So, being a teenager can be hard. You feel like everyone is watching you and you really want to fit in. But being different is a great thing. The most important thing is to be positive. Having epilepsy doesn't define you, any more than the colour of your hair. It is part of you but it isn't you.

There are some things that you should be aware of like: medication, alcohol & drugs, dating, employment & driving.

Adolescence & Medication: having your seizures under control can contribute to living a full life. This means you need to take medicine as prescribed. Try and think of your medication as helping you to do all the things that you need to do, not as something that sets you apart from your friends The less you have seizures, the less interference in your daily life.

Alcohol & Drugs: Drugs can have consequences for everyone some actually cause seizures in people who don't have epilepsy. There can also be serious interactions between many drugs and anti-epileptic medications. Be careful and aware of how alcohol and drugs can effect your seizures.

Epilepsy and Dating: Dating makes everyone nervous. The more comfortable you feel with yourself, the more comfortable others will feel with you. Should you tell your parter that you have epilepsy? That is up to you. How long should you be with someone before you tell them? That's also up to you. But it is true - honesty is always the best policy. When you tell people the truth then they are better able to handle any situations that may arise. The people that really do care about you will listen and understand, and treat you just like anyone else. Likely, at some time you'll come across someone that doesn't react the way you want them to after you disclose your situation, but honesty is really the only way to develop a close trusting relationship.

Epilepsy and Employment: Just because you have seizures doesn't mean that you can't have a part-time job. It is important for developing responsibility, self-esteem, and to give you some pocket money to give you some independence. You may want to tell your employer about your seizures, especially if you are likely to have one while working. It is illegal to discriminate against someone because they have epilepsy, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission can help you out if you have any questions.

Driving & Epilepsy: Driving is a big deal for teens, but it is a privilege, not a right. People with uncontrolled seizures are not allowed to drive. Don't let this hamper things though. Catch a lift with someone else. Take the bus. Call a cab. Ride a bike. (Remember to wear your helmet). There are a lots of other ways to get around. It's all about attitude, get out there anyway!

Puberty: Research indicates that there may be a relationship between the onset of puberty and changing seizure patterns. Some young women may experience their first seizures within months of the time that they begin to menstruate. Many women who began to have seizures as children find that their seizure types and patterns change with the onset of puberty. Different trends can be seen among women with different types of seizures. Medical treatment may vary accordingly.