Bothers And Hardships Of Epilepsy

Epilepsy- a seizure disorder that is formed in the brain. Also a disorder with many bothers or hardships. But before all that, let’s just have a quick discussion on what a seizure is and how a seizure is formed.

Seizures occur in the brain, and can happen in any part of it. Your brain has thousands of neurons, which are nerve cells that control the nervous system. They send and receive signals that help us think, move, speak, move, and feel. To do this, they communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals. A seizure occurs when there is an electrical disturbance in the brain; when the neurons move uncontrolled and in a crazy state. This confuses and interrupts the normal communication that happens between the neurons in the brain, causing the seizure. The type of seizure and what it looks like (such as jerking movements, staring, confusion, etc) depends on what part of the brain the seizure occurs. An example would be if the neurons moved uncontrolled in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for beginning and controlling muscle movements, the individual would most likely have a seizure with jerking movements.

Now that you get what a seizure is, let’s move onto how epilepsy affects your life and the bothersome hardships it gives.

With epilepsy, you have seizures basically throughout your whole life, as there isn’t actually a cure for it- which is definitely one of the hard things to understand for those with it. You definitely have got to take medication for it, and you are considered “cured” from epilepsy if the individual does not have a seizure for at least 10 years, or does not have a seizure for 5 years without medication. A long time, that’s for sure. And with all those seizures, one can always fear of a seizure occurring or the risk of falling or hurting themselves during a seizure. All of this may lead to anxiety, which I’ll talk about in a bit.

Speaking of medication from before, there’s the next bother. Individuals with epilepsy must take medication at least twice a day, and missing a dose can be harmful, so they have to make sure that they do take it. Missing a dose of epilepsy medication can increase the risk of a seizure, even if the person has been seizure-free for a while. It can also cause more, which may lead to Status Epilepticus, which is a life-threatening emergency if a seizure lasts 5+ minutes or if one has back-to-back seizures nonstop, possibly leading to death. If a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as remembered- unless it’s close to the next scheduled dose. In that case, the missed dose should be skipped, and the person should continue with their regular schedule. Doubling up on doses is not recommended. And these doses? Wow, all I can say is there are definitely side effects to those.

Making sure you have a right medication that works well with your body is very important. Since epilepsy medications are to help in the brain, if you don’t have a good medication working for you, there can be some serious health risks. These risks can include uncontrolled seizures, worsening of side effects like dizziness, mood changes, or fatigue, and even long-term damage if seizures become more frequent or severe. Beyond all of that, an ineffective medication can also lead to serious mental health issues. Some epilepsy medications can cause or worsen symptoms like depression, anxiety, and in some cases, even suicidal thoughts or self-harm. If these symptoms go unrecognized or untreated, they can deeply affect a person’s quality of life and overall well-being. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention not just to seizure control, but also to emotional and psychological side effects, and to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. These are all big hardships for those with epilepsy, especially if it gets to the mental health problem stage, and someone doesn’t want to someone doesn’t want to speak up or ask for help- often because they’re scared of being judged, not taken seriously, or seen as “too much” to deal with. There’s still a lot of stigma around both epilepsy and mental health, so many people stay quiet out of fear, shame, or the belief that they just have to deal with it on their own. Struggling in silence can make things worse; feelings of isolation, worthlessness, or hopelessness can grow, leading to self-harm or suicidal thoughts in some cases.

But it’s not just medication that can lead to these problems. Epilepsy itself can lead to mental health problems even without the influence of medication. Since epilepsy directly affects the brain, it can interfere with the areas that control mood, emotions, and thinking. Repeated seizures can change how the brain functions over time, sometimes leading to conditions like depression or anxiety, like I mentioned before. But it’s not just about what happens in the brain physically. It’s also the emotional weight of living with the condition. The fear of having a seizure in public, the stigma, and the feeling of being different or left out can take a serious toll. Memory loss is also a common struggle for many people with epilepsy if seizures affect areas of the brain involved in memory, like the temporal lobe. It can make it harder to retain new information or recall past events, which can be frustrating and affect daily life, school, or work. Many people with epilepsy experience isolation, low self-esteem, or chronic stress, which can all feed into deeper mental health struggles. So even if someone isn’t reacting negatively to medication, the condition itself can still have a major impact on their mental and emotional well-being. This is all a big hardship that people diagnosed with epilepsy face.

Time for daily life with epilepsy. As I said before, the feeling of being left out and isolated with limited independence is a big part of daily life for one with the condition, especially one younger. Driving is restricted for those with epilepsy, as it puts the one driving and others around them in danger if they have a seizure. Not being able to drive can be very hard in daily life, not being able to get anywhere when you need to. But you might be thinking, “there’s public transportation!”. Well, yes, but many of those with epilepsy do not prefer to travel alone, nor do the people they know want them to. This is added to the limited independence I mentioned above. With that, one having epilepsy being able to swim alone is not the best, and you should be very cautious of it. If they have a seizure in the water, there is a high risk of drowning, as well as drowning in a bath, so showers are recommended. So, swimming is a sport, so speaking of other sports and physical activities… Yup, also not recommended to do alone for one with epilepsy. Fatigue and being tired is a high trigger for many with epilepsy, so it should be supervised, however it is not necessarily prohibited. Being supervised in general for someone diagnosed with epilepsy is always good, like when cooking, operating machinery, when at heights, etc. Limited independence and having to be supervised can be quite bothersome, especially if it is a lifelong condition.

Lastly, work. It can be very difficult to find a job that will accept one with epilepsy, and even if they are hired, there can always be a stress of a seizure occurring while working, so there definitely are some job limitations. Related to work, there are also finances that can be stressful and a hardship. In places where healthcare is to be paid for, costs of treatment, medication, and hospital visits can be very high and hard to afford.

In conclusion, epilepsy is much more than just seizures- it is a complex neurological disorder that impacts nearly every aspect of a person’s life. From the physical challenges of unpredictable seizures and medication management to the emotional and mental struggles like anxiety, depression, and social isolation, those living with epilepsy face ongoing hardships that require understanding and support. It’s important to recognize that epilepsy affects not only the brain but the whole person; their independence, relationships, and overall well-being. Raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing care that includes mental health support are essential steps toward improving quality of life for people with epilepsy. Ultimately, empathy and education can make a profound difference in helping those affected live fuller, safer, and more connected lives.