If you’re living with epilepsy, you’re already aware of the impact the condition can have on your life — but chances are strong that other people in your orbit don’t know as much as they could about the disease. That’s why it’s important to raise awareness for the condition — particularly in November, which is Epilepsy Awareness Month.

It can be hard when your friends and family don’t know what you’re going through. It can also feel difficult to say no to loved ones who don’t understand your situation, because you might worry about how your relationships will be affected.

Raising awareness about epilepsy is important so your friends, family, and acquaintances can better understand how to support you.

Start by Raising Your Own Awareness

Before you can create public awareness by sharing information with others, it’s a good idea to understand the specifics about epilepsy. Learn more about epilepsy’s causes, signs and symptoms, and treatments.

Epilepsy is characterized by recurring seizures that are unprovoked. Epilepsy impacts everyone with the condition differently, but there are ways to control the symptoms. In fact, between 70 percent and 80 percent of people with the condition find that they can control seizures with treatments like medication or surgery.

Share Awareness Resources

After you’re armed with information about epilepsy, you can share it with others. The fastest and least expensive way for this kind of advocacy is through social media. You can post information about epilepsy, share details about the condition, and join communities of other people who are also working to raise awareness about epilepsy.

You can follow the Epilepsy Foundation of America on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

To ensure your messages on social media reach as many people as possible, consider using an appropriate epilepsy-related hashtag, like #EpilepsyAwareness, #ShareMySeizure, or #AimForZero. This way, your posts will be seen by more people who have the same interests, and they’re more likely to share and comment.

Participate in Awareness Activities

Another way to raise awareness about epilepsy is to participate in an activity dedicated to the cause. You can walk or run for epilepsy, play bingo, host a silent auction or fundraiser, or even create a unique event that works for your interests. You can help other people understand more about epilepsy while having fun and raising money for the cause.

If you are able to, you can also donate to the Epilepsy Foundation of America to support epilepsy research and advocacy.

Connect With Others Who Understand

On MyEpilepsyTeam, more than 99,000 people living with epilepsy come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.

Share your epilepsy journey in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.