Functional seizures are real seizures
If you've been told you have functional seizures, dissociative seizures, or PNES (psychogenic non-epileptic seizures), it means the events you're having are genuine, involuntary, and not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain — which is what epilepsy is. The older term 'pseudoseizures' is no longer used; it was stigmatizing and wrong. These are real episodes, and they are treatable.
What's happening in the brain
The brain hardware is working. The software — how the brain routes attention, emotion, and motor signals — has gotten dysregulated. Sometimes a circuit-breaker trips: when input becomes overwhelming (emotional, sensory, or remembered), the system shuts down or shakes in a way that looks like a seizure. For many people, there's a trauma history; for many others, there isn't. Both are valid paths to the same diagnosis.
The warning window
Most functional seizures are preceded by a feeling — a wave of dread, dizziness, a tingling, a 'here it comes' — anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes before the event. That window is the most important piece of treatment. Learning to recognize it and use grounding, breath, and movement in that window can abort the seizure.
Therapy that works
The best-studied treatment is a 12-session CBT-informed protocol (sometimes called CBT-ip, developed by Dr. W. Curt LaFrance). Sessions cover seizure logs, trigger mapping, warning-sign skills, relaxation, communication, and — when relevant — trauma processing with proper pacing. Studies show seizures reduce by about half on average, alongside better mood and quality of life.
Try this
Common questions
Is this 'faking' or 'in my head'?+
No. Functional seizures are involuntary and real. The events come from nervous-system dysregulation, not from choosing or imagining them.
Will epilepsy medication help?+
No — and it's important to know that. Anti-seizure meds don't help functional seizures and can have side effects. The treatment is therapy.
Can they go away?+
Often, yes. The CBT-informed protocol shows about a 50% reduction on average, and many people become seizure-free over time.
If you've been diagnosed with PNES or functional seizures, ask about CBT-ip (LaFrance protocol) with a clinician trained in this area.
Functional seizures are real episodes caused by changes in nervous-system functioning rather than the electrical pattern of epilepsy. Only qualified clinicians can make that distinction, and some people have both.
Do not try to control an episode through willpower. Follow your agreed safety plan, reduce injury risk, and review patterns later when you are fully oriented.
- What is my episode safety plan?
- What early signs, contexts, or stressors are worth tracking?
- How are neurology and psychological care coordinating?
A first seizure-like episode, serious injury, breathing difficulty, pregnancy, an unusually long episode, or a change from the usual pattern needs urgent medical guidance. Do not restrain the person or put anything in their mouth.
Sources and limits+
Reviewed for clarity and updated October 2026. This page offers general education and cannot assess your individual situation.
- FND Hope patient information
- NHS: functional neurological disorder
- Functional Neurological Disorder Society
Functional seizures are real, treatable, and not your fault. The same nervous system that learned to flip the breaker can learn another way through.