At 24, Anita experienced status epilepticus following a difficult week. What began as an ordinary day taking a nap to reset became something life-altering.
“I closed my eyes, and when I next opened them I woke up on a hospital gurney, looking up at the ceiling lights as I was rushed into emergency care.”
In that moment, everything felt unfamiliar. Anita had lost her memory entirely and could not recall even basic details about herself. When a nurse asked if she recognised the man standing beside her, she didn’t. She was told he was her boyfriend.
The aftermath extended far beyond that day. As her memory gradually returned over the following weeks, Anita struggled with the emotional impact confusion, fear, and a deep sense of guilt. She avoided talking about what had happened, trying to move forward as if it hadn’t. But the experience lingered: embarrassment over the disruption caused, concern for her family, and a persistent fear of sleeping in case it happened again.
Anita’s turning point came when she realised she didn’t have to process it alone. Through therapy and open conversations with her loved ones, she began to make sense of what she had been through. What helped most was learning self-compassion understanding that the seizure was not her fault, and that accepting support did not make her a burden.
By sharing her journey, Anita hopes to encourage others to seek support and to be kinder to themselves. Her message is clear: living with epilepsy can be overwhelming, but no one should have to carry that experience alone.