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  • Awareness,  Epilepsy,  Personal

    Understanding Brain Fog And Epilepsy

    Speaking candidly, alongside seizures, brain fog is one of the most difficult – and sometimes exhausting – parts of living with epilepsy. What does brain fog feel like? Brain fog is more than just the occasional forgetfulness. We all experience…

    By Tiffany Kairos August 31, 2020

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❀ Love Letter ❀ ▪ ▪ I cherish the days...t ❀ Love Letter ❀ ▪ ▪ I cherish the days...the hours...the minutes...even the seconds I can have of seizure freedom. It’s liberating! It’s also a time of reflection, gratitude, and grace for the love and protection around my life and this journey. ▪ ▪ We live with chronic illnesses. Understand that word “Chronic”. Constantly recurring. We must constantly and unexpectedly fend off whatever our illness throws at us. But when we’re blessed to have even the tiniest of time outs, what a relief it is. How sweet it is for our bodies to feel solace. ▪ ▪ Do you know that your strength...your perseverance and courage is not only empowering but sparks growth in others on their journey? You are all way makers for so many. Continue to tell your story. Your voice matters. Speak enthusiastically of your rest from your chronic illnesses. Be that beacon of light. Your fearlessness is beautifully bright! ▪ ▪ Comment 🔥 to signify your fearlessness! ▪ ▪ I love you. ♥
✵ Take Off Your Mask ✵ ▪ ▪ Have you ever h ✵ Take Off Your Mask ✵ ▪ ▪ Have you ever hid away your true feelings about any aspect of your journey with epilepsy, assuming that it will make life easier or make everyone else comfortable? ▪ ▪ I know I have. It’s like wearing a mask. Lying to others. Lying to ourselves. That’s not the life we want or aught to live. Denying our own feelings for someone else? We’re only causing ourselves terrible heartache. ▪ ▪ We have the right to feel and express our feelings. Without guilt or shame. We don’t have to mask the pain. ▪ ▪ It’s not easy taking a journey with a condition that we can’t control, didn’t anticipate and don’t want at our door. But we can’t and should never be expected to mask away who we truly are for someone else’s’ benefit. ▪ ▪ Know in certainty that your feelings are validated and acknowledged. Understood and encouraged. ▪ ▪ So if you are wearing a mask for someone’s or others’ benefit today, take it off and release the pain. You are allowed to feel. ▪ ▪ Comment 🍃 to signify turning a new leaf and releasing any pain you feel today! ▪ ▪ I love you. ♥
✵ Crumple Up That Toxic Talk ✵ ▪ ▪ What ar ✵ Crumple Up That Toxic Talk ✵ ▪ ▪ What are some things you might not want to say to someone with epilepsy...or any chronic illness for that matter? 🤓 ▪ ▪ ✨ “Are you better yet?” ✨”Have you tried...?” ✨”You seem fine most of the time” ✨But you don’t look sick” ✨”It must be nice not having to go to work/school” ✨”It could be so much worse” ✨”You’re canceling on me again?” ✨”At least it’s not (insert another terrible illness) ▪ ▪ Questions and statements such as these tend to sting. Even those who mean well and want to help, often say things that are actually the opposite of helpful. ▪ ▪ So what are some things we should say? 🧐 ▪ ▪ 🌹”I’d love to understand your condition, do you have any resources you would recommend?” 🌹”It must be difficult to be out of work, is there anything I can do to help?” 🌹”I wish I could understand how you feel, but please know that I’m here for you” 🌹”If ever you have to cancel plans, I understand. You are not unreliable. Your health is” 🌹”How can I best support you?” 🌹”I want to let you know that your struggle and feelings are valid” 🌹”Would you like me to come with you to your appointment?” 🌹” I believe you” ▪ ▪ And a whole bunch more!! At the end of the day, we simply want to be validated, given patience and compassion. ▪ ▪ What are some unsavory phrases that need crumpled up and tossed out? How about phrases that put a smile on your face? ▪ ▪ Pop on over to my REELS and watch the short clip that highlights a few not-so-necessary phrases with a comedic twist! 😉
❉ Bring Down The Wall ❉ ▪ ▪ Being open abo ❉ Bring Down The Wall ❉ ▪ ▪ Being open about my struggles with epilepsy was one of the most intimidating things I’d ever done in the beginning of my journey. I was fearful of what others might think of me. Would they abandon me? Would they think I was crazy? Would they try to baby me? I wasn’t seeking pity but support and camaraderie. ▪ ▪ In taking down the wall that I’d built to protect myself, being open and honest about the challenges that I face I found to be so empowering. All my fears, doubt and worries washed away. ▪ ▪ There is power in being open. Speaking to how life with a chronic illness is for us. We all struggle with something. ▪ ▪ Rather than hold it in and let it have the reigns of our life, we can release it and steal them back. ▪ ▪ We can see one another. Hear one another and stand with one another. ▪ ▪ Sure...I’d lost friends in the beginning who just couldn’t and wouldn’t understand my condition but gained more loving and compassionate friends than I ever imagined. Friends who got me. Friends who desired to learn more. ▪ ▪ Taking down the wall tells yourself, the world and your condition, I may not have it all together, I’m going to come upon tough times but I’m not hiding anymore. I’m setting myself free. ▪ ▪ Comment 🔥 to signify that you are not afraid to be open! ▪ ▪ I love you. ♥
✩ Hitting The Gym With Epilepsy ✩ ▪ ▪ As u ✩ Hitting The Gym With Epilepsy ✩ ▪ ▪ As unexpected, unpleasant and unwelcome my epilepsy diagnosis was, it gave me pause to reflect on my health overall. Was I giving it the love that it needed and deserved? ▪ ▪ My diagnosis really put things into perspective. It woke me up. Reality hit me like a ton of bricks. It was time to make it a top priority. ▪ ▪ I changed to a well-balanced diet and included fitness into my life. My body thanked me for it by allowing me to feel more energetic and happy. ▪ ▪ I can’t do everything exercise-wise...Overstimulation has a tendency to trigger seizures within me...but I am so grateful that I can go after workouts that I love and achieve goals that I establish. ▪ ▪ Pop on over to my blog (Clickable link in bio) to read more about how I exercise with epilepsy! ▪ ▪ I really love hitting the gym too with my awesome swag from @wodbottom and @nike! Both have the most fun, stylish, and eye-catching workout gear that’ll make working out twice as awesome! Check them out! ▪ ▪ Comment 💪🏼 to signify both health & fitness are a top priority in your life! ▪ ▪ I love you. ♥
✬ Just As You Are ✬ ▪ ▪ After my epilepsy ✬ Just As You Are ✬ ▪ ▪ After my epilepsy diagnosis, what felt like forever, and sometimes I still have to keep myself in check, I felt unvalued...unworthy...and ugly and powerless. I was letting it dictate the entirety of my life. ▪ ▪ Have you or do you ever felt that way or find yourself feeling that way? On good days or bad days? ▪ ▪ I have good days where my seizures give me a break and I feel like I’d broken the chains but other days the rug is unexpectedly pulled out from under me with unexpected seizures and I have to remind myself, fill myself, shield myself. ▪ ▪ No matter our circumstances, not only must we remind ourselves, we have to solidify it within ourselves that we are more powerful than we know and our illness does not have permission to crush our spirit. We are beautiful in every way. ▪ ▪ YOU! Yes you, are beautiful in every way. You are a gift and a blessing to all who know you and have yet to. Place this on your heart. Speak it aloud today. ▪ ▪ Comment 🔥 to signify that you are more powerful than your epilepsy! ▪ ▪ I love you. ♥
Living with a chronic illness is no easy task. Mak Living with a chronic illness is no easy task. Making difficult decisions and doing difficult things to keep our health intact. To avoid flare-ups or seizures. To understand our condition with the goal of defeating it. ▪ ▪ I have faced many difficulties throughout my life, but epilepsy is by far the grandest one of all. Testing and stretching me to the limits with countless seizures, handful of pills, hospital stays, setbacks, good news and not-so good news deliveries...tapping on my emotions with the intent to break me. ▪ ▪ Life with a chronic illness is a rugged journey. You learn, you grow, you stand before difficult things and you do them with a brave spirit. ▪ ▪ Some of the bravest and courageous people that I know are those who are fighting a battle they didn’t see coming, didn’t ask for, don’t want but don’t know the meaning of the word ‘QUIT’. ▪ ▪ Comment 💜 to declare your brave spirit!
❉ Criticism In Chronic Illness ❉ ▪ ▪ Have ❉ Criticism In Chronic Illness ❉ ▪ ▪ Have you ever been falsely accused of being someone you’re not or criticized by any emotion you’ve expressed due to your chronic illness? ▪ ▪ Astonishingly enough, it happened to me once again just recently. And even more so, by a family member. ▪ ▪ When faced with a situation such as this...it’s important not to take it personally because they do not understand our journey. The emotions that we feel. The challenges we face. The effort we invest to overcome these challenges. ▪ ▪ Awareness is so sooo important and we’ve got to present it to everyone. Especially family members close and far. ▪ ▪ We are all allowed to be who we are. To feel. We do not need to feel sorry. It is not our faults. ▪ ▪ Comment 🙅🏻‍♀️ to signify that criticism has no place in your life. ▪ ▪ I love you. ♥
♡ Must Have Product Alert!! ♡ ▪ ▪ Do you l ♡ Must Have Product Alert!! ♡ ▪ ▪ Do you love health and fitness? Is it a top priority for you? Do you enjoy eating a well balanced meal and getting a solid workout in? ▪ ▪ After my epilepsy diagnosis, I made a drastic lifestyle change for the betterment of my health. Exercising, eating a healthier diet and more. ▪ ▪ As part of my journey, in attempts to try and halt my seizures, I would eventually undergo a surgical procedure known as an SEEG. ▪ ▪ I would have to shave my head....Something I wasn’t exactly excited about but life with a chronic illness means sometimes doing difficult things with a brave spirit. ▪ ▪ As my hair continues to grow, I’m now at a point where I’m in need of something to hold it back while I workout. Thankfully I came across @maventhread! ▪ ▪ Maven Thread offers some of the most super fun, unique and beautiful headbands as well as other products for when hitting the gym or whenever! ▪ ▪ They gently hug your head, are buttery soft and don’t slip. ▪ ▪ Get yourself one! Actually two....or more! ▪ ▪ Thank you Maven Thread for helping me and my curls in my daily workouts! ▪ ▪ Comment a 💪🏼 if you enjoy exercise of any level.
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This blog is not here to replace medical advice from trained professionals.

Please seek medical advice.

This blog serves to offer my personal experience with epilepsy, what has worked for me, encouragement and support.

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