To all of you who answered my question telling me the positive things that has come to you because of epilepsy, I applaud you. When we see the goodness in our lives more positive things will follow. I was blessed with so many incredible abilities from dancing to drawing and even doing stand up comedy, I am not sure if all this would have been the same if I didn't have epilepsy. I always found it funny that when I am waking up after dancing with the monster I am smiling. Sore as hell but smiling. I have to admit being seizure free for the last five years, out of the forty seven years of dealing with epilepsy, has been great. Again, being positive has not only helped with my attitude but also my health. Gandhi once said that God answers prayers in his way, not ours, which makes me think I am a special human, perfect in every way and so are you. All my love forever, Mikel

Was able to meet other people with Epilepsy through a support group through the Epilepsy organization ( Epilepsy Foundation ) in my state.

Many ( not all ) people were caring and helpful when I seizured.

I have a wife and kids

I feel I was chosen to have Epilepsy and I try to help others understand it better, if they want.

All this positivity about epilepsy is what I needed right now! I count myself as blessed everyday, and continue to be a happy person, and yet obstacles of late are challenging that. Seizures I could handle- the possibility of having them stopped with surgery, and then having the surgery denied by insurance- is testing me. Wish me luck through the appeal process.... I will try to stay hopeful, patient and optimisitc- all things epilepsy has instilled in me. Thank you all!

It is so easy to see the negative side of our malady that we forget that everything has a positive side too. Our focus is often just trying not to have a seizure but there are many things we can take away from our challenge in life that is greater than the obvious ugliness of our disease. Find the beauty in life regardless of having epilepsy or any other overwhelming problem. It is there and you are perfect!

Due to epilepsy I got, firstly, to experience what it is like to experience a ‘hidden’ disABILITY. You seem 100% fine until it happens - which frightens people out of sheer shock. I now am a w’chair user having broken my back in numerous places in a car wreck while in college in the USA later on leaving me paralyzed. A very VISIBLE disABILITY and people automatically treat you different which bugs me to the hilt too - “Does he take sugar?” - “What’s his name?”..... grrrr! My friends and Carers know I am well capable of speaking for myself and try not to laugh at them. I am totally capable of speaking for myself but ignorant idiots take it that I can’t as I’m in a wheelchair and with a friend or a Carer! It drives me mad!! I always say to my friend or Carer to “Tell her/him that my name is Mark and that I don’t take any sugar!” - it usually embarrasses the hell out of them - they deserve it! My pals or Carers can’t help but burst out laughing along with me - and the embarrassment is so intense that the idiots go bright red and can’t apologies enough, pity about them!

I originally had Absence (Petit-Mal) seizures as a child numerous times a day until I had brain surgery which did not work and caused me to develop also nocturnal seizures which developed into Tonic-Clonic (Grand-Mal) daytime and nocturnal seizures, and eventually into TC & Status Epilepticus seizures!

I was told that I was UNemployable and too sick to EVER work by my college and they asked me to leave as I would tarnish their history of placing people into jobs on completing their courses! I left and set up my own company with which I won an award for ‘Entrepreneur/Website Of The Year’ (unlike ANY other previous student from that college) in my country. Suddenly my former college heard about it and wanted me to do an interview for a national newspaper to promote their college - I agreed, as long as I could tell them what they had said to me prior to me being forced to leave, but they suddenly changed their minds and a reporter never turned up - I wonder why! Lol!

Epilepsy has made me able to deal with idiots and ignore those who try to patronize me! It has made me a stronger person in myself and gave me a thick skin which came in very handy when I broke my back along with other medical barriers that have appeared also. I, like you, am very artistic and creative since developing epilepsy - see my website - Ability2.org - and let me know what you think?

Talk2u soon and keep the faith,

Regards, @A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

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