Beyond the Seizure

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting over 50 million people. Beyond the Seizure is an intimate visual project exploring my experience, raising awareness, fostering empathy, and reflecting on living with this condition.

My name is Laura Giraldo, and I have epilepsy. I was diagnosed at the age of 11 after experiencing several episodes such as fainting, numbness, involuntary muscle contractions, vomiting, loss of sphincter control, among other symptoms that occur during an epileptic seizure.

This project was a catharsis for me. After an epileptic seizure, I suffered a fracture in my nasal septum and my bite became misaligned. After that, I felt very cautious and afraid of everything that could happen to me with this condition. However, little by little, thanks to different people, I had the opportunity to explore the various languages of photography in order to convey what it feels like to live with epilepsy.