When Strength Becomes Exhaustion: Women, Epilepsy, and the Pressure to Be Everything
Women's Mental Health, Epilepsy and Mental Health, Epilepsy Awareness, Burnout and Stress, Cultural and Identity-Informed Therapy Brittany Washington Women's Mental Health, Epilepsy and Mental Health, Epilepsy Awareness, Burnout and Stress, Cultural and Identity-Informed Therapy Brittany Washington

When Strength Becomes Exhaustion: Women, Epilepsy, and the Pressure to Be Everything

For many women, strength becomes a survival strategy long before it becomes a choice. From navigating epilepsy to carrying the weight of cultural and societal expectations, countless women are praised for resilience while quietly running on empty. This piece explores the emotional cost of always being the strong one and the path toward healing.

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Purple in Black: Epilepsy, Resilience, and the Fight for Justice
Black Health Equity and Justice, Medical Racism and Health Disparities, Epilepsy and Mental Health, Epilepsy Awareness, Advocacy and Education, PNES and FND Brittany Washington Black Health Equity and Justice, Medical Racism and Health Disparities, Epilepsy and Mental Health, Epilepsy Awareness, Advocacy and Education, PNES and FND Brittany Washington

Purple in Black: Epilepsy, Resilience, and the Fight for Justice

Epilepsy in Black communities has never existed outside of history. From slavery to modern medicine, Black bodies experiencing seizures have been demonized, punished, institutionalized, and dismissed rather than cared for. This piece traces the legacy of medical racism that has shaped epilepsy care, examines the ongoing disparities in diagnosis, mortality, and mental health, and names the often-overlooked realities of FND and PNES in African Americans. It is a call to remember, to confront, and to move from survival toward sovereignty in neurological care.

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