No, they are not the same, but it would be common to mistake one for the other. Absence seizures are generally fleeting. They don't last long at all. A person experiencing such a seizure may or may not smack their lips, appear to be focused on a distant object, stop mid-conversation, experience strange tastes or smells. Some people may also experience jaime-vous where they feel "lost" in a familiar place. That's not usually daydreaming.

Regards,
kate

Also head nodding is common. I personally just stare blankly and tend to grip things very tightly. I don't remember what goes on during my seizures, though many times I can tell if i've had one because I miss bits of conversations/events.