| Editor's Desk
I believe in the power of stories. A story can change your life. But a story needs a story-teller, an audience and a place to tell the tale. For people with a story to tell about epilepsy, such a public place has not existed until now.
Welcome to a brand-new newsletter called "Talking About Epilepsy...." In this inaugural issue I tell the story of my own epileptic seizures. I'd like to invite you to tell yours.
One in 100 people has epilepsy, but our experiences are not yet public knowledge. Most people with epilepsy today remain in the closet, wary of the scarring stigma and isolation which epilepsy still has the power to inflict. Yet people with epilepsy have a lot to say; living with seizures gives us the perspective and life experiences to tell a very good story.
And our stories should be shared. Many people with epilepsy often feel isolated and alone- the only person they know with a body that seizes. We need and appreciate hearing the true stories of other people' s experiences.
Members of the general public, who still has a lot of fear and ignorance to overcome, need to hear them as well. The increased understanding of epilepsy which they can gain through hearing about your life would benefit us all. By emptying out the closet person by person, there will be less need for our children with epilepsy to ever go in there at all.
Are you a person with epilepsy with a story that you are willing to tell publicly? We would love to hear your true story, essay, monologue, poem or literary piece. Although we cannot promise to publish every story, we would appreciate having yours for our collection. My dream is to compile and edit an anthology of writing about epilepsy!
It's your turn to talk about epilepsy. Only by telling our stories will we all come out of the closet and into the light.
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