One in 10 may experience a seizure in their lifetimes

A seizure can be one of the most frightening things for a family member, friend, or anyone to witness. However, for some people with epilepsy, seizures may be fairly common and not unexpected. Roughly 1 in 10 people may have a seizure at some point in their lifetime.
A seizure occurs when there is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain. This may cause a sudden change in awareness or full loss of consciousness, unusual sensations or thoughts, or temporary problems in muscle tone or movements, such as stiffness, twitching, or limpness. 
The two main types of seizures are focal and generalized. A focal onset seizure starts in one area of the brain and spreads, causing mild or severe symptoms. A generalized seizure occurs when both sides of the brain are affected. Generalized seizures may include:
Absence - which causes a staring spell, the “petit mal” seizure