A member of our youth group shared their experiences of being diagnosed with epilepsy and the impact epilepsy has had on their education.

I can’t remember when I first got diagnosed, but I probably didn’t feel that great.

I have tonic-clonic seizures, which usually makes me feel tired and sometimes my muscles will hurt and feel a bit stiff.

Also, I have absence seizures where I will feel a bit shaky for a few seconds and sometimes my eyes will roll back.

The challenges I have faced is accepting that I do have epilepsy, and the things that cause my seizures like bright flashing lights, lack of sleep, dehydration and forgetting to take my medication.

It has changed my life. I have to take a water bottle with me when I go out, I usually walk in the shade to prevent being in the sunlight and having seizures.

If I had really bad seizures before school, I usually stayed home.

Then I would miss a whole day of school. When I had big seizures at school the teachers would take me somewhere quiet.

They would also let me wear my sunglasses in class as the lights in the classroom were very bright and sometimes give me a headache as well as seizures.

More support needed

The school were not that supportive when it came to walking outside in the sun. They would usually not let me walk in the shade, and then when I got home, I would have seizures.

There was a difference when I went to college. The staff were much more supportive about my seizures.

I got to stay inside if it was too bright outside. Talking to people I trust like doctors and my mum has helped me cope with studying as well as managing my epilepsy.

I feel school needs to spread awareness and even talk about epilepsy in school assemblies.

What I would say to others is that everything will be ok. I know it can be hard.

If you have any questions, concerns, or simply want to talk to someone, please contact our freephone helpline on 0808 800 2200.