. Once she noticed it she realized I was doing this all day long throughout the day and talked to my parents. My parents took me to a couple different doctors to try and see if anything could be diagnosed. And thats when I had my first EKG. I remember feeling like I was being abducted by aliens with all those wires and then they asked me to sleep. I thought are you out of your mind how could I sleep rn. I guess thats why they made me stay up all night huh. Eventually the doctors came back and said yes absolutely your child has epilepsy. I was having up to 400-500 absent seizures everyday. Pretty remarkable even as an full grown man now I still cant fathom how much time I lost while nodding out. This video definitely should be shown is schools and teachers should be taught to look for this in students who are struggling.

Before my surgery i had 100 complex partial seizures a day and up to 300 a night. Now I have been 4 years seizure free and no longer on any epileptic drugs. Mine were very similar. I hope she gets approved for surgery.

I have epilepsy but I've never had these seizures (or at least I don't think I have) and they are so interesting to see and learn about. I mainly get myoclonic seizures, absences, tonic clonic seizures, atonic seizures and also headaches, but I love learning about people with similar conditions to me, that have completely different experiences! Thank you for making these videos!💜

I've had this type of seizure for close to 70 years. This is the first time I've seen a video of someone having one although it looks like this particular one was "planned" to show people what they look like, it's really helpful. It's kind of funny to see the similarities with people asking what are you looking at or people will turn and look to see what it is that I'm looking at. There are different ways they can manifest. Some are more intense than others, example sometimes I can understand what someone is saying and as soon as it stops I can respond accordingly. Other times I am not able to comprehend what is being said so when it passes I just ask them to repeat what they said. I have as few as 5 or so in a day other times they are so frequent I'm am unable to count them, they are easily over 200 or more. Most times I am able to respond, for instance if someone is talking to me I hold up my hand with my index finger pointing upward to let the people who know what's happening to hold on for just a minute and I'll be right back. I'm so thankful people are making these videos nowadays because when I was a kid in the 1950's and 60's these type of seizures were not seen as being real. My parents were told I was just looking for attention and that I spent my time at school daydreaming. When they were finally diagnosed as seizures when I was 19, I was just so relieved because now I could tell my parents what had been happening my whole life. Unfortunately, having epilepsy came with all types of downsides, it was seen as a stigma, a mental health problem. So thanks to all who did this video and other videos showing, finally, that this is real. And, once you know you can educate those around you that it's not scary or devastating.

I have epilepsy I have seizures like this along with regular generalized ones, they're awful and it makes school very difficult. But i see things like this and I feel alot better BC I don't feel alone Much love 💜

Holy cow there's a lot of different kinds of seizures!

I prolly sound dumb but i was expecting her to just start shaking like crazy just me?

I get this all day long (over 30 times a day) :c makes college lectures Almost impossible.

My 18 year old sister just passed from this 2days ago I just want more of an understanding I love you sister forever 💕😞

Learn more about epilepsy with Epilepsy Action’s range of e-learning courses. learn.epilepsy.org.uk/

I am a seizure patient, and I have never had one as mild as this. I ALWAYS have to go to the floor to be sure I don't FALL to the floor, every time.

I had my first seizure ever today. And it was also my first workday at my new job 😂 You can imagine how I felt after. Weird thing was that I was just sitting at the desk and then I woke up on the floor with my boss talking to me. I didn’t even question why I was on the floor, it just felt totally normal, until the ambulance came into the room. Thats when I understood. Be careful with yourselves, everyone!

Focals are really horrible. They keep you fully awake while your entire body turns upside down. Everything causing Deja vu - your mind tries to make everything as if it comes from long term memory. If I have multiple focals in a day, they usually lead to a full grand mal at some point. Oh, and mine is adult onset epilepsy, so i haven’t had a life of safeguarding processes etc. what a lovely 30th birthday present

I have seizures, and man does it feel like a full day of heavy lifting after.

I empathize with her I also get complex partial seizures as well as simple partial seizures. Mine are similar but not exactly the same. They can be really scary and annoying if they happen in public especially at school. These videos are excellent to show and educate not only the public but also those that live with seizures. they show how they might look like an first aid measures o take if you witness one. Well done on these videos.

Very recently, I myself had a focal seizure at work, thankfully I caught my focal seizure within minutes before disaster hit! I managed to walk to my supervisor and let her know that I was leaving early from work to rest. Then a day after, I managed to return back to work with caution.

I also get complex partial seizures in addition to simple partial seizures. Mine are similar but not exactly the same. They can be scary and really annoying if they happen in public especially at school. It does an excellent showing not only the public but also those that live with seizures how they might look like. It also educates others on what first aid measures to take. Well done on these video series.

I have photosensitive epilepsy, which may have evolved into a general type, which means I've had a lot of different types of seizure, some similar to this. I think it's important that these videos exist for recognising when even a mild seizure is occurring. There's a lot of misinformation about seizure types, even for patients like myself, since it's often the case that we don't even know we've had a seizure unless someone tells us afterwards, particularly during an absence which is also scary since we aren't in control or present in our bodies.

That one hair hanging out her boble made me wanna cry 😭😂

I have epilepsy actions, it started at a very young age, I was around 6 years old now am 12, I have to take medication every single day. When I watched these videos I could relate to what I do and what could happen to me if I don't take medication 😔 btw am getting a lot better now, I haven't had an epilepsy action for quit a while 🙂.... but like I said if I stop taking medication it can start again but even worse!!

I have both this and a mix of generalised absence seizures. I take medication to try and stop them but I had one once in the middle of the road and I just stopped, freaked me out so much

I've lived with epilepsy for approximately 20 years.I wish my middle and high school teachers/classmates were this understanding and kind. All I experienced was being bullied, and teachers think i was acting out or purposely sleeping in class. And then my experience with school is if you have a twin who isn't epileptic, when you two argue, she'll encourage people to bully you. Not to mention my middle school bus driver twice left me in the middle of the road and drove off leaving me alone while all students including my twin boarded the bus...

I say thank you for this documentary ...though I don't have seizure , but this helps me to find out people who has that and how to behave with them

I have epilepsy. I've had it since I was 5 years old. :( I've been praying that my seizures would go away soon.

I'm epileptic myself. I have tonic-clonic and focal seizures. I'm surprised that she isn't asking what happened because whenever I come out of a seizure I always ask that and panic due to no memory what happened before having a seizure. Everyone is different having a seizure.

High humidity and low atmospheric pressure is the reason why people get seizures! I found out because my previous seizure was during when the hurricane and I googled it and found out.

I've got epilepsy and I remember year 9 it came out to the whole school after I had a seizure in history, collapsed and shaking etc. Ofc a lot of ppl took the mick since they didn't understand but was rly happy that teacher helped during it.

This must sometimes feel embarrassing. But please dont let those feelings get to you. Life may have it's difficulties but please remember that you are still a beautiful miracle. Don't let it get to you ❤️

I had no idea seizures like this existed. Thank you

What's the difference between focal seizure and absence seizure my son has absence seizure but he dose the same thing the girl dose.

Through my school years from kindergarten to my senior year of high school I suffered from epilepsy. My seizures were very random and at different times. My body would lay down on one side stiff like I was planking, my eyes would go to the left so I'd have to correct by moving my head to the right, gag before any seizures hit, my body would move on it's own when I'd have absent seizures and sometimes have uncontrollable screaming and wake up in random places, extream dizziness that make my body drop suddenly. The recovery time could last an hour or so, depending on which one I would have at that moment. We found out that it was the stress from school that was the underlying cause. I rarely have my epilepsy episodes now because I keep myself less stressed.

I have Non-Epileptic Seizures. This means they are not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. My seizures are caused by stress. I used to have up to five a day, but now it is down to two a month.

I had a seizure in school 2 days ago, and was more confused then scared, and was hospitalized

Just wanted to say, if anyone see someone suffering this type of seizures take you time to make sure they back to normal or dial emergency number, my Son suffer for this type of seizures and we live on Houston the doctors make like 30 EEG's and other 30 MRI's they just make a Brain laser abrasion, and is being under several medications, nothing seems to be working, he is also taking prescribed CBD helps but not 100% he is 18 years now, best of luck for everyone.

Sometimes, I feel like I want to shake violently, but instead it makes me feel shaky, but NOT shaking

Thank u for showing us this, I don't know much about seizures and didn't know focal seizures even existed.

my sister has this exactly. It may take a minute. She just stares above. I'm hoping to get info how to prevent it from happening cause it's getting in her way to do what she wants.

That's why whenever I stare at the ceiling my doctors panic! I had a TBI, still recovering but I only just stare normally as to distract my pain in the broken knee or else!

My friend has this. It scares me sometimes because im worried about her.

WHY CANT I STOP WATCHING THESE

This was me when I was a kid and didn’t have right medication at the time. I’m glad mine cured due to medication ( which I still take now) but it should still be considered as a issue even if it’s a minor condition. Living with epilepsy although it looks normal isn’t really fun and I have to let others know I do have a condition even if it’s minor.

I never knew about these type of seizures, thanks for the info.

My mum was just diagnosed. I feel bad I did not always believe her when she had these.

Well, when it comes to having Epilepsy, the 1 thing I like about it is the fact that it made me fall in love with Epidemiology (the study of anything that can fuck up your body) when I was 8. :)

My fiancé has these. I can tell when he’s about to have one. They primarily happen at night, though.

Hey, thanks! I've just turned 70 and just now realized what's been going on for years with me. I was diagnosed by a Dr. Flanigan of Tulsa in the 60's a really nice guy. I've been ticking for years now and didn't know what was happening. My Dr. Diagnosed it as restless leg syndrome. just don't know where to go from here.

It seems to be very hard for a lot of people in public to even realize when I have these absence seizures. I wish I knew how many I have but I know I at least have one a day. The doctors did tests on my brain over the weekend (I forgot what it was called) and they said the following day I had seizures when I had no clue AT ALL that I did completely felt normal..

Gotta look at this after hearing bout juice

0:50 Why would you talk to a person while having a seizure?! 90% of the time they can’t hear you.

I do have similar episodes and after I do not know what happened a headache do come after most often

My eyes go back and forth when I have mine. I don't grab at my clothes or anything tho, just stand still

Auras never get easier. I’ll have them while both dreaming or while awake. I feel like I can hear the dead speaking and architypes of my concsiousness rapidly intensifying. It causes unparralleled nausea and mental exhaustion. Ive only gone into grand mal once, thankfully.

I get a pain in my reigh lobe then I feel very tired afterwards and have to go to bed for a few hours is this normal. John 50

I have epilepsy and i have a seizures and when i come around i don't remember anything I have tonic cronic seizures. I didn't know people can die from having seizures until i found out about cameron boyce.

My friend had epilepsy she had a seizure in pe and she started banging her foot on the floor and shaking

I remember my first documented seizure. We aren’t sure what type it was but it lasted for a long while and it was scary because my mother was freaking out the whole time. I haven’t had another one like that but my friends say that they have noticed me have absence seizures or petit mal seizures. Sometimes they don’t notice it because I also have Tourette’s and it’s been written off as a tic before. I don’t normally remember these ones and only realized they happen after being told and seeing them on video.

I’ve Been Having Seizures (Absence Petit Mal) For 10 Years And I Diagnosed Them Since I Was 13, Years Old And I Always Feels So Self Consciousnesses All Of The Time And I Have Them At School And At Home And In Public And Now I’m 15 Years Old And I Still Have Them😥🙏🏾💔

I never knew this was what was happening to me until I had an actual moving seizure I’ve had focal seizures this whole time and was not diagnosed when I went to the neurologist the first time

I was diagnosed with epilepsy 3 days ago following a first seizure on my 18th birthday on holiday (bad timing Ik) and I also have the flashing light epilepsy (I’m terrible with names). I have had myoclonic seizures most days since I was 12/13 but we just thought it was me just growing up. I have had other signs and problems relating to it over the years so I am glad I now know what has been going on. Once I was diagnosed (I had an EEG and was gonna have an MRI but they didn’t think it was necessary after) I have immediately been out on medication. Hopefully it’ll help it but naturally I’m more hyper-vigilant and aware of my body.

same here me had since I was 10 unlucky I now

i love how the most replayed bar is like waves in the beach

Since my diagnosis I've been avoiding stuff but I figured I may as well start figuring out what I can do for others

I started getting strange partial seizures a few years ago, mostly when I drank excessive alcohol. Nowadays, it is very rare. I still tense up though, my eyes getting locked onto the ceiling, and I convulse, but I am still aware at the same time but couldn't stop what was happening to my body no matter how hard I told my body to stop...My doctor doesn't even know why...At least the episodes aren't as frequent as they used to be since I reduced my alcohol intake. :/

Omg that’s what I got !!! I was just standing buying some trousers with my mom, then I blanked out then I came to and I didn’t even know I did it

I have these all the time

Since I saw his death video I've been so freaked out I get scared easily

I don’t know if this counts but when I am asked a question. I either stutter a bit or pause for about a minute.

My grandson did this....he stopped playing suddenly then just stared off, his arms out to his side for sure clue something was amiss. He was effected in his sleep mostly. My daughter still seems to be in denial. So sad....hard on all the family

I have this type of epilepsy and it hard to handle the after effect when it happen I just got really tired and sleepy that I can sleep at anywhere or just fall down to the ground suddenly after if no one notice about it

I am a living testament to why you should not do drugs or beat your kids especially about the cranium

My cousin has epilepsy

When I was 1 years old in 2008 I was diagnosed with epilepsy and it all happend becouse when I was 1 years old I crawled into a wall and the same day I had a seizure throw up all over the car my mum picked me up and My heart had stopped so yea oh btw the bang on my head also caused brain damage so yea my seizures lasted up till I was about 8 becouse I took medicine so I’m all better now so I don’t have them anymore.

Im a hardcore gamer for four years. I recently was given meds for seizures I also noticed how frequent my zoning outs have become to the point where I feel like i dont seem to get enough idea as to how I really play like i zone out all of a sudden and it sucks you know in thr middle of the game with so much little time, I get rlly frustrated

I have focal epilepsy and did not know what was happening to me every day and never got it checked out, I eventually had a grand mal seizure and entered a coma for 2 days. I encourage anyone who has strange visions/feelings like this to get checked out.

imi here to know what happened to juice wrld

I do have seizures I have absence seizures and focal seizures the difference is you stare up with your head moving and absence you just stare straight

Oh my god… I think I’ve just found what my classmate is suffering from. She’s been to many doctors, none of them got a clue what’s going.

This is at least the safest one out of the types I fall when I get my or shake

so i had a seizure at school a couple of times during pe is when i have my seizuries my friends freak out when they see me in this state .

These are really educating me!

I'm finding out the ways of epilepsy because of Cameron Boyce, he was such a inspiration too all, including me.

I have epilepsy and I’ve had one of these seizures once at a camp (u was there for a week) my seizures are usually obvious and my eyes go side to side really quickly and I make weird sounds. I had one of those and then after I started shaking uncontrollably

I have epilepsy and sturge Weber syndrome and I watch these to learn and be able to help people and be able to help be learn what to if I have one because I only have a bracelet say “epilepsy “

I’m very worried about developing epilepsy as a women and young person the thoughts of seizures and the contractions and the pain scare me

I have epilepsy and I had to go to hospital recently bc I had 3 seizures in 1 hour and they were all 3 mins long without breathing so my dad called a ambulance and so I got sent to hospital and I was in ED for a bit then I went to the ward and was in hospital for 3 days and 2 nights and when I tried to leave the hospital on the 3rd day for the first time , I had another seizure on the way to the parking lot and so I went back to the ward and waited another hour and had more medicine and then I finally left the hospital then the next day when I was home I had another seizure but it was only 30 seconds and now today is Friday and I haven’t been to school all week but I haven’t had anymore since yesterday , so hopefully my medicine will keep me stable. But it was terrible.

I have whatcit to be believed forcal seizures, everyonecin my family and friends basically tell me at random my eyes roll, my left side of my body shakes, and my brain feels like it is being electrocuted and then i cant remember much for the mext 3 days, i have about one a day and my doctor keeps saying anxiety attacl but it makes no sense since im not anxious about anything

I have siezures like this too! I went to get and EEG and now I know why I don’t remember little things. It’s all black to me. I even have them while driving sometimes. I’ve never gotten in to a accident. I drive a very slow car. I’m very lucky to be here

My sister has epilepsy she had a brain injury and is 10 years old today and has typically about from the range of 15 to 5 seizures a day but this week we have been lucky and it’s been about three or four :)

Not all focal seizures look this this though, I’ve had focal epilepsy/seizures since I was 5 I’m now 22 when I have a seizures I get an aura beforehand to let me know a seizure is coming on, my muscle tense up and I bring my arms up to face, I’m non responsive but if someone is talking to me I can hear what they are saying perfectly and can respond to them after my episode has finished everyone is different

I think i suffered my first seizure yesterday, I heard a screeching sound in my ear and I lost my sight for about a second to a second and a half, it was like somebody had hit a switch, was this a seizure ?

i had one of these... the first one was one of the strangest and scariest experiences...

I had focal seizures before my brain tumor was taken out, but it looked nothing this. I feel this is misleading. This is my experienece: Half of my face was twitching like crazy, and my arm was moving up and down on the same side, I needed to go down on the ground meanwhile I am still conscious, this continues on the ground, then I would pass out for about 20 minutes.