Because epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in the brain, seizures can affect any process your brain coordinates. Seizure signs and symptoms may include:  Temporary confusion A staring spell Stiff muscles Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs Loss of consciousness or awareness Psychological symptoms such as fear, anxiety or deja vu  Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be similar from episode to episode. Doctors generally classify seizures as either focal or generalized, based on how and where the abnormal brain activity begins. Focal seizures When seizures appear to result from abnormal activity in just one area of your brain, they're called focal seizures. These seizures fall into two categories:  Focal seizures without loss of consciousness. Once called simple partial seizures, these seizures don't cause a loss of consciousness. They may alter emotions or change the way things look, smell, feel, taste or sound. Some people experience deja vu. This type of seizure may also result in involuntary jerking of one body part, such as an arm or leg, and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as tingling, dizziness and flashing lights. Focal seizures with impaired awareness. Once called complex partial seizures, these seizures involve a change or loss of consciousness or awareness. This type of seizure may seem like being in a dream. During a focal seizure with impaired awareness, you may stare into space and not respond normally to your environment or perform repetitive movements, such as hand rubbing, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles.  Symptoms of focal seizures may be confused with other neurological disorders, such as migraine, narcolepsy or mental illness. A thorough examination and testing are needed to distinguish epilepsy from other disorders. Generalized seizures Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Six types of generalized seizures exist.  Absence seizures. Absence seizures, previously known as petit mal seizures, typically occur in children. They're characterized by staring into space with or without subtle body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking and only last between 5-10 seconds. These seizures may occur in clusters, happening as often as 100 times per day, and cause a brief loss of awareness. Tonic seizures. Tonic seizures cause stiff muscles and may affect consciousness. These seizures usually affect muscles in your back, arms and legs and may cause you to fall to the ground. Atonic seizures. Atonic seizures, also known as drop seizures, cause a loss of muscle control. Since this most often affects the legs, it often causes you to suddenly collapse or fall down. Clonic seizures. Clonic seizures are associated with repeated or rhythmic, jerking muscle movements. These seizures usually affect the neck, face and arms. Myoclonic seizures. Myoclonic seizures usually appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches and usually affect the upper body, arms and legs. Tonic-clonic seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as grand mal seizures, are the most dramatic type of epileptic seizure. They can cause an abrupt loss of consciousness and body stiffening, twitching and shaking. They sometimes cause loss of bladder control or biting your tongue. 
epilepsy caused abnormal activity brain  seizures can affect process brain coordinates  seizure signs symptoms may include:  temporary confusion staring spell stiff muscles uncontrollable jerking movements arms legs loss consciousness awareness psychological symptoms fear  anxiety deja vu  symptoms vary depending type seizure  cases  person epilepsy will tend type seizure time  symptoms will similar episode episode  doctors generally classify seizures focal generalized  based abnormal brain activity begins  focal seizures seizures result abnormal activity just area brain  they're called focal seizures  seizures fall categories:  focal seizures loss consciousness  once called simple partial seizures  seizures don't cause loss consciousness  may alter emotions change way look  smell  feel  taste sound  people experience deja vu  type seizure may result involuntary jerking body part  arm leg  spontaneous sensory symptoms tingling  dizziness flashing lights  focal seizures impaired awareness  once called complex partial seizures  seizures involve change loss consciousness awareness  type seizure may like being dream  focal seizure impaired awareness  may stare space respond normally environment perform repetitive movements  hand rubbing  chewing  swallowing walking circles   symptoms focal seizures may confused neurological disorders  migraine  narcolepsy mental illness  examination testing needed distinguish epilepsy disorders  generalized seizures seizures involve areas brain called generalized seizures  types generalized seizures exist   absence seizures  absence seizures  previously known petit mal seizures  typically occur children  they're characterized staring space subtle body movements eye blinking lip smacking only last 5-10 seconds  seizures may occur clusters  happening 100 times day  cause brief loss awareness  tonic seizures  tonic seizures cause stiff muscles may affect consciousness  seizures affect muscles back  arms legs may cause fall ground  atonic seizures  atonic seizures  known drop seizures  cause loss muscle control  affects legs  causes suddenly collapse fall down  clonic seizures  clonic seizures associated repeated rhythmic  jerking muscle movements  seizures affect neck  face arms  myoclonic seizures  myoclonic seizures sudden brief jerks twitches affect upper body  arms legs  tonic-clonic seizures  tonic-clonic seizures  previously known grand mal seizures  dramatic type epileptic seizure  can cause abrupt loss consciousness body stiffening  twitching shaking  cause loss bladder control biting tongue
epilepsy