Skp to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Innovation

        Innovation

      • Overview
      • Capabilities
      • Innovation is
      • Pipeline
      • Drug discovery
      • Clinical studies
      • Publications

      You might be interested in...

      Hypothesize That logo
      Page

      Hypothesize That! Discover our new science podcast, where science meets conjecture and curiosity

      Page

      Publications - A dedicated space where we share a collection of our scientific peer-reviewed...

      Page

      Pipeline - Check out our clinical development pipeline spanning several therapy areas

  • Solutions

        Solutions

      • Overview
      • Healthcare professionals
      • Diseases
      • Medicines

      You might be interested in...

      Page

      Hidradenitis Suppurativa – Learn more about Hidradenitis Suppurativa an inflammatory skin disease

      Page

      WoCBA - Closing the gaps in research in the care of women of childbearing age with chronic diseases

      Page

      Clinical studies – Click to find out more on our clinical studies

  • About UCB

        About UCB

      • Overview
      • Management
      • Sustainability
      • Our positions
      • Ethics & Business Integrity
      • Collaborate with us

      You might be interested in...

      Page

      Integrated Annual Report 2024 - Click here to access the report

      Page

      UCBCares® - Discover what UCBCares® is about and the services they offer

      Picture of the Arkelia building on the Braine-l'Alleud campus in Belgium
      Story
      10 Feb 2025

      Driving innovation forward: UCB unveils new R&D facility

  • Newsroom

        Newsroom

      • Overview
      • Press releases
      • Our stories
      • Resources
      • Contact details

      You might be interested in...

      Press releases teaser image
      Press Release
      11 Apr 2025

      Global data show real-world effectiveness of romosozumab for patients at high fracture risk

      Press releases teaser image
      Press Release
      7 Mar 2025

      BIMZELX[®] (bimekizumab-bkzx) five-year data at AAD 2025 showed sustained skin clearance and long...

      Press releases teaser image
      Press Release
      27 Feb 2025

      On Growth Path for a Decade plus: Strong Launch Execution driving Company Growth

  • Investors

        Investors

      • Overview
      • Equity Story
      • Performance
      • Corporate governance
      • Shareholders
      • Download center

      You might be interested in...

      Press releases teaser image
      Press Release
      27 Feb 2025

      On Growth Path for a Decade plus: Strong Launch Execution driving Company Growth

      Press Release
      5 Nov 2024

      UCB completes sale of established brands and updates 2024 financial guidance

      Page

      Download center – Click here to view a collection of useful documents

  • Careers
  • Go to global site 
Country Navigator

Justin

Listen

You are here

  • Home
  • Patients
  • Life Stories
  • Justin

Spotlight on Justin

It is often difficult to describe how a seizure feels to someone who has never experienced one.

When I was 10 years old, before I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I called my seizures “dizzy headaches.” I don’t actually feel dizzy during a seizure, but that’s the easiest way to explain it.

That basic description gives an idea about how a seizure feels for me, but it doesn’t convey the fear, the confusion, and the physical fatigue feelings and emotions everyone has experienced that come with having a seizure.

Imagine driving in your car, sitting in a meeting at work, sitting at your desk at school, crossing a busy street, holding your child, or doing any other normal activity. Suddenly, you’re hit with a sensation you can’t quite explain. Everything around you keeps going, but your brain and your body have separated from the world around you. You’re aware of what’s going on and that something isn’t right, but you have no way of stopping what is happening. The metallic taste in your mouth, the nausea in your stomach, and the feeling that you are spinning create a sense of dysphoria. You know something isn’t right, but you are powerless to do anything about it. This is how a simple partial seizure feels and though I haven’t had a seizure in several years, it’s a feeling I vividly remember.

After the seizure, you might feel embarrassed because you may have said or done something you don’t remember or that people think is weird, you may have had an accident, or you may have injured yourself or someone else. Unfortunately, the seizure subsides, but the social, physical, emotional, and mental trauma endures. I, and many other people with epilepsy, have experienced damaged friendships, cuts and bruises, depression, and memory loss as a result of seizures. While the seizures themselves are bad, these side effects are arguably worse.

I know the seizure experience is different for everyone what doesn’t change is the need for support. For caregivers, family members, friends, and anyone who is around someone with epilepsy, it’s important to remain calm, to stay close, and to be as supportive as you can. As scary as a seizure is for everyone else, it’s different and perhaps scarier for the person experiencing it.

As an adult, simply put, I tell people that it feels like there’s a tornado in my head.

Back to life stories page

Choose a Country

  • Global Site – English
  • Australia – English
  • België – Engels
  • Belgique – Anglais
  • Brasil – Português
  • България – Български
  • Canada – English
  • Canada – Français
  • 中国 – 中文
  • Česká Republika – Angličtina
  • Danmark – Engelsk
  • Deutschland – Deutsch
  • France – Français
  • España – Español
  • Ελλάδα – Ελληνικά
  • India – English
  • Ireland – English
  • Italia – Inglese
  • 日本 – 日本語
  • 한국 – 한국어
  • Luxembourg – Anglais
  • Luxemburg – Engels
  • Magyarország – Angol
  • México & Latinoamérica – Español
  • Nederland – Engels
  • New Zealand – English
  • Norge – Engelsk
  • Österreich – Deutsch
  • Polska – Polski
  • Portugal – español y portugués
  • România – Engleză
  • Россия – Русский
  • Slovensko – Anglický
  • Suomi – Englanti
  • Sverige – Engelska
  • Schweiz – Deutsch
  • Suisse – Français
  • Türkiye – Türkçe
  • Україна – Англійська
  • United Kingdom – English
  • U.S.A. – English

© 2007 - 2025 UCB S.A., Belgium. All rights reserved. Last updated on: January, 03, 2024

Social media links

  • linkedin
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube

Footer menu

  • Contact us
  • UCBCares®
  • UCB Worldwide
  • Legal Notice
  • Privacy policies
  • Cookie policies
  • Cookie preferences
  • Payment disclosure
  • Sitemap

© 2007 - 2025 UCB S.A., Belgium. All rights reserved. Last updated on: January, 27, 2025