Having epilepsy shouldn’t mean missing out on an amazing festive period. Support at school can help manage your triggers and make this time as magical as intended.
We reached out to young people in our network to express how you managed your epilepsy at school during the holidays and what can be taken from your experiences.
What you wanted schools to know
Jess and Mona had very different festive school experiences. For Jess, struggling with tonic-clonic seizures and side-effects of new medication, a difficult time was eased by staff who understood.
Mona, however, still did not yet have an epilepsy diagnosis and found the experience overwhelming.
Unaware of her condition, the festive period brought seizure triggers that Mona’s school did not know how to respond to.
I never got any support in school because no one was aware of my condition.
If teachers were aware, I would have liked them to understand that sometimes I get overstimulated by the excitement or the music and to take that into account.
The flashing lights of Christmas are an obvious trigger if you have photosensitive epilepsy. However, excitement, stress, tiredness, and changes in routine are more common seizure triggers, and occur more around this time.
When I'm not in my usual routine, I'm always worried I may trigger because my seizures are uncontrolled. If I have one, I try my best to act normal, even though that's very hard for me.
Mona wasn’t alone in being overwhelmed at school during this time. Another respondent to our outreach kept it simple:
I didn’t enjoy it.
A third young person with epilepsy, however, saw growth in her school as staff learned more about her condition.
They took it more seriously. They’ve become more aware of triggers to prevent seizures and got better at communication.
Even if you are seizure-free, continued communication and an up-to-date Individual Healthcare Plan can help you feel more secure during less routine times.
What Jess’s school did right
Unlike Mona, Jess had been diagnosed with epilepsy. However, she was also struggling during the festive season.
My secondary school was very supportive around Christmas. I had a tonic-clonic seizure at school. I was watching my favourite teacher put tinsel in her hair and then that's when the seizure came on.
The recovery was difficult during what was supposed to be an exciting time.
I was being put on new medication, going for hospital appointments, and I was still recovering from a seizure. I was very exhausted - drained emotionally and physically.
The efforts of school staff, however, helped her feel safe and supported inside and outside the classroom.
The teachers helped me catch up with work and made sure I was OK. The counsellors kept a close eye on me and involved me in Christmas activities. They really put a smile on my face even though I was going through the most difficult time of my life.
Keeping on top of school work is a great way to reduce stress, and asking for support is often particularly important for many students over the festive period due to upcoming mock exams.
Because the supportive network her school provided, Jess even missed it over the holiday.
Holidays give me time to catch up on sleep and relax after exhausting weeks. The only thing was, if I wanted to speak to a counsellor I had to wait until we went back, and by then, I often forgot what I wanted to say.
Festive tips for getting support at school in the festive period
As the experiences of Mona, Jess, and other young people with epilepsy show, support for pupils with epilepsy over the festive period goes a long way.
Your school should have systems to make sure you are supported, but you can help make sure that this experience is inclusive as possible:
- Tell staff how you want to be supported. No one knows your epilepsy better than you. Learn more about the support you are entitled to at school.
- If you are worried about an increase in seizure triggers, ask teachers to prepare you for changes in your routine.
- Mock exams often follow the festive period, and the revision and pressure can add to your stress. Find out what exam and coursework support you are entitled to and communicate with staff if you need accommodations.
- Keep your Individual Healthcare Plan up-to-date and make sure staff know about any updates. If loud music is listed as a trigger, for example, they’ll know to keep the festive tunes at a more comfortable level.
- If seizures, medication, and other stresses of epilepsy are impacting your learning, ask for ways you can catch up on work.
- Get involved in festive activities. Building holiday spirit can help you enjoy the season and feel more part of your school community.
- Write down your feelings and challenges when you are away for the holidays so keep track of your progress when you return.
- If you are struggling to adjust back to the routine when you return from the holidays, communicate that with staff.
The festive season is more merry and inclusive when schools understand and support pupils with epilepsy. Open communication and planning make all the difference. Don’t hesitate to share your needs and embrace the celebrations with confidence.
