A historic meeting in Mahwah, NJ shines a light on psychogenic non-epileptic seizures

A month ago, we were still in the throes of planning our first conference on psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). We had PNES brochures printed up, we had ordered many copies of “Psychogenic non-epileptic Seizures: A Guide” to give out at the registration desk, we had purple and teal charms ready, and all our speakers were working hard on their lectures.  We suspected that it had the potential to be a...

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: Love and Light

  My name is JJ and I am 22. My seizures have been a sporadic problem since I was 13. They really became a problem December 2013. I had quit drinking in September, I later discovered my alcoholism was suppressing my seizures. My seizures became unbearable, I was unable to do the things I used to, I began seeking and searching for answers. Every time I would go to the hospital they would tell me I was “faking...

Why can’t you just stop having these Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs)?

Patients diagnosed with PNES sometimes share with me that they have encountered people who seem to think that they should be able to stop the seizures by somehow willing them away.  Those who hold this erroneous belief are not only from the general public but also health professionals (e.g. emergency medical personnel, doctors and nurses in emergency rooms, and even specialized neurologists).  One person I spoke...