Amy Graham experienced her first seizure when she was at home alone aged 25 years old.
After waking up confused, with her whole body aching and her tongue bitten, she was unaware of what happened and thought she had just passed out.
But it was when she was getting ready for a night out with her boyfriend, Daniel Sanderson, a few months later, Amy had experienced a second seizure and began to fear for the worst.
Following a series of tests, she was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2018 and Amy’s life has changed ever since.
Now every day she lives in fear of having a seizure as she is unaware of what triggers them and she says her condition has “ruined her life”.
The 29-year-old from Durham said: “My life changed massively. It has kind of ruined my life in a way.
“I had just been offered a new job in a care home and had to decline as I was in and out of hospital for months having seizures.
“The first time I had no witnesses but had the symptoms like feeling tired, my body aches and I had a chewed tongue. The second time, all I remember is waking up with paramedics beside me, not knowing what was going on. My boyfriend thought I had a stroke.
“All this really knocked my confidence and got me really down and depressed.
“I ended up in such a dark place. I just felt like my life was useless and I thought my boyfriend' was going to leave as why would you want to be with someone who's having seizures all the time.”
At first, Amy’s seizures couldn’t be controlled even when she was placed on medication called Keppra.
Known to many as the “Keppra rage”, when Amy began taking the tablets she said she suffered from side effects and experienced a lot of anger which is out of her personality.
After she continued to have fits, she was then placed on Carbamazepine and is now counting her blessings after not having any seizures since.
She added: “I wish that people understood that epilepsy is way more than just seizures. It is all the horrible side effects of medication.
“I get really tired all the time and quite lightheaded. I have no idea at all what triggers them
“I now suffer from anxiety as in the back of my mind I always think about what would happen if I had a seizure in public and I have panic attacks now as well which I never did before my epilepsy.
“It's put a lot of strain and stress on the family which is upsetting but I’m lucky enough they, my boyfriend and friends, have been so supportive.”
Last year, wanting to give something back to Epilepsy Action charity, Amy has been fundraising with her friend Marrissa Torgut, who also has epilepsy.
Together the pair ran 50 miles in February and had a sponsored dip in the sea, raising over £500 for the charity to support other people like themselves.
But through this difficult change in her life, Amy thanks her family and friends for their support and said the best way to cope is through having a positive mindset.
She said: “For someone who is going through the same as me I would always speak to somebody,
“My epilepsy nurse has been brilliant. She always said, ring us anytime anywhere and she would always bring us back and she was just really nice and helpful.
“Always inform your family friends just so they're aware of it as well and you just have to think positive and think, I will get there.
“You have just got to stay strong really even though it's really hard to say. I never thought I would be where I am now. Three years down the line I haven't had one thank you.
“I have slowly gained my confidence back and built my life back up but epilepsy changes your life.”
