{"id":370,"date":"2025-03-10T10:07:17","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T11:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=370"},"modified":"2025-03-19T21:33:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T21:33:39","slug":"how-to-help-someone-during-and-after-an-epileptic-seizure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/10\/how-to-help-someone-during-and-after-an-epileptic-seizure\/","title":{"rendered":"How to help someone during and after an epileptic seizure"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are numerous ways to support those around us living with epilepsy (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Imagine the scenario: a loved one has just been diagnosed with epilepsy<\/a>, a much-misunderstood brain condition that can manifest in unpredictable ways.<\/p>\n

You are probably feeling concerned, frightened and almost certainly powerless. <\/p>\n

In fact, there are numerous ways to support those around us living with epilepsy, whether it\u2019s a friend, relative<\/a>, or a stranger, from creating a safe space to offering reassurance and simply asking questions.<\/p>\n

What are epileptic seizures?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain. <\/p>\n

In those of us without the condition, electrical activity happens constantly as networks of brain cells send messages to each other to control all our thoughts, movements, senses and body functions.<\/p>\n

However, when there is a sudden, intense burst of electrical activity in the brain, the messages between cells get mixed up and the result is an epileptic seizure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The way a seizure manifests depends on which area of the brain is involved, and it doesn\u2019t always result in the loss of consciousness; seizures range from strange, uncontrollable feelings or movements to falling to the floor and shaking. <\/p>\n

How to recognise a seizure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tonic-clonic seizures, perhaps the most commonly known seizure where a person stiffens, drops to the floor and begins to shake, is one of roughly 40 different types of seizure. Each have their own set of symptoms.<\/p>\n

Being able to distinguish between the different types of seizures can help you to choose the right course of action.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tFor Sarah\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Sarah Whiteley was a Metro columnist and much-loved member of the team (Picture: Sarah Whiteley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Last year, on March 10, we lost our beloved colleague Sarah Whiteley. Sarah was a fantastic journalist; she was Metro<\/strong>\u2019s parenting columnist and a valued member of our first-person and opinion desk.<\/p>\n

Sarah died aged 39 from SUDEP – sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. It is thought that every year around 1,000 people die from causes related to epilepsy.<\/p>\n

With support from Sarah\u2019s family, Metro<\/strong> is fundraising for two very important charities: SUDEP Action<\/a> and Epilepsy Action<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From March 10 to March 26, which marks Purple Day (epilepsy awareness day), we will be running a series of features and first-person pieces, raising awareness of epilepsy and SUDEP.<\/p>\n

Sarah was so incredible at helping other people share their experiences; she was a born storyteller and we hope to do her proud with this series, while raising money in her memory.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Some of the most common types of seizure are:<\/p>\n