HOW much do you know about epilepsy? I didn't know much about it either, which is disturbing considering one of my friends suffers with the illness. To find out more I asked Emma Dowling what it is like to have epilepsy. Here is what she had to say:

"I was diagnosed as having epilepsy when I was 11 years old. I did not realise it was epilepsy and thought I was having funny turns as I would just go quiet and stand still wherever I was. I was diagnosed with petit mall epilepsy, which means you remain conscious during the fit.

I did not have many fits to start with, but now I have about four fits each month. I was aware of what was going on around me when I first had them, but I could not think properly. I would do silly things like pour medicine over my brother instead of on the spoon or shout out in the classroom. Now everything seems to go black and it lasts about five minutes. I can feel a fit coming on; I would get a funny feeling in my tummy and start to feel sick.

I have had about five gross mall, which are big epilepsy fits. It would start small, but then would deteriorate into a big fit where I will fall on the floor and shake.

I once had a bit fit in a lesson at school and everyone was talking about it. I had a large bruise on my eye and one person found it funny to impersonate my fit.

The annoying thing is it restricts me on what I can do. My friends are all learning to drive and I am not allowed to."

I have seen Emma have epileptic fits in front of me but not realised what was going on. I know how hard it is for her. I am learning to drive and she can't. However, Emma does not let epilepsy effect her life. She used to go climbing and is currently studying hard so she can go to university.