What Are Functional Seizures? Understanding the Basics
What Are Functional Seizures? Understanding the Basics
Functional seizures, also known as dissociative or non-epileptic seizures, are episodes that resemble epileptic seizures but arise from different mechanisms in the brain. Instead of being caused by abnormal electrical activity, these seizures occur when the brain’s stress-response and attention systems become overwhelmed. For many individuals, the unpredictability of episodes and the difficulty obtaining a clear diagnosis can be confusing and frightening. Understanding the nature of functional seizures is therefore essential to receiving the right kind of support.
The Experience of Functional Seizures
Functional seizures often emerge during periods of emotional strain, physical illness, or prolonged stress, though sometimes there is no obvious trigger. During an episode, a person may lose awareness, collapse, or display shaking or unresponsiveness that closely resembles epilepsy. However, investigations such as EEG show no abnormal electrical activity. This mismatch between symptoms and test results can leave individuals feeling misunderstood or invalidated. Recognising that functional seizures are real, involuntary, and rooted in the brain’s difficulty regulating stress and attention helps reduce stigma and supports more compassionate care.
Why Functional Seizures Occur
Functional seizures are part of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition in which the brain struggles to send and receive signals effectively despite structurally normal pathways. Stress, trauma, dissociation, or disrupted attention systems can trigger episodes, causing the brain to briefly lose its usual balance between control and automatic responses. These seizures are not imagined or deliberate; they represent a genuine impairment in how the brain manages internal and external demands.
The Neuropsychological Perspective
Neuropsychologists play a key role in assessing functional seizures, exploring how cognitive processes, stress, and emotional factors interact to produce symptoms. Through careful evaluation, they help clarify the diagnosis, explain the underlying mechanisms, and identify patterns that maintain or worsen episodes. This understanding allows individuals and families to make sense of the condition and begin developing practical strategies for managing symptoms.
Supporting Recovery Through Collaborative Care
Treatment focuses on improving emotional regulation, reducing dissociation, and strengthening the brain’s ability to manage stress. Neuropsychologists guide individuals in identifying triggers, building coping skills, and adapting daily routines. Collaboration with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and FND-informed practitioners ensures that support is holistic and consistent. With education, reassurance, and structured therapeutic input, many people experience fewer episodes and greater confidence in daily life.
Our Approach
At The London Neurocognitive Clinic, we offer clear assessments, coordinated rehabilitation, and ongoing support to help individuals understand and manage functional seizures. By combining neuropsychological insight with compassionate, multidisciplinary care, we aim to restore stability, reduce symptoms, and strengthen resilience for those living with this complex condition.
