GENERAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AN EPILEPTIC SEIZURE   Seizures occur when there are sudden changes in the way your brain cells communicate through electrical signals.  When a seizure occurs the brain cells that are sending these signals are sending wrong messages to others therefore other cells do not work properly.  They may either send out temporary signals causing changes in emotion, behaviour or consciousness.  Some of the Signs and Symptoms of Seizures are: .  Temporary confusion .  Total Confusion. .  Complete loss of consciousness. .  Staring .  Jerking movements of the arms and legs. Signs and Symptoms can vary depending on the type of seizure.  Most people with the same type of Epileptic Seizures will experience the same type of symptoms each time.  There are those however, that do experience more than one type of seizure during a life-time.  (I am one of those) Seizures will be classified as either Partial or Generalized.  Partial means the Seizure activity is mainly in one area, but when the Seizure activity involves most of the brain these Seizures are called Generalized   Both of these areas are then broken up into smaller ones.  When you get into this area there are dozens of different types of seizures.    Two of the most Common Types of Seizures GRAND MAL SEIZURE The Grand Mal seizure is classified by loss of consciousness, falling down, loss of bowel and bladder control, and with rhythmic convulsions.   The signs and symptoms of a Grand Mal Seizure can vary slightly but it starts with loss of consciousness and falling down.  The normal seizure lasts 15-20 seconds of tense ridged muscles.  This is called the Tonic phase.  Then there is a one to two minute period of violent rhythmic convulsions, which is called the Clonic phase.  During a seizure you may lose skin colour even to the point of looking grey or dusty like.  This is caused by the decreased blood oxygen levels from the impaired breathing during the seizure.   After a Seizure has occurred you may experience a headache and drowsiness, or confusion.  There are times when the headaches are so severe, and you may also go into a deep sleep from just plain exhaustion.  You have a headache, you are confused, so why not sleep it off.  PETIT MAL SEIZURE These are also known as Absence Seizures, and are more common in children.  Petit Mal usually involves only a short period of loss of conscious activity.  They last only a few seconds and can quite often, especially in children, go unnoticed.   Signs and Symptoms   In most Petit Mal Seizures there is little movement at all, only what appears to be staring.  In other cases a seizure may cause: .  Lip smacking .  Fluttering Eyelids .  Chewing movements .  Hand movements Following a Petit Mal there is no confusion, but no memory of the incident.  Because they are so difficult to detect in a child, one of the first signs of this disorder will appear in the child’s learning ability.  Your child’s teacher may complain that he or she has an inability to pay attention. Click here to send email to us  if you have any questions. Please click Subscribe to Newsletter if you would like to receive our Free Epilepsy and Health Newsletters. If you would like the Free List of Triggers  please put that request in the subject line. Or you can click on the links in other pages.   Disclaimer: This article is not meant to replace consultation with trained health care professionals. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse consequences of effects resulting from the use of any of the information or suggestions contained in this article. All research has been done in good faith, using recognized sources.