Epilepsy Blog Relay™: Do you KNOW Epilepsy? Say NO to stigma
Stigma can make you feel ashamed, embarrassed and it can make you lose your confidence. Try to remember that you are not your condition.
Stigma can make you feel ashamed, embarrassed and it can make you lose your confidence. Try to remember that you are not your condition.
Epilepsy is one of the most common conditions affecting the brain yet there is still a stigma associated with epilepsy. Could sharing personal stories create a tipping point to change the dynamic?
I’ve had epilepsy since I was 14 (now 31) and about 6 years ago I began to suffer from post-ictal psychosis.
I feel as though I am not alone anymore. What I struggle with is, in a way, normal. My brain doesn’t always function correctly and it causes seizures, but I am not alone, and I am not helpless.
Sometimes, in my fight to eliminate stigma and live a “normal” life, I create the perception that my life is easy and free from struggle. However, in my speech at the Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central Pennsylvania’s (EFWCP) annual Mardi Gras Gala I showed what life with epilepsy is like–both the good and the bad parts.
Growing up with Epilepsy means growing up with stigma. In one of my earliest memories of stigma, I learned a valuable lesson.
Participating in fundraising events, like a run or a walk, is one way to stop epilepsy stigma in it’s tracks.
Epilepsy stigma can be a legitimate concern in the workplace but having a job is more about showing off your abilities.