Transcript: There are many different types of generalized seizures.  In this video Dr. Fisher explains the most common ones.  Generalized seizures are characterized by synchronous electrical activity throughout the brain, but each type of generalized seizure has a different effect on people.  Here’s a typical story from the parent of someone who gets tonic-clonic seizures, which were once called “grand mal” seizures.  "These seizures only last a minute or two but it seems like forever. I can often tell Heather's going to have one when she’s acting cranky. It begins with an unnatural shriek. Then she falls, and every muscle seems to be activated. Her teeth clench. She's pale, and later she turns slightly bluish. Shortly after she falls, her arms and upper body start jerking, while her legs remain stiff. This is the longest part of the seizure. Finally it stops and she falls fast asleep."  A tonic-clonic seizure is what most people think of when they hear the word "seizure." Although these seizures are distressing to watch, the person having them is unaware. We don’t believe that these seizures are painful, but people can injure themselves by biting their tongue or straining their muscles.  The tonic or stiffening phase comes first: All the muscles stiffen. Air being forced past the vocal cords causes a cry or groan. The person loses consciousness and falls down. The tongue or cheek may be bitten, so bloody saliva may come from the mouth. The person may turn blue in the face.  After the tonic phase comes the clonic or jerking phase: The arms and usually the legs jerk rapidly and rhythmically, bending and relaxing. After a few minutes, the jerking slows and stops. Bladder or bowel control sometimes is lost as the body relaxes. Consciousness returns slowly, and the person may be drowsy, confused, agitated, or depressed.  Sometimes seizures don’t have a tonic stiffening and clonic jerking sequence, but are tonic only or clonic only. These isolated tonic or clonic seizures are rarer than combination tonic-clonic seizures.  Absence seizures used to be called petit mal seitzures. Here's a typical story: Frank, a young man, often "blanks out" for up to 20 seconds at a time. During a seizure, Frank doesn't seem to hear anyone, he blinks repetitively, and his eyes roll up a bit. During shorter seizures, he just stares. Then he continues on as if nothing happened. Some days Frank has over 50 of these spells.  Absence seizures usually begin between ages 4 and 14. Absence seizures can resemble episodes of daydreaming. If they go on for more than 30 seconds or if there is a lot of movement, then the seizure is called an “atypical absence,” which is harder to treat.  Here's a story from someone who gets Myoclonic Seizures: "Each morning, I get these 'jumps.' My arms fly up for a second, and I often drop what I'm holding. Sometimes my mouth shuts for a split second. Other times, I get several jumps in a row. Once I've been up for a few hours, the jumps stop."  Myoclonic seizures usually last only a second or two. There can be just one jerk, or a series of several. Consciousness may be lost, but the seizures are usually so brief that it’s hard to tell.  Here's a typical story from someone whose husband has Atonic Seizures: A. "When Bob has a 'drop' seizure, he falls to the ground and often hits his head and bruises himself. B. Even if I'm right next to him and prepared, I may not catch him." The sudden loss of muscle tone during an atonic seizure can cause the head to drop suddenly, objects to fall from the hands, or the legs to lose strength.  This type of seizure is also called an "akinetic seizure” or an “epileptic drop attack.”  If you have or think you may have one of these types of epileptic seizures, please see your doctor.  “The movies in this series can be viewed in any order.  If you wish to watch these clips in their original sequence, the next clip is, “Who Gets and What Causes Epilepsy?”