Epilepsy Awareness Day

Top:  Aventura // Pants:  Target (sold out, similar here) // Sneakers:  Converse (TJ Maxx, similar here)

If you’ve been following me since January of this year, you would know that I have epilepsy.  I wrote a really heartfelt post here a few months ago, at the hope of maybe helping another person out there feel less alone.  I basically wrote about the dark side of epilepsy and how even though I’ve been super positive, there are days where I do get upset and ask why me?  What did I do to deserve this?  Then I take a step back and remind myself that it could be so much worse.  I wrote the post back in January to show that it’s not easy and that everyone who thinks I’m doing just fine 100% of the time is wrong.  There are good and bad days.  I’m going to do a 6 month update from that post, but today I wanted to shed some light on epilepsy because it’s Epilepsy Awareness Day!

I know that numbers and statistics are really boring to most people, but because it’s Epilepsy Awareness Day, I need to talk numbers to y’all, so everyone has a better understanding of epilepsy in that light.

Epilepsy Statistics

• Did you know that epilepsy is the 4^th most common neurological problem?  It’s up there with migraines, strokes, and Alzheimer’s disease.  (Epilepsy Foundation)
• Each year, 150,.00 or 48 out of 100,000 people will develop epilepsy. (Epilepsy Foundation)
• Diagnoses are higher in young children than older adults. (Epilepsy Foundation)
• In a lifetime, 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point in their life.  In my case it was when I was 17, and still have it now at 30. (Epilepsy Foundation)
• The estimated number of people currently living with epilepsy is 2.2 million people or 7.1 for every 1,000 people. (Epilepsy Foundation)

Seizures

• Most seizures happen suddenly, without warning. (Epilepsy Society)
• Seizures can differ for each person. (Epilepsy Society)
• Some people have more than one type of seizure. (Epilepsy Society)
• Not all seizures involve convulsions.  Some people may seem vacant, wander around, stare, or are confused during a seizure. (Epilepsy Society)
• Injuries can happen during seizures, but many people don’t hurt themselves and don’t need to go to the hospital or see a doctor. (Epilepsy Society)

Do you know anyone with epilepsy?  Have you educated yourself on proper seizure first aid?  Keep in mind, that just because someone has a seizure, it doesn’t mean they have epilepsy.  I’ve never seen a seizure happen, but I’ve had them.  Whenever I have one I have to sleep it off because I feel like I got hit by a bus.  One of my seizures caused me to sleep for almost 24 hours.  I got up a few times to use the bathroom, drink some water, and snack, but I went right back to sleep.  I’m not going to lie, on a positive note, I am finally able to catch up on my sleep because the sleep I get after a seizure is the best sleep I’ve ever had.  It’s probably because my brain and body are restarting, kind of like a computer.  I think that’s the only positive thing about having this condition.

One of the quotes that sticks out in my head whenever I talk about my epilepsy is “You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.”

Also, just as a side note, I received this top for free from Aventura, however all opinions are my own.  I’ve talked about Aventura before and talked about their sustainable clothing.  I am absolutely loving this top, it’s super comfy, and I forgot to take a picture of the back detail, but the back of it is super cute!

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xoxo Monica

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