Epilepsy Talk

What most offends YOU about how people treat epilepsy?

April 14, 2023
19 Comments

I call epilepsy the “stealth condition,” because most people don’t actually witness a seizure.

Which results in an abundance of ignorance…misinformation..and to be frank, discrimination and slurs.


My mother once told me…

October 3, 2022
8 Comments

Watch where you’re going.

You’re clumsy.

You’re depressed.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself…


Anger and Epilepsy: WHY ME?

July 25, 2022
14 Comments

Suddenly, you’re feeling edgy. Lashing out at loved ones for no reason at all. It’s not anybody’s fault. It’s that old familiar enemy. Epilepsy. Again.


Who was your greatest inspiration?

April 14, 2022
7 Comments

For me, quite simply, it was my grandfather.

After all, I was a pariah. A leper. (No one would say the “E” word.)

I’d never achieve anything. My life was over.

Even though it had just begun.


Confessions of 30 Years with Epilepsy… 

March 2, 2022
28 Comments

When I was first diagnosed as a teen, no one knew what to do with me.

My parents refused to use the “E” word. People treated me like I was some kind of pariah. (Which didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy either).


Anger and Epilepsy: WHY ME?

June 27, 2021
25 Comments

Suddenly, you’re feeling edgy. Lashing out at loved ones for no reason at all. It’s not anybody’s fault. It’s that old familiar enemy. Epilepsy. Again.

Why me? Why now? It’s not fair.


Dating Disasters and Epilepsy

February 5, 2021
15 Comments

When I was a teen I fell down, walked into walls, bumped into virtually everything in my path, and almost drowned in the shower.

So, you can imagine what a disaster dating was.

Of course, in my infinite wisdom, I would never tell my dates that I had epilepsy. 

My parents wouldn’t even utter the word, so rather than become a pariah, I kept my mouth shut.

Bad idea…


What is YOUR story?

August 7, 2020
45 Comments

When did you find out that you had epilepsy?

How?

What did you do after being diagnosed? 

How do you cope with it now?


    About the author

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    I've been a professional copywriter for over 35 years. I also had epilepsy for decades. My mission is advocacy; to increase education, awareness and funding for epilepsy research. Together, we can make a huge difference. If not changing the world, at least helping each other, with wisdom, compassion and sharing.

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