You may have noticed that Informed Choice head offices at Sundial House, along with other landmarks in Cranleigh, have been lit up purple today.
Purple Day is International Epilepsy Awareness Day and falls on 26th March each year.
People around the world come together to raise awareness of the condition and make a difference to the lives of people affected by epilepsy.
Purple Day was created in 2008 by Cassidy Megan, a young girl from Canada, who has epilepsy and wanted to get people talking about the condition.
Informed Choice were approached by the Meath Epilepsy Charity in Godalming, who asked us to join in with this year’s Purple Day.
The Meath Epilepsy Charity aims to enhance the lives of people who have complex epilepsy and related disabilities by ensuring they receive the support, expert care and encouragement required to build confidence, acquire new skills and maximise independence in their daily lives.
It is an important cause for Informed Choice and one close to our hearts; I was first diagnosed with epilepsy in 2014.
Fortunately I am one of the 70% of people with epilepsy whose seizures are controlled through regular medication. However, I am still very aware about the lack of public knowledge about the impact of living with the condition and the side effects of the medication.
There are approximately 50 million people around the world living with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the central nervous system, specifically of the brain.
The brain is made up of nerve cells that communicate through electrical and chemical signals. When there is a sudden excessive electrical discharge that disrupts the normal activity of the nerve cells, it may result in a seizure.
A seizure can take many different forms including a blank stare, muscle spasms, uncontrolled movements, altered awareness or a convulsion.
The part of the brain where the abnormally discharging nerve cells begin determines the form the seizure will take.
My seizures begin in the temporal lobe and usually start with an intense feeling of déjà vu, followed by loss of consciousness and a convulsion. The after effects include extreme fatigue, stomach aches and memory issues.
Although not everyone can identify the specific triggers for their seizures they can include, lack of sleep, stress, hormonal changes or flickering lights to name a few.
I feel very lucky to work in an environment that is so supportive of my condition and feel proud to see so much of Cranleigh taking part in raising awareness for a much misunderstood condition.
Informed Choice is pleased to support #PurpleDay, a cause very close to our hearts #SupportMeath Share on X