Suffice it to say I am new around here. This will most likely become painfully obvious in about 30 more words...

Anyway, for many years (15+) I have had seeming absences - times when I could see, but my muscels would stiffen and I would feel that I was not really present. During these times, I can still hear. I can still see. I can still feel. I just can't move or react to my surroundings. The only thing I have found to bring me back to reality faster than usual is a touch. Otherwise, I could be out for as little as 15 seconds or as much as a couple of minutes.

These times happen all the time - church, work, driving (!) - and are beginning to concern me. They are not getting any worse and are sporatic, but I really am not looking forward to my next one.

Question: Has anyone experienced something similar? Is this a (mild) form of epilesy that the doctors have missed or is it more likely to be something else?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have and are willing to share....

Here are some questions that may help to diagnose what is happening to you:

1. Do you remember everything that happens during the seizure?

2. Have you had someone verify that you do or do not recall what happens during the seizure?

3. Are you disoriented or more emotional afterwards?

4. How often does this happen?

5. Are you aware of any particular triggers, like sleep deprivation, for example?

6. Can you make it happen?

Thank you for replying.

In answer to your questions, I can see and remember everything that is happening, but cannot directly effect any changes. I do not seem able to turn it "on" or "off" so to speak.

As I can see and (vaguely) remember what happens, there is little obvious disorientation, except in terms of time. That is to say, I feel disoriented, but have learned to hide it well. As it happens often with people around and I do not like to make a big deal about it, I generally don't.

I do not know how long I have been out of sorts, except on those odd occations when I am watching TV and can count commercials or estimate in some other way.

With that said, I have not asked anyone whether my recollections are correct. They feel right, but them they probably would anyway. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

There are no obvious trigggers I can put my fingers on. Doesn't mean there isn't one, just that I can't identify one. And it happens when it wants - sometimes several times a day, other times a week or two will pass with no sensation.

And, as I have not tried to induce such a state, I do not know whether I could....