disability

I have a mild form of epilepsy, probably juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (though I have only ever been diagnosed with “idiopathic epilepsy”). This manifests most often as brief (1 second or less) absence seizures, more rarely accompanied by involuntary movements. I am not photosensitive (most people with epilepsy are not), and I have only ever had two generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

My most important seizure trigger is lack of sleep. I also need more sleep than most people just to function at a normal level, and this is probably not a mere coincidence.

I have never had a license to drive, and I probably cannot obtain one legally (or ethically). Most places require seizure freedom for a period of several months before driving, and my seizures can be brief enough that I do not even notice them (but still long enough to be potentially catastrophic while driving). This is just one reason that I favor walkable cities with good public transit.

Epilepsy in general, and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in particular, is associated with various kinds of mental dysfunction. I strongly believe that my mind has been significantly shaped by this condition. There is no “myself-without-epilepsy”; there is only myself, with epilepsy.

(In the unlikely event that anyone reading this happens to ever see me have a tonic-clonic seizure: please do not call an ambulance unless I am in a country with socialized healthcare! The seizure will probably end before the ambulance arrives, and there isn't much that doctors can do for a post-ictal patient. Only call an ambulance if the seizure lasts longer than a few minutes, because then there is a risk of status epilepticus.)