In many of my previous posts, I mentioned that people often react to epilepsy with fear—not fear for me, but fear that they won’t know how to handle the situation. This fear creates a distance. It makes people treat you like you’re made of glass, or worse, they stop inviting you places because they don’t want the “responsibility” of your health.
However, there is a special category of person I call the “Non-Flincher.” These are the friends who know about the condition and don’t make it the centerpiece of the relationship. They don’t panic if you look a little tired, and they don’t treat a seizure like a scene from a horror movie. If one happens, they simply follow the protocol, wait it out, and then ask if you want a glass of water or to talk about something else entirely.
The Non-Flincher provides something more valuable than pity: they provide normalcy. By not overreacting, they allow me to keep my dignity. They understand that while epilepsy is a part of my life, it isn’t the whole story. We need more people who realize that the best way to support someone with a disorder isn’t to fix them, but to simply stay in the room when things get messy.
Dealing with epilepsy 