Comment by AndrewKemendo
5 days ago
I developed epilepsy a few years ago and each of the two times I had a waking tonic clonic aka “Grand Mal” it felt like they describe the brain when it’s dying.
It’s the closest thing I’ve heard people describe as dying so it can be profound.
Incidentally my neurologist said that she had patients that don’t stop their seizures because they feel like they areare mystical or part of their mental work. That’s a wild thought to me given the risks, but I can understand it, given how you feel on the other side.
> they areare mystical or part of their mental work.
In ancient Greece, epilepsy was called the "holy disease" and it was believed that gods speak through the patient during a seizure.
Saulus fell off his horse when "god spoke to him". Afterwards he converted and became Paulus.
Without spoiling too much, this is a major theme in Dan Brown's latest novel 'the secret of secrets'.
Hmm is it worth the read? edit: coming from someone who overall was mildly fond of Angels and Demons and would consider that as the bar for worthwhile reading
I added it to my reading list!
Ramachandran, the Temporal Lobes Epilepsy and God - Part 1
https://youtu.be/qIiIsDIkDtg?si=bIjpz5mWHEbN_NDI
Ramachandran, the Temporal Lobes and God - Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z4B5BYbjf8
This is great! Very much reflective of my experience
what was it like for you
From a personal experience perspective It’s a trip and like nothing else you’ve experienced.
The only thing I can metaphorically compare it to is what it looked like when Neo got pulled out of the matrix in the movie.