Seeing someone have a seizure in public can make people panic, especially if they’ve never seen one before. That’s why they often call an ambulance — they panic and aren’t sure what to do.
Seizure Anxiety
It makes sense if you feel anxious about having a seizure in public. Lots of young people with epilepsy feel the same. It’s never something you get completely used to, but some people get more OK with it and accept that it may or may not happen. Many people still have that worry that a seizure might happen.
Seizures are unpredictable, and worrying about them can make it harder to enjoy going out. For some people, the fear gets so strong that they start avoiding social situations altogether.
A lot of this fear comes from worrying about what might happen while you’re unaware, or what other people might think. Losing consciousness or awareness anywhere – especially in public – can feel scary. Anxiety can make your brain jump to the worst‑case scenario or assume people will judge you. But most people will genuinely try to help and want to do the right thing.
Try not to let epilepsy stop you from doing things you enjoy. Putting your life on pause because of fear usually makes the anxiety stronger.
Your anxiety might not disappear completely, but you can learn ways to manage it so you feel safer and more confident when you’re out and about. Taking small steps helps.
Strategies that can make a difference include:
- Slow, steady breathing
- Mindfulness or grounding exercises, focus on the present
- Social support, going out with family or a friend
- Taking things at your own pace
- Talking to a mental health professional if the anxiety is really strong or not improving.
With time and practice, everyday activities start to feel easier again. The more you keep living your life, the less power the anxiety has over your confidence and enjoyment.
Click the play button to hear Rob talk about his first seizure.
To see and hear about Meg’s experiences at school click on this link Meg’s seizures at school
Medical ID
Wearing a medical alert ID can help. If someone sees it during a seizure, they’re more likely to understand what’s going on and stay calmer. They may still call an ambulance, but they won’t assume it’s something random or dangerous they’ve never seen before.
It also helps to make sure a few people close to you know that you have seizures and know what to do. It doesn’t have to be everyone — just the people you trust. It can be reassuring to know you’re with someone who won’t panic and can follow basic seizure first aid. You might want to share a Seizure First Aid poster or factsheet with them.
If you are really anxious about having a seizure in public, and not going out because of it, talk to your GP who can help you find someone to talk to about it.
Click the play button to hear Caleb talk about living life with epilepsy.
