by Dr. Poornima Narayanan Nambiar
Ask most people what they picture when they hear the word epilepsy, and the answer is often the same: someone collapsing, shaking on the floor, maybe a key pressed into their hand. It is a frightening image, and it is mostly wrong. Epilepsy is far more common, far more varied and far more manageable than the stories many of us grew up hearing.
Let us clear up the confusion, one myth at a time.
Myth 1: Epilepsy is contagious
This one still lingers in some corners, and it does real harm. Epilepsy cannot be caught by touching, hugging, sharing food or sitting next to someone. It is a condition of the brain, not an infection. Children with epilepsy should be able to play, study and share a lunch box like everyone else.
Myth 2: It is caused by a curse or by spirits
For generations, seizures were explained through superstition. Today we know better. Epilepsy happens when groups of nerve cells in the brain send out sudden bursts of abnormal electrical signals. The reasons behind this can include a head injury, a stroke, an infection like meningitis, a brain tumour, problems in how the brain developed before birth, or a family tendency. In many people, doctors never find one single cause, and that is perfectly normal too.
Myth 3: Every seizure looks like a dramatic collapse
There are many kinds of seizures. Some people stare blankly for a few seconds and seem to be daydreaming. Others feel a strange smell, a rush of fear or a sense of déjà vu. Some have sudden jerks in one arm or leg. Only some seizures involve falling and shaking of the whole body. Because the quieter types are easy to miss, many people live for months or even years before anyone realises something is wrong.
Myth 4: You should put something in the person's mouth
Please never do this. A person cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure, and forcing a spoon, cloth or finger into their mouth can break teeth, injure the jaw or hurt you. The kindest and safest thing is to keep them from getting hurt while the seizure runs its course. We cover this in detail in our first aid article.
Myth 5: People with epilepsy cannot lead normal lives
This is perhaps the most painful myth of all. With the right treatment, most people with epilepsy can go to school, hold down jobs, marry, raise children and travel. Many have their seizures fully controlled with medicines. Famous artists, athletes, writers and leaders have lived with epilepsy. The condition is part of their story, not the whole of it.
Myth 6: Epilepsy always means lifelong medication
Not necessarily. Some children outgrow certain types of epilepsy. Some adults who stay seizure-free for several years may, under their neurologist's guidance, slowly reduce and stop their medicines. The key words are under guidance. Stopping tablets suddenly on your own can trigger severe seizures and should never be done without medical advice.
Myth 7: Epilepsy is a mental illness or means low intelligence
Epilepsy is a neurological condition. It is not a mental illness and it does not reduce a person's intelligence. Some people with epilepsy do experience anxiety or low mood, often because of the stress and stigma around the condition, and that deserves care and support. But the condition itself says nothing about how clever, capable or creative someone is.
Myth 8: Flashing lights trigger everyone's seizures
Only a small group of people, roughly three in every hundred with epilepsy, have what is called photosensitive epilepsy. For most, lights on a screen or at a celebration are not a problem. Far more common triggers include missed medicines, lack of sleep, heavy stress, illness with fever and, for some, alcohol.
So what is true?
Here are the facts worth remembering:
• Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions in the world, affecting people of every age, gender and background.
• Most people can control their seizures with the right medication.
• A first seizure does not automatically mean epilepsy, but it always deserves a proper medical check.
• Taking medicines regularly, sleeping well and managing stress make a real difference.
• Stigma and silence often cause more suffering than the seizures themselves.
What you can do
If you know someone with epilepsy, be the friend or colleague who asks, listens and learns. Do not whisper about it, and do not treat them as fragile. Learn the basics of seizure first aid so that you are ready if the moment ever comes.
If you have had a seizure, or you have noticed episodes of blanking out, unexplained jerking or confusion in yourself or a loved one, please do not wait. A neurologist can examine the symptoms, arrange tests such as an EEG or an MRI, and guide you towards the right treatment. Early diagnosis often means better control.
Epilepsy is not a secret to be ashamed of or a curse to be feared. It is a medical condition, and like many others, it responds well to understanding, care and the right treatment. The more openly we talk about it, the easier life becomes for everyone who lives with it.
