What happens before you have a seizure?

If you’ve ever had a seizure, or know someone who has, then you know that they can be pretty scary. But have you ever wondered what happens before a seizure?

Well, look no further! In this article, we’ll explore the strange and sometimes humorous world of pre-seizure symptoms. From auras to prodromes, we’ve got it all covered.

Aura: The Pre-Seizure Party

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what happens before a seizure, let’s talk about auras. Auras are like the party before the actual seizure shows up. It’s like your brain is saying “hey guys, I’m about to do something wild – wanna come along?” But instead of dancing and drinking punch, your body decides to produce some strange physical sensations.

Some common signs that an aura is kicking in include:

  • Flashing lights
  • Tingling or numbness in your limbs or face
  • Nausea
  • Feeling lightheaded

It’s almost as if your body is giving you fair warning that something weird is going down.

The Prodrome: The lead-up to the Main Event

After our funky little dance party with our friend Mr. Aura (you really gotta make light of these things), it’s time for the serious stuff; prodromes (not synonymous with ‘Prodigies’) signals which indicate a serious change on its way.
Now prodromes are different from auras because they happen days or even weeks before an actual seizure occurs. Think of them like those random cravings for chocolate chip cookies you get three days before Aunt Flo comes knocking (note: This might not apply if Aunt flo never visits…ever).

One thing everyone should keep in mind at this point (yep! This section deserves emphasis) is that not everyone experiences a prodrome. But, for those who do, here are some examples of what you can expect (not necessarily in your face):

  • Changes in mood (e.g., depression or anxiety)
  • Migraines
  • Feeling tired or lethargic
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Suddenly having an unexplainable feeling of impending doom

Basically, it’s like your brain is trolling you with all these symptoms but giving you no real answer.

The Ictus: All Hail Queen Seizure

Now let’s get to the main event! The seizure itself has been summarized and intriguingly philosophical terms as ictus; imagine ‘Melancholy’ meets Magna Carta. The actual seizure may last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, leaving us wondering where tf we are (that’s right) .

During this time:

  • You may experience convulsions
  • Your body might stiffen up or jerk uncontrollably
    (Think riding Space Mountain at Disneyland minus the cartoon imagery)
  • You’ll likely experience confusion and have trouble speaking coherently

Sounds fun doesn’t it? Before we recuperate by unwinding with funny cat videos on YouTube there are still physical changes that occur after an epileptic episode worth mentioning.

Post-Ictal Phase: Not Over Till It’s Over (Cuz Gwen Thinks So)

Once the jokester called our brains decides its had enough making life interesting and seizures break their way onto our lives through the front door i.e “aura” then “prodromes”, ladies and gentlemen…we now arrive on stage center for Act III (for lack of a better word): post-seizure weirdness officially known as the postictal phase.
While still not completely outta danger zone yet. Most seizures end by themselves within two minutes (95% people breathe sighs relief). Once they’ve stopped though, we may experience some lingering symptoms like:

  • Difficulty speaking or thinking clearly
  • Feeling depressed or anxious
  • Fatigue and a general feeling of exhaustion

You might feel like you’ve pulled an all-nighter and you wish for the never-ending abyss to swallow. We don’t blame you.

Finding Some Humor In Seizures

So, there it is. A breakdown of what happens before and after a seizure -sans any scientific jargon! Now, this isn’t exactly funny material (duh!) but sometimes finding humor in our hardships can make them easier to deal with (#SilverLining).

For example, imagine a T.V show entirely dedicated to seizures: ‘Dancing With The Stars: But Instead Of Dancing We’re Flailing Uncontrollably’. I mean if anything; at least we know Neil Patrick Harris will do well next week… (yeah right)

Now obviously having epilepsy or witnessing someone having lose control their body on the fly isn’t something that should be made light off so relax!!! albeit odd…. we just thought finding humor amidst difficult situations makes us stronger (also great for those tight abs) ;’yep..hemothology.’

Conclusion: From Aura to Ictus To Post-Ictal Phase!

We hope that reading about these strange experiences surrounding seizures provided some entertainment while reinforcing awareness. Heck who knows someday when abnormal psychology becomes as big as Pixar ,we might even see “Mr.Ictus” starring alongside Tony Stark! Keep reading our blog!

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