This is one of those questions that really depends on the person. For some PWEs, watching someone else have a seizure doesn’t affect them at all. But for others — and I include myself here — witnessing a seizure can actually trigger one. Yep, it happens. For me, it’s mostly about fear and stress. Seeing...

If you’ve ever walked into a clinic and struggled to explain your epilepsy story clearly, trust me — you’re not alone. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve blanked on dates, skipped important details, or left wishing I’d said more. That’s exactly why we built the Patient Portal. The Portal is a free online...

This is one of those questions that keeps coming up in our community — and honestly, I’ve asked it myself more times than I can count. Can you actually stop a seizure before it starts? The short answer: sometimes yes, sometimes no. It really depends on your seizure profile and how well you know your...

“Did I swallow my medication? Did I miss a dose?”If you live with epilepsy, these are questions you’ve probably asked yourself many times. I certainly have. Even the most disciplined Persons With Epilepsy (PWEs) sometimes find themselves unsure whether they took their last dose—mainly because many anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) can affect memory. It might sound...

This is a question most Persons With Epilepsy (PWEs) will never get tired of asking. It strikes at the very heart of our hope: the dream of one day getting rid of seizures forever. I’ve asked myself this question many times, and I know how deeply it matters to every PWE. The truth is, the...

This is a question I hear often from Persons With Epilepsy (PWEs): “Do older anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) have worse side effects than the newer ones?” Unfortunately, the answer is usually yes. Older generation ASDs tend to come with harsher and more pronounced side effects. For example, drugs like phenytoin can cause gum overgrowth (gingival hyperplasia)...

For most health conditions, conversations may be difficult, but they’re at least possible. Epilepsy is different. It sits in the shadows—wrapped in stigma, silence, and misunderstanding. Over the years, I’ve seen how this silence isolates people and allows harmful myths to thrive. But why has epilepsy become such a taboo subject? The answer begins with...

One of the most overlooked epilepsy management strategies is companionship — specifically, sleeping with a trusted companion. Most seizures that happen at night go unnoticed by the PWE, since they are unconscious during the event. You may only wake up feeling “strange” without knowing what occurred. A sleeping companion can provide vital observations: Did you...

Taking medication every day for life is already hard. Adding strict schedules makes it even tougher. But for Anti-Seizure Drugs (ASDs), timing is everything. ASDs work by maintaining a steady level of medication in your body. Missing a dose or taking it late can cause levels to drop, opening the door for breakthrough seizures. That’s...

For many PWEs, walking is the safest way to move around. But even this has risks that must be managed. One of the simplest yet most effective safety tips is to always walk facing oncoming traffic — left side in Commonwealth countries, right side in American systems. Why? Because it reduces the chance of being...

Few topics stir more debate on our forum than driving and riding. For PWEs, transportation isn’t just about mobility — it’s about responsibility. For those diagnosed later in life, giving up driving can feel like losing independence. Others, whose seizures are well-controlled, believe they can still manage the risk. But epilepsy changes the equation: the...

One of the hardest things for PWEs to explain to family and friends is why they often avoid ceremonies — weddings, cultural gatherings, or large public meetings. Unlike partying, these aren’t wild nights out; they are often respectable, once-in-a-lifetime events. So why do PWEs avoid them? The answer is simple: fear. The greatest fear for...

Living with epilepsy often means giving up certain environments that may trigger seizures, and at the very top of that list is nightlife — parties, concerts, clubs, and bars. While these venues are popular social spaces, for Persons With Epilepsy (PWEs), they can be extremely risky. Parties combine several major seizure triggers in one place....

For anyone who has ever played video games, the warnings at the beginning of most games are familiar: flashing lights, rapidly changing patterns, or intense visual sequences can trigger seizures in some players. While many gamers skim past these warnings, they exist for a very real reason. For Persons With Epilepsy (PWEs), these flashing lights...

One of the most persistent and common questions within the epilepsy community is this: should a Person With Epilepsy (PWE) drive? At first glance, driving seems like a normal part of independence and mobility, but for PWEs, it is a complex and nuanced issue that involves personal safety, public safety, and legal considerations. On one...

For every Person With Epilepsy (PWE), one of the most challenging aspects of managing the condition is navigating the complex world of Anti-Seizure Drugs (ASDs). Much like other health conditions, there is a constant battle among different ASDs—manufacturers, brands, and types all claim to be the best for particular forms of epilepsy. Older medications like...

One of the first things every Person With Epilepsy (PWE) learns after diagnosis is an unavoidable truth: from this point forward, their life is, in many ways, at the mercy of Anti-Seizure Drugs (ASDs). To a PWE, these medications are not just pills—they are the fine line between safety and danger, the difference between normalcy...

Epilepsy is a vast and complex challenge—one that no single organization, volunteer, or treatment can fully address alone. In Uganda, where healthcare gaps, low awareness, and limited access to medication make living with epilepsy even harder, the struggle is especially intense. It’s within this reality that I founded Seizure Support: a community-led initiative dedicated to...

Epilepsy, one of the world’s oldest recognized neurological disorders, has perplexed humanity for millennia. Characterized by recurrent, unpredictable seizures, epilepsy has been both a medical and social challenge, affecting millions across cultures, geographies, and eras. Early societies often attributed seizures to supernatural forces, curses, or divine punishment, casting persons with epilepsy (PWE) as outcasts or...