Epilepsy Talk
Epilepsy – a dirty little secret? | February 12, 2026
Why would you say: “I have epilepsy.”
To be included — or excluded?
To be accepted — or rejected?
To be understood — or misunderstood?
To be loved — or laughed at?
I’d say, all of this — or more.
Epilepsy is either a grace — or a dirty word.
It’s all a matter of how you look at it.
And how you say it.
Speak up. Speak out. Shout!
Let the world know.
I am me. No matter what you label me.
I have a voice…a life…and a heart.
You can help me or hurt me.
You can ignore me or plead ignorance.
But I’m not going to go away.
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About the author
Epilepsy Talk 
I’m my own man, more of a solitary type, where by it means nothing to me what others think about me, or my medical condition. I’m my own person that has a handicap that comes to visit at times. All the other times i’m as normal as the rest of the people. So when the devil comes a knocking i deal with it in my own way, and once i recover everything is back to normal. Nothing to be ashamed of, just need to do things a little differently than others.
Life is too wonderful to care about what ignorant people might think. Anyways there a lot more good people than bad, i think. Like a dog or a cat that can sense negativity so can i and i don’t care to deal with negative people.
Early on in life i knew to chose my friends wisely because some friends can lead u down the wrong road.
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Comment by Zolt — February 12, 2026 @ 10:46 AM
Beware of toxic people. You’ve learned that lesson well.
And yes, being your own person I think, is what we all strive for.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 12, 2026 @ 11:07 AM
Its not a dirty little secret. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
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Comment by Royvickie — February 12, 2026 @ 5:58 PM
It’s others who cause the shame, I think.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 12, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
We have to let it roll but when your biggest Enemy is your Mother who abused you as a baby and the rest of the family follows the Devil’s Advocate it can be hard a frustrating.For that reason I went No Contact.
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Comment by Jill L Whiting — February 13, 2026 @ 1:55 PM
Jill, my heart goes out to you.
In my house, no one said the “E” word. I just had “uneven brain waves”. And I was treated like a pariah.
My step father was a surgeon and my step mother was a therapist. But ignorance (and denial?) reigned.
I was told continuously how I was “damaged goods”. I would never amount to anything.
I could go on. But fortunately I “came out of the closet” and rid myself of the toxic people in my life. (That didn’t leave many folks!)
A large weight was lifted as I finally claimed my self esteem and my life.
It was intoxicating!
I wish the same for you.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 13, 2026 @ 4:11 PM
Jill, my heart goes out to you.
in my house, no one said the “E” word. I just had “uneven brain waves”. And I was treated like a pariah.
My step father was a surgeon and my step mother was a therapist. But ignorance (and denial?) reigned.
I was told continuously how I was “damaged goods”. I would never amount to anything.
I could go on. But fortunately I “came out of the closet” and rid myself of the toxic people in my life. (That didn’t leave many folks !)
A large weight was lifted as I finally claimed my self esteem and my life.
it was intoxicating!
I hope the same for you.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 13, 2026 @ 4:29 PM
Just last night my wife and I met two new friends. When health became one of our subjects, I told them I have epilepsy. I’m not ashamed of it and now after surgery, I show them we are people who can be as healthy and normal as everyone else if we see a break or two. I gave them before and after stories so they could see how we have a life of extremes.
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Comment by Ed Lugge — February 14, 2026 @ 11:22 AM
I love it.
I had a friend who had a lightening scar on his head from surgery.
One day, I finally summoned up the courage to ask him why he didn’t grow his hair back.
He explained: “This is my badge of honor. I wear it with pride. And when someone asks about it, I get to explain about my epilepsy”
Just like you Ed. He was proud of were he came from. And proud of where he was.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — February 14, 2026 @ 11:35 AM