The Plight of Epileptics

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Epilepey is in modern times still somewhat of a mysterious neurological condition to which there is still a stigma attached. People with epilepsy may have uncontrolled, unpredictable seizures or convulsions. Sometimes the seizures can becontrolled through medications or surgery but often there is no known cause for them and the available mediations and surgeries don't work. Sometimes, if a seizure can't be produced in a clinical setting, a doctor will question a victim's claim and not believe they are really having them. Here is an account related to me by a 22-year-old seizure patient: He was having severe grand mal seizures. They were unpredictable and had not been clinically diagnosed in a medical setting. This young man could not drive or work because of his disorder. The doctors would not certify his condition. He applied for benefits from a government agency but was denied because his doctor would not certify that he was having the seizures. Even so, he kept applying because he couldn't work and needed the benefits to take care of his family. One day as he was in the waiting room waiting to see his caseworker he had a full blown seizure. After that the agency gave his family financial help, but I think it is a shame he had to go through so much in order to be believed and helped. How do you view epilepsy? Do you feel that in modern times there is still a stigma attached to this disease?