Epilepsy is a challenging condition to cope with, partly because of how hard it can be on the mind and body, and partly because it’s difficult to find information that is easy to understand for all seizure patients in a real life setting.

Narrowing the types of seizures down into three main groups and organizing them by their symptoms makes it easier to understand what is happening to you and what you can expect during and after a seizure happens.

The Three Groups of Seizures

There are three groups of seizures that have been organized by the International League Against Epilepsy. They are organized this way to make the names of seizures easier to understand. The names are now based on what’s happening to the mind and body during a seizure. They are narrowed down even further by the symptoms, which are how the body moves or is still during a seizure.

The three groups are:

General onset seizures Focal onset seizures Unknown onset seizures

Seizure Symptom Terminology

The symptoms of seizures have specific terms to describe what happens to the body during the incident. Groups of seizures have different potential symptoms.

Absence - You may appear to be staring at nothing and won’t typically move for the duration. You will then come out of the seizure alert, unaware of what happened.

- You may appear to be staring at nothing and won’t typically move for the duration. You will then come out of the seizure alert, unaware of what happened. Atypical Absence - This simply means that these seizures are absence seizures, but slightly different. You may be able to respond slightly or make small movements.

- This simply means that these seizures are absence seizures, but slightly different. You may be able to respond slightly or make small movements. Atonic - The muscles in the body lose all tension.

- The muscles in the body lose all tension. Clonic - Jerking motions all over the body.

- Jerking motions all over the body. Complex Partial - Can originate from any lobe of the brain, often preceded by a simple complex seizure, (aura). You may become unresponsive or have spasms.

- Can originate from any lobe of the brain, often preceded by a simple complex seizure, (aura). You may become unresponsive or have spasms. Epileptic Spasms - The body flexes multiple times.

- The body flexes multiple times. Febrile - These seizures occur in infants and small children and are usually coupled with a fever.

- These seizures occur in infants and small children and are usually coupled with a fever. Myoclonic - Muscles twitch, also called myoclonus, and appear as though the person is being shocked.

- Muscles twitch, also called myoclonus, and appear as though the person is being shocked. Nonepileptic - Nonepileptic seizures are seizures that are not caused by epilepsy. They often look like a complex partial or tonic-clonic seizures.

- Nonepileptic seizures are seizures that are not caused by epilepsy. They often look like a complex partial or tonic-clonic seizures. Refractory - Refractory epilepsy refers to the inability to control your epilepsy symptoms with medication. This can happen if you’ve had epilepsy for a long period of time.

- Refractory epilepsy refers to the inability to control your epilepsy symptoms with medication. This can happen if you’ve had epilepsy for a long period of time. Simple Partial - Often referred to as an aura, this type of seizure usually is an indicator that a complex partial seizure will follow. An aura is a warning that can come as an odd feeling, unexplained fear, etc. Different people experience different types of auras.

- Often referred to as an aura, this type of seizure usually is an indicator that a complex partial seizure will follow. An aura is a warning that can come as an odd feeling, unexplained fear, etc. Different people experience different types of auras. Tonic-Clonic - Severe and come in two phases: a tonic phase and a clonic phase. In the tonic phase, the person stiffens and passes out. The muscles contract causing challenges when breathing, causing a blue tint to appear on the face. The tonic phase lasts around a minute before the clonic phase begins. When muscles begin to spasm, the clonic phase has taken over. This phase can last longer than a minute, but not by much.

Classifying Seizures

The three groups of seizures are classified in specific ways and have set motor and nonmotor symptoms that go with them.

General onset seizure - Affects both sides of the brain simultaneously. Can cover absence, atypical absence, tonic-clonic, atonic seizures, and simple or complex partial.

- Affects both sides of the brain simultaneously. Can cover absence, atypical absence, tonic-clonic, atonic seizures, and simple or complex partial. Motor symptoms - Covers clonic, atonic, tonic, myoclonus, tonic-clonic, or epileptic spasms, which are not considered full-out seizures.

- Covers clonic, atonic, tonic, myoclonus, tonic-clonic, or epileptic spasms, which are not considered full-out seizures. Nonmotor symptoms - Only covers absence and atypical absence seizures.

- Only covers absence and atypical absence seizures. Focal Onset Seizures - Originate on one side of the brain only. They can occur when the person is alert or unaware.

- Originate on one side of the brain only. They can occur when the person is alert or unaware. Motor symptoms - Covers clonic, atonic, tonic, myoclonus, or epileptic spasms. Sometimes repeated movements like clapping can occur.

- Covers clonic, atonic, tonic, myoclonus, or epileptic spasms. Sometimes repeated movements like clapping can occur. Nonmotor symptoms - Occurrences of changes in thinking patterns or automatic functions, such as the heart beating quickly or changes of temperature in the body. People may also go completely still.

- Occurrences of changes in thinking patterns or automatic functions, such as the heart beating quickly or changes of temperature in the body. People may also go completely still. Unknown Onset Seizures - The origination point of these seizures is unknown. If the seizure doesn’t occur in front of anyone, it can also be referred to this way. Eventually, as seizures are able to be tracked in an easier manner, they may be classified as a general onset or focal onset seizure.

- The origination point of these seizures is unknown. If the seizure doesn’t occur in front of anyone, it can also be referred to this way. Eventually, as seizures are able to be tracked in an easier manner, they may be classified as a general onset or focal onset seizure. Motor seizures - Either tonic-clonic or epileptic spasms.

- Either tonic-clonic or epileptic spasms. Nonmotor seizures- Only covers absence seizures

Steps for Epilepsy Management

Epilepsy is a chronic condition that can be managed if you stay on top of your medication, get educated, and track your seizures. Communicating with your doctor and caregivers is also a great idea.

Steps toward epilepsy management:

Staying in touch with new developments or new tech regarding epilepsy is a great way to feel more in control of your condition. Following a blog about epilepsy is a great way to stay updated, and joining epilepsy forums or support groups can make you feel less alone in what you are dealing with daily.

If you don’t have a doctor who specializes in epilepsy it’s important to get an appointment with one. They are experienced in all types of seizures and can help keep your seizures under control.

Keeping a diary of all seizure incidents is also important in understanding what kind of seizures are happening, and it gives your doctor’s and caregivers a record of what is happening with your seizures. Seizure sync is an app that you can carry with you wherever you go. It tracks seizures, medications, and the Apple Watch, which will actually detect when the wearer has a seizure. It’s also available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Learning about potential treatment plans, seizure first aid, and being educated about epilepsy from a reliable source can help make the process less daunting.

Download Seizure Sync on the App Store