This Is One Face of Epilepsy

This is one face of Epilepsy. There are an innumerable amount and combinations. Seizures, or episodes as I call them, can manifest in many forms, many strengths, and affect any number of bodily functions. 

Seizures can pop up out of nowhere, with no warning or they can give the person a small warning before taking over: referred to as an Aura. Sometimes seizures happen multiple times a day. Other times, they may not come around for days, weeks, months, or even years. 

Seizures can be triggered by practically anything, depending on the person’s type of Epilepsy: sounds, stress, odors, lights, foods, emotions, and environment. 

Seizures don’t always come out as uncontrollable shaking. A person may stare, have intense head or body pain, experience instant emotional outbursts (many times in crying form), feel like they are in a literal walking nightmare, have trouble with speech and motor skills, or lose consciousness. They can affect balance, cause vertigo, and impaired vision. 

After a seizure, depending on the type and person, recovery can be instant or take minutes, hours, or even a few days.

Many people with Epilepsy feel they need to hide their condition because they are embarrassed by it and don’t want weird reactions from family, friends, co-workers or people at large.

People with Epilepsy can and do live normal lives. They love, work, and go as much as someone without seizures, when they are able. 

You can’t tell a person has Epilepsy just by looking at them. There’s no physical indicator to point us out. It’s one of those invisible diseases that is misunderstood by so many healthy people. 

Seizures cause us to loose time with our families and friends. They cause us to blame ourselves for being late to important stuff. They can cause depression because those that have unmedicated Epilepsy can feel they are a burden to those around them. 

Epilepsy as a whole sucks. Many types are not able to be stopped or medicated simply because they haven’t found the right medicine yet. 

Epilepsy is also a silent killer. Many peoples die because of seizures every year. 

So, before you judge the stranger sitting next to you, the “weird” person on the bus, the person that you think is high, ask yourself if that person could have an invisible condition you know nothing about. Or, just don’t judge them. Don’t jump to the first negative conclusion. Ask if they need help first. Be kind.