Epilepsy myths we need to debunk right now

Seizures and epilepsy are one of the longest documented conditions.

I’m talking all the way back to 2500bc!!

In 400bc, hippocrates noted in his “on the sacred disease” that epilepsy is not caused by angry gods, and he even accused healers who gave epilepsy this “sacred” status were fraudulent.

The text stated that the brain was the source of the disease.

And while the understanding of what epilepsy is and how it is perceived has changed over time, somehow some myths and conspiracies still persist.

Even in the u.k., I’ve heard some of these.

In other countries, it’s a lot more common.

The stigma that we face is why people with epilepsy continue to hide and isolate….

That’s what I did for years!!

We need to raise awareness where it’s safe to do so.

Let’s keep debunking these myths! #epilepsy #epilepsyawareness #chronicillness #epilepsymyth #conspiracy epilepsy is one of the longest documented conditions, but it’s still misunderstood and stigmatised myth one “epilepsy is caused by spirits, the devil or god.” epilepsy is a neurological condition, which can have genetic, structural, or unknown causes.

Myth two “epilepsy is contagious.” you can’t catch epilepsy from someone else, it isn’t contagious like an infection.

Myth three “epilepsy is just a mental health problem” epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the brain, not a mental illness.

Myth four “people with epilepsy are possessed during a seizure” epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal activity in the brain.

No evidence of possession exists.

Myth five “people are faking their seizures” no two seizures look the same.

A person doesn’t have to lose consciousness or convulse for it to be real.

Are you still hearing these myths?

Share this post.

Because someone in your life may still believe one of them.