Epilepsy and Access to Mental HealthcareContent Note: This article describes suicide and abuse. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider reading our mental health resources page. This year marked the 42nd year since...reactions1comment
3 of My Biggest Seizure TriggersSituations known as triggers can cause seizures in some epileptic people. Seizures can also occur in some people for unknown reasons. Individuals may have different triggers. I have now been...reactions2comments
The Barriers of EpilepsyEpilepsy can create barriers in life's daily activities – school, work, driving. But it also can create barriers in more "invisible" ways: in social interactions and dynamics. In the way...reactionscomments
Why Epilepsy Makes Us Feel Like We're Not "Normal"There are plenty of people like me, who if they don't make a determined effort to laugh and mix with others, can easily feel themselves swapped into a cold, dark...reactions2comments
Breaking Up With SugarLet's talk about added sugar. Sugar is amazing! It has always been there for me. We've celebrated everything together. Birthdays. Graduations. Weddings. Game nights. We've relaxed together on hot summer...reactionscomments
Becoming a Mom With EpilepsyI have been a writer for EpilepsyDisease.com for a couple of months, but endless hospital admissions kept me too busy to start writing. I'm currently pregnant and being very careful...reactions2comments
Can a Cold or Flu Trigger Seizures?Seizures are caused by a sudden, brief change in the brain's electrical activity. People with epilepsy can have different seizure triggers. Some common triggers are: With cold and flu season...reactionscomments
My Brain, Cognition, Side Effects... Who Is the REAL Me?I've constantly been on medications for the last 52 of my 59 years. With 20/20 hindsight, my epilepsy and my unemployability at the time were clearly a blessing because I...reactions4comments
Hiding Epilepsy From My Family and FriendsDo you try to hide your epilepsy from your family, friends, or loved ones? Yes. I do hide my epilepsy auras. This is something that I frequently do. I do...reactionscomments
Why Are Seizures Scary?My first seizure jolted all 3 of my college roommates out of bed. Yelling, blood, and convulsions shocked and scared them because I had been a healthy college athlete up...reactions5comments
The Ketogenic Diet for EpilepsyEarly in my son's epilepsy diagnosis, I searched for ways to stop the myoclonic seizures that ravaged his body. He would have hundreds of small body twitches daily and I knew...reactionscomments
Weather, Storms, and the Effect on EpilepsyFor the most part, I've always loved thunderstorms. Growing up in Minnesota, we would get some truly gorgeous storms. Arizona's monsoon season reminds me of Minnesota's spring. When I moved...reactions1comment
How Epilepsy Can Affect Your Sex LifeHaving epilepsy can affect your ability to have sex. Epilepsy can affect your sexual desire (drive) as well as your physical ability to have sex. The good news is, there...reactions1comment
Keeping a Journal to Help Avoid SeizuresEver keep a diary? Let me suggest: Start one. No, I don’t mean mush like, "Dear Diary, We went boating with the Jones, and I caught a fish!" I’m talking...reactionscomments
Pregnancy and Epilepsy: Top 3 QuestionsMy husband and I have decided we are ready to continue growing our family. Since we have made this decision, I have received a lot of epilepsy-related pregnancy questions. Here's...reactionscomments
Sleep-Deprived EEG Versus Ambulatory EEG: What Are They Like?EEGs (electroencephalograms): we've all had them and few of us love them. I am thankful for their existence. My first EEG diagnosed me with epilepsy which has helped lead me...reactionscomments
What Is an Epilepsy Center?Epilepsy affects about 1.2 percent of people. In 30 percent of people with epilepsy, seizures cannot be controlled with drugs. If you are one of those people, an epilepsy center...reactionscomments
Demystifying EpilepsyMatthew was 6 years old when diagnosed with epilepsy and he stayed in a typical classroom from kindergarten through second grade. During that time, he also played baseball and soccer...reactionscomments
When COVID Hit HomeI once survived a Louis Tomlinson show, and that's saying something considering people who didn't have epilepsy were going down like flies in a bug zapper light. Let me know...reactionscomments
Going to Concerts and Movies With Photosensitive EpilepsyI love outdoor concerts! I have since I was a teenager. Fresh air and music with amazing people, it’s a great combination! The 2 best outdoor concerts I've ever been...reactions7comments