November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, but the staff of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago makes it their job to open the minds of west suburban residents to the condition year-round.

Garett Auriemma, vice president of communications with the Chicago nonprofit, says there are many common misconceptions about the medical condition that the group hopes to dispel with its work in the region.

Q What is epilepsy?
A Epilepsy is when your brain’s neurons misfire, and when that happens, you can have a seizure. When someone says epilepsy, people only think of the convulsive seizure — falling to the ground and shaking — but epilepsy runs a wide spectrum. Anything the body can do can be part of a seizure, for example when you do a repetitive action, like rubbing your shirt or picking your hair or skin, or just staring into space. You can have one seizure and it may not be epilepsy, but when they begin reoccurring, that’s typically when there will be a diagnosis of epilepsy.

Q What are some myths or misnomers about the condition?
A People still think it’s a contagious disease, or some form of mental illness, but it’s none of those things. It doesn’t mean you are unable to learn or function; it just means that every once in a while, your brain does something you wouldn’t expect it to do.

Q What role does epilepsy play in a person’s life?
A For 70 percent of people with epilepsy, we don’t even know why they have the seizures. About 20 percent of people with epilepsy are not able to have control with medications and are resistant to treatment. In some cases, they cannot be left alone because they may fall and hurt themselves or cannot dress themselves, so it can be very severe. However, between 75 and 80 percent of people with epilepsy have some sense of control. So for some people, it’s simply a part of their life. They’re on medication but they are not severely impacted.

Want to help?
For more information or to support the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, visit epilepsyfoundation.org/chicago or call (312) 939-8622 or (800) 273-6027.