Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has been schooling people about epilepsy and the myths surrounding the neurological disorder on Instagram. A little more than a week ago, the Thugs of Hindostan actress opened up about her own epilepsy diagnosis to her 3.1 million followers on the social media platform.
The actress marked Epilepsy Awareness Month by disclosing her own diagnosis and inviting people to share their own stories and struggles with the same.
She also used the opportunity to list down some basic facts about the condition that everyone should know, like what the condition really means (“Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures due to disturbed nerve cell activity living in the brain”) and how one in 26 people will develop epilepsy.
In a recent ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Instagram, Shaikh invited people to ask her questions about epilepsy and share their own experiences to raise awareness about the alarmingly common issue that few really talk about. “It’s epilepsy month. Share your story, struggle, challenges or just ask (sic),” she wrote.
During the AMA session, she revealed that she was first diagnosed with the condition when she was training for Dangal. “I got an episode and woke up straight at the hospital. Was in denial at first (for five years). And now, I have learnt to embrace it, and work and live around it (sic),” she wrote.
The actress continued to address questions about how she works around an epileptic episode, the lifestyle changes she’s had to make, and the social anxiety she suffers about the next possible seizure. She also urged people to consult professionals about the issue and not just take her word for how she’s coping with epilepsy herself. She also shared resources that people can use to make themselves more aware of the issue.
Do yourself a favour and head over to her saved Highlights to catch up on the eye-opening AMA in case you haven’t already.
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