The Biggest Challenge of Epilepsy Isn’t What You Think

July 8, 2026 Codrin POLeave a comment

When people think about epilepsy, they usually think about the seizure.

I get it. I have tonic-clonic seizures, and they’re dramatic, unpredictable, and honestly, scary to witness. But what most people don’t see is everything that happens between the seizures—especially at work.

I’ve realized that one of the biggest challenges of living with epilepsy isn’t always the condition itself. It’s the misunderstanding that comes with it.

Telling an employer or colleague that I have epilepsy can feel like taking a huge risk. Not because I’m ashamed of it, but because I never know what they’ll think. Will they see me as capable? Or will they suddenly start questioning whether I can do my job?

It’s frustrating because, before they knew about my epilepsy, my work spoke for itself. My ideas mattered. My experience mattered. Then, with one conversation, it can feel like all they see is the diagnosis.

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Dealing with epilepsy · Misconceptions

The awkward silence after saying “epilepsy”

May 18, 2026May 24, 2026 Codrin POLeave a comment

There is a strange silence that sometimes appears after someone says the word “epilepsy”.

Not always. Some people react normally. Some ask questions. Some even try to understand. But many simply freeze for a few seconds, as if they suddenly became afraid of saying the wrong thing.

He noticed this years ago.

At first, he thought he was imagining it. Maybe people just needed time to process the information. Maybe they were surprised. But after enough conversations, patterns become obvious.

People suddenly become careful.

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Misconceptions · Dealing with epilepsy

The Anatomy of an “Almost” Seizure

May 12, 2026April 27, 2026 Codrin PO

There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes from the “almost” seizure. In the community, we often talk about auras—those strange, sensory warnings that something is coming. Sometimes they lead to a full event, and sometimes they just… linger.

An aura is like seeing a storm on the horizon. You start the mental checklist: Am I near something sharp? Should I sit down? Who is around me? You prepare for the drop, the loss of consciousness, the total surrender of control. But then, the storm passes without breaking. The “static” in your head clears, the nausea fades, and you are left standing there, heart racing, waiting for a blow that never landed.

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Dealing with epilepsy · Misconceptions · Not too personal

The Lifestyle Trap: It’s Not Just “Stress”

May 5, 2026April 27, 2026 Codrin PO

If I had a Euro for every time someone suggested a “lifestyle change” to cure my epilepsy, I could probably fund my own research lab. We’ve all heard it: “Have you tried yoga?” “Maybe you should quit gluten.” “Is it just because you’re stressed?”

While sleep and stress management are vital tools for any chronic condition, there is a dangerous misconception that epilepsy is a failure of discipline. It frames a neurological disorder as a lack of “wellness.” When people offer these tips, they are often trying to be helpful, but they are also trying to make sense of something scary. If it’s just about “stress,” then it’s something they can control. If it’s a random electrical storm in the brain, that’s much more unsettling.

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