In 2011, while at a local library getting my passport photo taken, I ended up having a seizure. I was 15 years old at the time, and this was the first time I had one. After going to the hospital, I learned that I had gray matter heterotopia, which are common malformations of cortical development.

Image of gray matter heterotopia

This caused me to also have a form of epilepsy, a common symptom of gray matter heterotopia. Thankfully, since 2011 I have only had one other seizure, a year after the first. Since learning more about epilepsy and experiencing it first-hand, I have found that there are some generalizations about having the disease due to media portrayals.

A generalization that I regularly experience about epilepsy is the portrayal that anyone with epilepsy is photosensitive. I have found that media frequently portrays epilepsy as being triggered by things like flashing lights such as strobes and video games. Recently, I was with friends and lights were flashing, so they immediately got concerned for me after learning I have epilepsy. I think that the media construction of this is inaccurate because only up to 5% of people with epilepsy have photosensitive epilepsy, which is when seizures are triggered by certain rates of flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns. I have learned that there is many different types of epilepsy, as well as different types of seizures. Movies, television, music, and other forms of media only tend to focus on the photosensitive type, which leads to missing information and context. This may be because photosensitivity could be more relevant when considering media often contains flashing images, leading to more awareness of that specific type of epilepsy.

Image source

In the above screenshot and its source linked below it from the television show House, M.D., it shows a doctor planning to induce a seizure by the use of flashing lights, as the doctors needed proof of a neurological disorder in order to schedule a biopsy. Because their first idea to induce a seizure was to use flashing lights, the show pushes the generalization that seizures are mostly caused by photosensitivity. Somewhat ironically, the patient ended up having a seizure due to loud noise at the suggestion of main character Dr. House, not flashing lights.

Image source

Above is a note found outside of theaters showing the film Incredibles 2, informing viewers that there are flashing lights in the movie that could affect those with photosensitive epilepsy. While I think it is great that they warn viewers, viewers could end up thinking that all seizures are caused by similar visuals.

In this clip from a 1999 episode of The Simpsons, the character Bart Simpson is watching an episode of a Japanese show that “causes seizures”, depicting the fast, bright flashing images immediately causing them to have a seizure. The show is referencing Pokemon, as one of the show’s episodes ended up causing 685 children to have a seizure. Despite being comedically inspired by a real show, this is a depiction of seizures that is not accurate.

I think scenes like the Simpsons episode are also slightly harmful, as they implies that anyone who watches a show with flashing lights could spontaneously fall into a seizure. If there was a way that the media construction could be beneficial, I think that by depicting seizures and epilepsy, it could make it more known and eventually show people how to help those who suffer from the disease.

It is important to emphasize that I don’t necessarily think that it is a bad thing that media focuses on photosensitive epilepsy, as it is still vital to make sure those with that form are considered and safe. However, I feel that because it is the most commonly addressed form, other forms of epilepsy are less known. There are many generalizations about epilepsy overall; from thinking that all seizures cause people to fall over and shake, to thinking that those with epilepsy cannot live a normal, independent life. Media tends to generalize the disease and leave out a large amount of information. Therefore, I think it is important to for media creators to provide more context and perspectives when depicting seizures in the future.