Epilepsy has been on this planet as far back as time will take us. According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, some of history’s finest may have had epilepsy: people like Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.), Alfred the Great, West Saxon king and scholar (849-899), Hector Berlioz, French composer (1803-1869), Julius Caesar (100—44 B.C.), St. Paul the apostle, Socrates the Greek philosopher and mathematician, and Vincent Van Gogh the Dutch painter. Anyone can have epilepsy.

 

Before we go any, further let us ask ourselves the question, “What is epilepsy?” Epilepsy is caused by sudden, brief changes in a person’s brain activity. When brain cells fail to function properly due to epilepsy, a person’s awareness and movements may be altered, perhaps dramatically, for a short period. These sudden physical changes in brain activity are called, “seizures.”

 

A person’s brain cells usually transmit information to the rest of the body by way of orderly electrochemical signals. These signals are not transmitted randomly; they do not course pell-mell through our nervous system. They are, rather, transmitted selectively, as some messages are inhibited and others allowed continuing on. This selectively prevents “cross talk” or message overload in the body’s communication system.

 

Occasionally, however, a group of brain cells simultaneously “fires” or discharges a large number of electrical signals that produce a temporary rise in activity in certain parts of the brain, thus disrupting a person’s internal communication system. This is a seizure. A seizure disturbs a person’s consciousness, much in the way a lighting storm can disturb the electrical power supply. Each time, I have a daytime seizure, I feel as if I put my hand in a socket and arm being electrocuted. The electrical feeling begins in my feet and travels up my leg through my body. Once the electrical feeling reaches, my head is the moment where I lose consciousness. The worst part of my seizure is feeling this electrical current travel through out my entire body. So try closing your eyes for a moment and visualize a lighting storm and how it affects an electrical power supply.

 

This is very much what is happening inside a person’s head when he or she is having a seizure. This disruptive overload of brain activity causes the strange body movements, unusual changes in speech, blank stare, and twitching of the eyes, which are symptomatic of some seizures.

 

A single seizure, bear in mind, does not necessarily signal epilepsy.  Epilepsy involves recurrent seizures, varying from one or more a day, to one a month or even as few as one or two year.

 

Seizures have many causes, epilepsy being only one of them. Having one or two seizures does not mean someone has epilepsy. Seizures can be caused by, among other things, high fevers, and alcohol withdrawal.

 

Epilepsy affects about one percent of the United States population. Occurring ten times more frequently than multiple sclerosis and 100 times more frequently than the motornuron disease. Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide, and more than two million people in the United States alone.

 

Statistics show that one out of ten people will have at least one seizure in his or her life. Four out of 100 will ultimately develop full-blown epilepsy. According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, the causes of 70% of all cases of epilepsy are unknown.

 

Unfortunately, most people do not understand epilepsy by the age of 84. I am writing this book, therefore, to help people with epilepsy better understand their disorder and to educate the general public. Many People with epilepsy that I spoke with tell me that they feel their friends, family and doctors do not understand what their going through having to live with epilepsy. It is hard for others to understand the fear you carry inside yourself not knowing when the next seizure is going to occur. How you feel when you are having a seizure and how you feel afterwards. Your family, friends and doctors may not completely understand how you feel, but there are people who have the disorder that understand what you are going through living with epilepsy. You are not fighting this disorder all by yourself. There are many other people everyday struggle with the same frightening and bewildering experiences. I, for one, did not fully understand how widespread epilepsy is until I fully researched this book.

 

When I first started my research, I published an article in EPILEPSY USA—a small, semi-monthly magazine sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation. In the article, I encouraged readers to write about their experiences with epilepsy. Many did write and shared some of their deepest feeling about what it feels like to suffer from epilepsy. Everyone’s story was different, but his or her feelings about the disorder were strikingly similar. Most said that in a very basic way they were just trying to live as normal a life as possible in spite of seizures and their daily fear that a seizure could occur at any time. Epilepsy affects every aspect of a person’s life. The more frequently a seizure occurs, the more profound, needless to say, is the effect. The aftereffects of a seizure can be devastating. A seizure leaves you tired, confused and with the possibility of enduring some memory loss. Undergoing a seizure may stop you from being able to perform certain tasks because of the risk of a convulsion, which could put you in a dangerous position. It may cause you to be unable to handle certain responsibilities and can even prevent you from participating in some social functions.

 

The psychological affect after a seizure can make individual with epilepsy feel they will be restricted from accomplishing the goals they strive for in life—even small goals like driving a car, diving off a diving board, swimming by yourself or even being able to baby sit a friend’s child. Some people may feel that these goals are not that important, but the people who have the disorder know that they are very important.  

 

 

One goal that I had was to drive a car. I was able to drive for a couple of years. Once I began to start, having seizures frequently my neurologist asked me to stop driving. I used to get very frustrated at not being able to drive a car. I am the type of person who likes to depend on myself and not have to rely on others to help me take care of my responsibilities. I felt frustrated and embarrassed to ask other people to drive me to my destinations. It did not matter that they were my family and friends. I felt people were feeling sorry for me and felt some type of obligation to have to drive me to the places I needed to go. I became depressed for a while and I began feeling sorry for myself, until I stopped and said, “Enough is enough.”

 

Surprisingly, I was not the only person who was feeling this way. While researching this book, I found that many people that have this disorder feel so alone. Many people who have written to me have given up their goals and expectations in life. Their attitude about life is very negative. Many people have given up because they feel they have too many limitations and restraints. Countless individuals who suffer from epilepsy think that they can never accomplish their goals and dreams in life, but I am here to tell you that this is not true.

 

The trick is to learn how to deal with the hopelessness that you are experiencing. I strongly believe the first step is to completely accept that you have epilepsy. I taught myself to accept that fact and I have learned how to live with the disorder in the most positive way possible. In this book, I talk about how I taught myself to accept me for who I am.

 

Another important factor is to understand that you are not battling this disorder by yourself. You need to realize that other individuals can relate to you and can empathize with the pain that you are feeling. We all need to be reassured that there are people who understand where we are coming from. These people are willing to reach out and give you their support. You need to recognize that they are not going to give you their help unless you ask for it.

 

It is important that you learn how to live with epilepsy and endure it. Otherwise, you could end up destroying yourself your relationships with people, your friendships, and your family. Everything you do and say affects the people around you.

 

Eventually, if we do not learn how to deal with all these issues, we could end up really destroying ourselves emotionally, physically and spiritually. This does not have to happen if you do not let it. One way to prevent this from happening is to develop a lifestyle that is suitable for your own needs. You need to make sure that it is a lifestyle that is going to make you happy over time. You need to be your own designer, creating pathways to a fulfilling future.

 

There is a whole world in front of you. This world has millions of opportunities just waiting for you to encounter. It does not matter what age you are. You can achieve anything you put your mind too. For instance, I graduated college with a degree in business and marketing. I have worked in computers and sales for the past three and a half years. I wrote this book and several newspaper articles on the topic of epilepsy. I am happily married with my first baby on the way. My seizures have been well controlled through medicine, exercise and healthy eating habits. I refuse to let epilepsy stop me from getting to the destination I plan on going. The letters in this book share some emotional triumphs and some experiences individuals with epilepsy have endured. They also tell how having epilepsy has affected them physically. Many people who have written to me have shared the methods they used to defeat epilepsy. Therefore, there is hope, my friends, and no need to give up. You will not lose the battle unless you let yourself lose.