Apart from tuberculosis and syphilis, few diseases have been as steeped in myth as epilepsy.
The generalized tonic-clonic seizure has been associated with phenomena ranging from divine powers and possession by spirits to mental and moral depravity.
This has been chronicled and described extensively in fiction and feature films.
They do nothing but reinforce the stigma that is rampant about the condition.
But not always.
I bet you won’t be surprised to hear that epilepsy is most often depicted in sci-fi and horror films.
Just think of “The Andromeda Strain”, “Crazed”, “Deadwood”, “The Exorcist”, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”, “Frankenstein”, “The Garden State”, “Lighthouse” and “The Terminal Man” to name a few.
DEMONIC = EPILEPTIC!