Anais Cepeda first joined Epilepsy Alliance Florida as a client in 2018. Her journey with epilepsy began at age 21, and she experiences seizures almost daily – a struggle that has taken a toll on her mental health and social life. However, with the support of her mother and Epilepsy Alliance Florida, Anais has found ways to handle the unique struggles that those with epilepsy face.
Forming friendships has been the bedrock of Anais’ involvement with Epilepsy Alliance Florida. By attending organizational events and participating in support groups, Anais has become a social butterfly – welcoming and kind to all. During support groups, she offers words of support to her peers and ensures others, like her, feel seen and heard.
Anais also receives therapy and counseling services through Epilepsy Alliance Florida. Mental health can often be challenging for those with epilepsy and Anais has felt ostracized in the past, especially as the only one in her family living with the disease. Now, she feels much more comfortable sharing her story and discussing it amongst peers because she has a community of people who understand her. While therapy can’t magically solve a client’s problems, Anais has dedicated herself to trying new ways of managing her life. In turn, she has been happier, calmer, and has slowly started to see her seizures get more controlled.
Most recently, Epilepsy Alliance Florida has assisted Anais with getting her new dog seizure response trained – a dog who has since bonded beautifully with Anais. The organization offers a scholarship to assist individuals/families with the purchasing and training of a seizure response dog.
Epilepsy Alliance Florida strives to continue being a safe place for all who are living with epilepsy. Raising awareness and bringing people together through events, support groups, and therapy are only a few examples of the many ways it provides for clients – just like Anais.
