Pros & Cons of epilepsy

I decided to write about the pros and cons of epilepsy. Now you're probably thinking, "There is no way there are any pros in that situation." Let me explain. When getting the diagnosis of epilepsy, there are a lot of congruent diagnoses, whether mental or physical.

PROS:

• Having epilepsy is meeting extraordinary people that understand what you're going through. That is what this support group has done for me. You know you're not alone in the battle you're fighting.

• When you are at your worst, you will quickly figure out who cares for you. This includes friends, family, and anyone.

• For me, at least, I have found the right therapist. She doesn't switch topics when I talk about my epilepsy, and she doesn't lecture. I wouldn't have found her if it wasn't for my epilepsy.

• A fantastic pro is becoming in tune with your body. Becoming so in tune that you can feel the aura before a seizure happens. Some people work years to become that present. Let those sink in.

• The final pro is the most important. If epilepsy has taught me anything, it is that I am so strong and have gotten through 100% of my worst seizures and bad days. It brings out the strength in you.

Now the cons. I'm not doing obvious cons that wouldn't help anyone.

CONS:

• Epilepsy is it is incredibly stigmatized. Meaning you tell someone you have epilepsy, and they expect that your seizures are on the ground thrashing around.

• It is also highly underfunded. That means for those of us who have epilepsy, research on different types, new medications, and other things sometimes doesn't happen.

There are more pros and cons of having epilepsy, but I'm not sure if you could fit all of them together. -Brooke J