What epilepsy really is (and what it isn’t)
Published on: Feb. 9, 2026, 7:30 p.m. | Source: Times of India
For a long time, seizures were linked to superstition, possession, or mental illness, and those ideas haven’t fully disappeared. Even today, many people think epilepsy affects intelligence or behavior, which simply isn’t true. It’s a neurological condition, not a mental one, but that distinction often gets lost.Another big reason is how seizures are portrayed. In reality, seizures can look very different, and many people with epilepsy live completely normal lives. Because seizures don’t always happen in public, the condition stays invisible until something goes wrong, and that fuels confusion and stigma.There’s also a lack of open conversation. Families often hide the diagnosis out of fear of judgment, especially when it comes to school, jobs, or marriage. This silence keeps awareness low and misinformation high. On top of that, many people don’t know that epilepsy is treatable. Most patients respond well to medicines, and even when they don’t, options like surgery exist.To clear confusion on epilepsy, Dr. Aditya Gupta, Director - Neurosurgery, Artemis Hospital Gurugram spoke to TOI Health on what epilepsy and why it is misunderstood.
