Epilepsy and the weird and wonderful world of hidden diseases.

A hidden disability is an umbrella term to capture a spectrum of disabilities that mainly affect the brain. Let me tell you about how my hidden disability has not only changed how I live forever, but also has shaped me into the person I am today.
At age 16, while on holiday in Florida with my family, it took approximately seven minutes for my life to change forever: I had my first ever epileptic fit. 
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I had never suffered any form of disorder relating to epilepsy previously and at the point I have developed the condition I will be fighting to keep it under control for the rest of my life. My first ever seizure was an interesting experience to say the least… I remember two things from the experience: arguing with the paramedics that “who is the Queen is a stupid question” and asking my Mum what theme park we were visiting that day o, yes, in short the condition does have its lighter moments. However, in retrospect this was one of the scariest moments of mine and my family’s lives. 

Picture the scene: you are enjoying a holiday and 24 hours later you are watching your son/baby brother being diagnosed with a condition he never knew he had and you didn’t know how to deal with.

Like most disabilities, both hidden and visible, epilepsy has affected me physically. It has also taken its toll on me mentally. I cannot drink due to my medication and for many years this made me feel excluded. I thought it made my 18th birthday feel insignificant and on more than one occasion I would not be invited on nights out because I am “boring” because I don’t drink. I have also never been able to learn to drive up until this year and that was without a doubt a knock to my confidence. However, if I could go back and tell my younger self and any kids here anything, it is that you don’t need to have a drink to have fun; you just have to surround yourself with the right people. 

Surrounding myself  with the right people means my day to day life is now incredibly boring and my condition is well under control. I have wonderful friends, family and a consultant who has struck gold with my medication… big up Dr. Steiger. I know I will never be cured and it does dawn on me from time to time that I am fighting a somewhat invisible enemy, but I like to think I embrace that.

Epilepsy is a condition that can strip you of your dignity, therefore embracing what comes at you is really your only option. I have been found in some states that could be described as questionable following seizures… conditions that I am very much sure I am not allowed to talk about in this article. However, in a strange way, for me at least, the strange injuries and downright weird incidents have helped me build my character; they give me stories to tell and jokes for people to laugh at. 

I want people to be able to talk about my condition and it gives me great pride to be writing this article because it gives epilepsy a voice. I want people to embrace having discussions about disabilities both hidden and visible.
Danny

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