"Having epilepsy can be tough like making sure you stay up with your treatment or dealing with the occasional seizure. But, imagine living a life where someone, at any time, may turn away from you in fear. For kids and young adults with epilepsy, this can be devastating. People treat someone with epilepsy this way because they don't understand. They also don't know how to help someone who is having a seizure. Education is the answer. People need to know what epilepsy is and what it's not. That's one of the reasons I want to bring epilepsy out of the shadows to end the fear."

STIGMA

Stigma surrounding the words 'epilepsy' and 'seizure' has progressively diminished during the past century, but it still exists in today's culture; whether in the workplace or amongst close friends, there are many misconceptions about epilepsy. People mistakenly believe those with the condition are 'broken' sometimes even too dangerous to employ. None of this is true, of course, but because epilepsy is so unknown and misunderstood despite the millions who experience seizures it is difficult for organizations, like the Epilepsy Foundation, to teach people otherwise.

Where does stigma come from and who can stop it?

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