Portland Moonrise
Psychogenic NonEpileptic Seizures (PNES)
What is PNES?
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are episodes that resemble epileptic seizures but are not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Instead, they are physical expressions of emotional or psychological stress, often occurring in response to trauma, anxiety, or overwhelming life experiences. PNES is a real and involuntary condition that can be deeply distressing and even traumatizing for individuals who experience them, including family and friends who are supporting their loved one. Unfortunately, PNES is deeply misunderstood by medical and psychological communities with little research dedicated to the cause and treatment of this confusing diagnoses.
If you’re experiencing PNES, know that you’re not alone—and that what you’re going through is real and valid. Living with PNES can be confusing, frightening and isolating, but support is available. In therapy, we can work together to gently explore the underlying causes that may be contributing to your symptoms and help you build tools for safety, regulation, and healing. I invite you to reach out when you feel ready—you’re deserving of care that sees and honors this very difficult experience.
Colette's Story
In 2024, I watched one of my dearest friends of nearly 20 years get hospitalized for sudden and debilitating seizures. At 43, she was vibrant, healthy, successful, and full of life - a committed mother and a wife. To witness her feel betrayed by her body was heartbreaking. She and those of us who loved her were overwhelmed with fear, grief, and helplessness. Despite the severity of her symptoms, no epileptic activity showed up on any of her scans. She was eventually diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and sent home with a cocktail of medications we feared were only making things worse.
Over the course of many months, while on medical leave from work and navigating a maze of medical appointments and an array of alternative healing modalities, her seizures gradually lessened in frequency and intensity. Eventually, she was able to taper off the medications, but her challenges didn’t simply disappear. Though there was hope in her healing, she continued to experience occasional PNES episodes, lost much of her hair, and endured other lingering side effects from the medications.
She did return to work—still unable to drive—and has slowly begun to reclaim her relationship with her body and nervous system. Her hair grew back, and so did her sense of resilience. Colette’s story is not unique. Many who experience PNES are left without clear answers, adequate support, or advocates to help them navigate this deeply misunderstood condition. Too often, they are left feeling alone in a body that no longer feels safe or trustworthy.
As her close friend, I was scared and filled with uncertainty. As a somatic psychotherapist, I became profoundly curious—and deeply moved—by her body’s attempts to regulate and survive in a world that had demanded more than her emotional system could hold. In witnessing Colette on her journey with PNES, I came to understand just how little resources there are for individuals diagnosed with PNES—and how urgently that needs to change.
If you have been diagnosed with PNES I want you to know this: You are not alone. I am here to offer a grounded, compassionate space—a place of understanding, advocacy, and hope—as you begin to make sense of your experience and reconnect with the wisdom of your body. You can also learn more about PNES at nonepilepticseizureseducation.com.