This is an interesting new outlet for people living with epilepsy and so i thought i would contribute a bit of my story. I am a 26 year old woman. I have had epilepsy since I was a baby - my first seizure was at 18 months. I grown up with epilepsy, medications, neurologists, eegs, etc. I feel a bit different than some people who have posted so far, because I don't remember life WITHOUT epilepsy. I think it is a part of my identity to an extent, although it doesn't consume my life. I'm not going to go into the medical details, but will say that I was diagnosed with juvenile myclonic epilepsy, which I will most likely have for the rest of my life. This type of epilepsy has the stereotypcial 'grand mal' or 'tonic clonic' seizures, as well as smaller 'jerks' which essentially make your hands and legs jerk or twitch. However, my epilepsy is relatively well controlled by depekene and i have not had a seizure in approx. 2 years As a kid, the epilepsy didn't bother me much. I had trouble concentrating in school and remembering things due to medication, but other than that, I was fine. The medication ruined my teeth, as I took the syrup which was full of sugar, but that's another issue. When i was a teen i was deathly afraid of having a seizure in front of my friends. Luckily this didn't happen, but it certainly kept me away from expirementing with drugs, etc. My biggest problem when i was a teen was the seizures weren't really controlled (although they only occured upon wakening) and that i hated taking the meds. And it took an extra year for me to get my driver's license. But I accepted it eventually. When i was a young adult, my cousin was diagnosed with epilepsy. A few years after he was diagnosed, he passed away as a result of SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy patients). He was 15 yrs old. I often wondered and felt a bit guilty, as I had epilepsy all my life and didn't pass from it. And i wasn't the greatest at taking my medications even. My family has always stressed to me not to let the epilepsy get in my way. They have encouraged me to be independant and strong; yes, I have it, but it's not the end of the world. Perhaps this is the reason i feel it is a part of my identity. I often wonder how people adapt to being diagnosed with epilepsy at age 30 - it must be increadiably difficult. As for telling people I know or not, I have chosen only to tell those that need to know. My supervisor at work knows, my boyfriend knows in case something happens, a few close friends know. Sometimes I will tell people and they will be amazed; I drive a car, I go swimming, I hold babies, etc. THat's the way I like to do it - it breaks the stereotypes which make life easier for everyone with epilepsy including those who cannot do the things I can do. As far as I am concerned, we are all in this together.