Many people with epilepsy live a normal life, but there is no doubt that epilepsy can affect your quality of life.

Apart from good seizure control, many factors affect the quality of life of people with epilepsy. Factors such as depression and medication side-effects can greatly affect quality of life. Even in people who gain seizure control, if this is at the expense of unacceptable side-effects, then quality of life can remain poor.

The burden of epilepsy concerns not only the physical hazards of epilepsy but also the psychosocial consequences, such as the negative attitudes manifested as social stigma, social isolation and lack of support.

Society’s attitudes towards epilepsy can often cause more distress to the person than having seizures.

A wholistic approach to the person with epilepsy must take into account lifestyle issues, cognitive difficulties, mental health, social supports and all psychosocial complications that may accompany epilepsy.