things not to do or say because they can be triggering to people with epilepsy; a very needed and overdue thread

tw // there will be talk of epilepsy, seizures, and the trauma that can follow

first let’s start with the basics. epilepsy is a disease that can do many things to people. it can cause migraines, eating disorders, and most importantly, seizures

i am an individual who suffers from epilepsy and it’s not fun. i had my first and only seizure back in december of 2019. my epilepsy comes genetically from my moms side.

now let’s talk about the seizure itself. there can be many causes for seizures which i’ll get into later. but the causes for mine was dehydration and lack of sleep. it was very late at night and luckily my parents realized what was happening and held me so i didn’t get hurt

i woke up confused and screaming. i was taken to the hospital and was there for three hours or so then taken home. it was probably my scariest experience.

now let’s go through and see what you should do when someone has a seizure

first, get their her onto something soft. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THEIR MOUTH. this is a common misconception and could be deadly. put the person on their side. STAY CALM. when they wake up comfort them. they will be confused and scared. make them feel safe.

try to make sure there is as little people around as possible. crowding could make the person more nervous and embarrassed. never point out if someone has peed themself after a seizure. that will also increase embarrassment.

if you think they need it, take them to the hospital. while you’re waiting for that, get them water. DO NOT GIVE THEM PAIN MEDS. this could mess up the testing that may happen at the hospital. they will probably be in so much pain but it is the best thing.

now let’s get to the point of this thread, what you should and should not say

never talk about what happened with someone (unless it’s a medical professional or parent) this is almost always extremely triggering to people with epilepsy or people who have had seizures.

let the person talk about the event themself. and if you need to talk about it with a medical professional or someone like that, have the person leave the room as it is also triggering