Make Connections that Count
By Owen Sutton
The first time I had a seizure was the scariest experience of my life. I was standing in my kitchen, and everything was normal up until five seconds before it happened. I fell and hit my head on the ground, and when I woke up, there were paramedics around me checking the back of my head to make sure I was not bleeding.
After my experience, I struggled a lot with the fear of having a seizure in public. I started looking for seizure helmets to keep me safe. However, I realized that a helmet might make people think, "there's something different about that person." So, I decided to create a discreet seizure cap that I could wear in public, and people would not look twice.
In addition to creating a helmet for me to wear, I also went to therapy many times to help overcome my fear. What really resonated with me was when my therapist said, "Create your own safety bubble with friends and family. It is a private zone that only they can enter."
Through my experiences, I want to increase awareness about epilepsy and help people like me not to feel so alone. A seizure can be the most frightening moment of your life, but you should not feel ashamed.
Work to keep your friends and family around you and create your own safety bubble however you need to. The main thing is that you have support: make connections that count. Simply having people in your life who understand is a huge help.
Reviewed By: Sara Wyen