Adolescent Epilepsy—
What Is It?
I'm scared I'll have a seizure at school.
It's normal to worry about having seizures, especially at school. To help you deal with your feelings and help control your seizures, learn more about epilepsy and what you can do to treat it.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition that makes people more likely to have seizures. A seizure is a burst, or "storm," of electrical signals in the brain. In most cases, epilepsy does not get worse with time.
What does a seizure feel like?
During a seizure, messages in your brain get mixed up. This can change the way you act, feel, and move.
Partial seizures start in one part of the brain. They may cause staring, twitching of the hands or feet, or repeated movements on one side of the body.
Generalized seizures spread throughout the brain. One type (tonic-clonic) can cause a person to become stiff, pass out, and shake all over.
Why did I get epilepsy?
One in 100 teenagers has epilepsy. Anyone, at any age, can get epilepsy. You cannot "catch" epilepsy from someone else. Most of the time, there's no known cause.
You can take control of epilepsy and your life.
Epilepsy cannot be cured. But there are medicines that help prevent seizures. To help take control of epilepsy:
Take your medicines the right way, every day, as directed by your doctor.
See your doctor regularly. Talk openly and honestly.
Learn what brings on your seizures:
- Missing a dose of medicine
- Lack of sleep
- Smoking and/or street drug use
- Poor eating habits
- Too much alcohol or caffeine
- Increased stress
- Illness/fever
- Flickering lights
- Hormonal changes in girls
Get plenty of sleep each night. Eat right and exercise for fun and stress relief.
The goal of epilepsy treatment is to be as close to seizure free as possible with the fewest possible side effects. Use the Goal Checklist to set goals that you are ready to reach.
- Epilepsy Goal Checklist
- Epilepsy Medicine Chart
- Epilepsy Doctor Visits
- Epilepsy Seizure Calendar
- Sticking With Epilepsy Medicines