Seizures happen in your brain.

There are billions of cells in your brain - called neurons.

These cells are very, very small, but they make everything in your brain and body work.

They send little signals to each other, like switching on and off like tiny lights, making us move, think and do things you do every minute of the day.

Your brain cells are even working while you are asleep.

Most of the time your brain cells work just the way they're supposed to work. You don't have to think about them, they just keep doing what they're supposed to do.

Sometimes the cells don’t switch on and off the way they are supposed to and they sometimes get switched on all at once.

So, for a very short time, they don't work quite the way they should.

For just a few seconds, or a minute or two, some of your brain cells sends mixed up signals.

They stop the other cells from working properly, and your body gets mixed up messages.

This could make your body shake without you wanting it to shake.

They could make you fall down, get stiff, and then shake all over for a minute or two.

They could make you move around as if you were half asleep.

It could make things look, or sound, or feel strange to you - just for a moment.

It could even make you stop and stare for a moment or two.

All these changes in things you feel or do are called seizures.

Go to Why Do I Have Epilepsy?

Please email or call us if you have any questions

1300 EPILEPSY (1300 37 45 37)
Australia-Wide Priority Call