Telling friends and housemates
Moving to university or college usually involves meeting new housemates and making new friends.
Telling new people about your epilepsy can feel a little daunting and may not be the first thing you’ll want to talk about. However, it’s important to tell those around you, for their safety as well as yours.
Friends and housemates should be advised what to do if you have a seizure (even if you don’t have seizures very often). They may be anxious at first, which is natural, particularly if they have never come across epilepsy before. However, giving them the information they need will really help.
Just remember: friends are more likely to panic if you don’t tell them about your epilepsy, which doesn’t help anybody.
I was afraid it might freak my housemates out that I might suddenly have a seizure in the kitchen or something, but they were all really nice about it, which was good. I liked that.
Georgina (18) - has focal seizures
I told them when I first moved in, because I thought it was better to let them know in case something happened and they’re really good at knowing what to do which is helpful!
Annie (21) - has tonic clonic and focal seizures
Further information
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Young Epilepsy is the operating name of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy Charitable Trust.