Simon: Living With Epilepsy: Plans and Sufferance

Plans are so hard to make when you live in a constant state of fear, always at the mercy of a seizure when least expected.

The last weeks had brought a great positive change for Simon. The dosage of his medication had been altered. A result of this was that his seizure rate had dropped dramatically. Freed from the confines of having every action he undertook being invaded by an unforeseen attack his confidence was soaring.

"I've started going to the gym on a Sunday last week. I get bored staying at home just watching TV. So I thought I'd go to the gym and do something interesting and keep fit.

Simon: Living with Epilepsy

Still considered an 'Orphan disease', Epilepsy affects only a small percentage of the population and can still hold a powerful social stigma. It's often misunderstood, kept secret and judged negatively both historically and contemporarily.

 

“I'm 43 years old and I have Epilepsy. I've had Epiliepsy since I was 3 years old and the doctors don't know what caused it, no one in the family has it. I take medication; I take it in the morning and at night. Mostly Ihave fits in the night, in bed. Usually if I have a fit other times I have them in the chair, watching TV in the evening”

Electric Tears and all their Portent

Isolation and the stresses of living in a rough apartment block have a great impact on Tilney1 who endures daily the effects of Schzoid – Obsessive behaviour. He strives to make friends, to connect and have relationships. Once you're ostracised from the maintstream of society it's increasingly difficult to relate to those around you or to find a way back in. Writing, painting, sketching all help to combat the fight of the day to day and it's a war that's been raging all of his adult life, but not a war that's been lost. “I'm just stuck in my mind... not out of It..”