This illustrates some of the many ways that behavior can change with epilepsy, though most people don't experience any of these problems. Seizures may leave you afraid to go to work, school, or play. Seizure medicines can make you sleep more, cause you to act differently, or change your personality. And you may find that epilepsy is misunderstood by many people, sometimes even your friends and loved ones.

What if you've had epilepsy since childhood? Maybe you thought some of your quirks were just that—personality traits specific to you. But actually there may be some connection between your epilepsy and your mannerisms, feelings, and behaviors. After all, if many people with epilepsy have the same quirks as you do, there may be a common cause behind them.

Continue reading, and you will find stories that may hit close to home, information about personality and behavior changes that you may be experiencing (or that you may have gone through in the past), little things you can do to make your seizures less catastrophic, and news about what you can do when faced with discrimination.

Topic Editor:Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:12/15/06