#tagging seizure in hopes that people with photosensitivity might see this before they see the ad

[marylizabetha]

HEY @staff

I don't think it's a GREAT FUCKING IDEA to have an AD at the TIPPITY TOPPING FUCK of your website WITH FLASHING FUCKING LIGHTS on the 'tw: flashing lights' WEBSITE! You're going to give someone a FUCKING SEIZURE!!!!!!!!!

[marculees]

i really hope this isn't offensive because i really don't mean it to be, but since you're epileptic, doesn't the flashing in concert videos and gifs cause any problems? you reblogged those of han with the tags flashing but you yourself weren't affected by it? how much flashing can a medicated brain take? i really don't know how to word these questions but i have some epileptic followers and i want to know what i can and can't reblog to keep them safe on my blog

No offence taken, its actually a very good point! The ratio of the gifs themselves are quite small on my screen, compared to being at/watching a concert or fancam in full screen. If the gifs were bigger, in single or double format where they take up more space on the screen, then that would be most concerning because my eyes would be forced to focus on them. Its why stuff like television shows and movies can be hard to watch, because we often have to focus on the entire screen and we can’t just scroll past like we would on desktop or mobile. Nighttime crime scenes with lights from police cars or ambulances, action sequences with a lot of lasers or shooting effects, or animation that involves excessive use of strobes are all examples of stuff that we can’t really look away from, especially if they’re taking up a lot of space on the screen. But with small gifs, I can scroll past a lot easier and look at the next gif instead. Still good to tag because not everyone is going to be on the same device with identical screen dimensions. The speed of the flashes are also key because they’re what triggers the seizures. If its just one flash during the gif and there’s a good few seconds before it loops back, then it should be okay. Its like taking a photo with your flash on - its only once so you’re fine, but if you have paparazzi following you then you’re in trouble because its a constant influx of flashes with no time between each one. I’d look out for anything to do with red carpets because I find those gifs or videos are usually the flashiest 👍

For that gif set in particular, Hannie having his little pout close to the camera with the singular flash is usually okay. Its only one flash and there’s about 4 seconds before it loops back. A seizure is triggered by 3-15 flashes per second. The second orange gif where he is lifting his hand and then the second-last one with the colours changing rapidly in the background would fall more into that category and that was why I chose to tag it. I looked away quickly and could focus on something else in my environment because they were quite small in comparison to everything else on my screen and the room around me. It wasn’t like an EEG where I’m sat in a dark room and forced to stare at a flashing light right in front of me💀 But some people might be on their screen in the dark - bad idea in general for anyone’s eyes but I know a lot of people do it because they’ll go on their devices before bed - so I’ll still make sure to tag for them too because no one likes something flickering up in their face in that kind of situation whether they have photosensitivity or not, and they don’t have other stuff around them to look away at like I would in my brightly lit room that can take my attention away from the specific gif/video and give me time to scroll past.

Honestly, if in doubt, add a tag! Always use the word ‘flashing’ in your tags; do NOT use ‘epilepsy’ in any way, as those then show up in the epilepsy tag on tumblr where most us go to have a rant together. Most epileptics on tumblr even avoid going through that tag now because of this problem. I’ve blocked various different tags such as ‘flashing’, ‘tw flashing’, ‘tw: flashing’, ‘flashing tw’, and ‘flashing lights’. If I come across a new one on my dash somehow, I add it to the list but these seem to be the most popular. If you’re a content creator yourself, don’t be afraid to slow down gifs to give time between flashes too plus slowing down stuff is sexy so why don’t we do that more and make it a cool aesthetic trend? people are more likely to follow trends anyway rip Don’t be afraid to reblog or create stuff btw its your blog! If the gif or video is flashy and you can’t help that, just tag it, that’s all! As you pointed out, I reblog stuff myself that I would tag, but I’d later skip the post with my trusty ‘K’ key if I went through my blog to find something else if I needed to 🤡 Small tumblr gif sets are much easier to handle than a fullscreen video such as Youtube or TikTok, and Tumblr allows you to tag stuff to automatically prevent it from being seen whereas those other social media platforms don’t have this feature and its rare to see a flashing warning before the beginning of a video that you’d have to pause before it autoplays. Whoever invented that colour changing disco lights filter(?) on TikTok is a sadist istg everyone uses it and I skip as soon as I see anything in an unnatural hue because I just know what’s coming. I only downloaded the app a week ago ffs 😂

...also something interesting about that specific gif set is that it did not originally come up with a blocked tag for me but when i went to click the link i reblogged from, one of them has now been added and it censored for me...i’m going to guess op forgot to tag and then added it in quickly after posting since the notes are still low and it was one of the first things on my dash

[un-enfant-immature]

New TikTok feature allows users to avoid videos with epileptic seizure triggers

TikTok announced today it is rolling out a new feature that will allow people with photosensitive epilepsy to automatically skip videos that can trigger seizures.

The “Skip All” option will be introduced to all users over the next few weeks and comes a few months after TikTok began automatically warning creators if a video contains effects, like flashing lights or certain visual patterns, that can be harmful to people with photosensitive epilepsy. If they upload those videos, TikTok automatically prefaces them with a warning screen.

Once a user turns on the “Skip All” option, they won’t see any videos TikTok has identified as potential triggers.

TikTok’s warning for videos with content that can trigger epileptic seizures

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, one of several organizations TikTok consulted with, the condition affects about 65 million people worldwide.

While advocates have called on social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook, to place warnings before content with potential triggers, the task often falls to individual creators. For example, if a video has flashing lights, they might mention that at the beginning or in its description. But not all creators are aware of photosensitive epilepsy or its triggers.

Furthermore, online trolls have posted harmful content on purpose, sometimes tagging them with keywords related to epilepsy. The Epilepsy Society, another organization that worked with TikTok, has called for malicious posts to be covered by the United Kingdom’s Online Harms bill.

In a statement published with TikTok’s announcement, Nicola Swanborough, the Epilepsy Society’s acting head of external affairs, said “social media can be a lifeline for many people with epilepsy, allowing them to connect with others with the condition from around the world,” and that the organization hopes “other platforms will follow TikTok’s lead in ensuring greater inclusivity.”

[marculees]

Happy International Epilepsy Day to all of my followers and fellow epileptics!

For those who don’t know, epilepsy is a neurological condition which affects the brain and is most commonly attributed to seizures though holds other effects such as chronic loss of energy, memory, motor and cognition errors. There are different types of seizures and depending on which form of epilepsy someone may have, their seizures can be different or non-existent. I myself suffer from photosensitive epilepsy but there are more types out there and I wanted to make this post to share a little bit of info and help make others more aware of the condition and what to do in the case of someone having a seizure, as well as to be made aware of some triggers. More than 50,000,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy across the globe and it is a condition which is not spoken of enough in schools, communities, and other aspects and institutions in our lives. I encourage any people who suffer from epilepsy to share their own tips and experiences for both those experiencing it for themselves and to educate others on how to care for a loved one with epilepsy. This is a really short and mostly personal post so I’d love to see it grow!

Some types of epilepsy

Photosensitive epilepsy: This is the type I suffer from! It is triggered by flashing images and other types of stimuli which f*ck with our heads (think of those weird optical illusions or hypnosis things). These send “KJASGLDKJVGLKSJVGSJ” signals to our brains and can cause us to have seizures. You ever wonder why some (and I wish more did) TV shows or other forms of visual media put a flashing warning at the start of their programme? Its for things like this! This is just a very personal trigger but for some weird reason playing the Wii makes me have seizures?? Something to do with the speed patterns of the game? Don’t ever deliberately flicker lights on and off or show a photosensitive epileptic a flashing video/gif, or else I’ll personally hunt you down... :) *cough*please tag flashing gifs with trigger warnings*cough* do not use #epilepsy because that tag has been ruined for the epilepsy community and we had to make up our own since that was just a spam of triggers rather than actual support and fellow epileptics thank you*cough*

*I’m not confident in describing other types so if any other epileptics would like to describe their own then that would be great! Photosensitive epilepsy affects only roughly 3-5% of all epileptics so there are definitely more common types to be explained >.<

Some types of seizures

There are more than 40 different types of seizures but these are some of the most common. Some are easier to spot than others and everyone’s case is different. Some seizures can involve a mix of different types so it is important to know how each affects the individual. It is always best to ask the person you know for what type they have most often, but keep in mind that while they may look fully conscious during a seizure, they are not and so they won’t remember the actual act itself but rather the before and afters!

Absence seizures: These seizures can often go unnoticed, as the person appears to space out. However, they are rarely a once-off incident and have a tendency to happen multiple times a day which can lead to confusion, loss of time and information absorbing, and general feelings of unsteadiness. In settings like schools or meetings where attention is crucial, a person who experiences these types of seizures is at a disadvantage because their loss of consciousness can lead them to losing out on valuable information and disrupt their work. While these seizures do usually last a few seconds, they can be worrying for the person because afterwards they are aware they have just have just had a seizure and yet since it is not very visible, it can be hard to share their worries with others. They are not just people daydreaming or having their minds wander, they are seriously spacing out of consciousness and should not be ignored or dismissed for the lack of visible symptoms >.<

Grand mal/tonic-clonic seizures: A more frightening sight, tonic-clonic seizures are the ones often dramatised by media and stereotypes alike. These are the types of seizures where a person will suddenly collapse, followed by stiff and jerky movements which can last up to a minute or few. In simple terms (and because I hate science lol), the brain is being overloaded with signals and can’t keep up! These are the types of seizures I experience and while I can’t speak for everyone, I usually show some warning signs before I have one; I’ve been told I go very very pale (and I’m a ghost already), my lips will also go white and my pupils will dilate while staring into space before I collapse. My limbs tighten and stiffen up (the tonic phase) and I’ve been told I have a very strong grip! Then my arms in particular will begin jerking (clonic) and while I might look like I’m having a little breakdance, the last thing I want to do is break/hurt something. These seizures involve a LOT of energy and afterwards, the person will usually fall asleep because their muscles and brain have been working at 100000% and are very sore and tired, especially if they have injured themselves during it. I had one at a sleepover while getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night and I ended up falling against the tiled wall in the bathroom and my head and jaw were in pain for days after :(

*There are others such as auras/partial seizures, but I’d rather let someone more experienced and knowledgeable explain them!

How to help someone having a seizure

While it is instinct to jump in and help, you should NEVER try to stop a seizure. You should let the person seize, but if it lasts for more than five minutes then you should definitely call an ambulance! The best thing to do is to make the environment as safe as possible so that the person does not injure themselves while seizing. This can include moving away furniture (e.g. tables) which may cause injury if they hit off them, placing something soft under their head (e.g. pillow, coat), turn them onto their side (especially if they are vomiting too), and what I think is most important is to stay with them till the end. I’ve had nightmares of people laughing and recording me having a seizure, so if possible, try to get other people to give some respect and privacy and leave the epileptic and attendant in peace. The tonic-clonic seizures are very embarrassing for the person and can involve more than just jerking movements but full-on loss of control over bodily functions too. It sounds yuck but when I first started having seizures, I’d lose control of EVERYWHERE and would somehow manage to both piss and shit myself while vomiting at the same time (weird flex, but okay). The epileptic is totally unaware of any of this until they wake up later and have someone explain to them, so try to also remember how long the seizure lasts and note their signs before and what then happened. It helps a lot when we then go to visit our neurologist and also for future reference to educating others on our own personal cases! There is a weird urban legend that you should put a spoon in the person’s mouth while they have a seizure but DO NOT do this, in fact don’t try to touch their mouth at all. Just give them space and give them comfort and reassurance afterwards, because not only is frightening to watch, but its also frightening to not know what happened at all. Let them lie down and rest because its very likely that their head and entire body will be sore after moving so much and so tightly too, so save a hug for later <3

Prevention, treatment and hope?

Fortunately, a lot of people grow out of their seizures as they get older! While there is no telling of what causes the condition, you’ll be happy to know that it may not haunt you or your loved one forever. I had my first seizure when I was eight years old and now I’m almost twenty and have been seizure-free for four years! While the condition never fully leaves, the seizures can become less common and sometimes stop altogether. How we measure this? Tests and scans such as an E.E.G are used to identify the brain’s responses to triggers and how strong or weak they are. E.E.Gs are like visiting a really shitty hair stylist who sticks a load of wires on your head and then proceeds to make you stare at a flashing light lmao the weird glue they use is so gross and I immediately want to wash it out after. Those who suffer from epilepsy will take medication (usually pills though medicinal c*nnabis has become popular) to lower their risks of having a seizure, but it is important to note that these medications never imply prevention or cure. Just because someone is taking medication does not mean they won’t have a seizure, they are just less likely than without! In some extreme cases, surgery can be an option and part of the brain may be removed.

Sadly though, not everyone is lucky enough to grow out of their seizures. Those with a chronic condition can have up to multiple seizures a day and never find peace. There is no definitive cure yet but the best thing to give to these people is hope and support. Let them know that you care for them because in a world that suddenly becomes non-existent to them for those few seconds or minutes, its nice to know that someone exists and loves them regardless of their condition. 

Epilepsy affects everyone differently and not only are there medical implications, but social also. Some people will be less vocal about their condition to employers and fear losing employment opportunities, for example. As a young person, I rarely go on a night out and actively avoid nightclubs (which I don’t like the idea of anyway) but it can lead to a feeling of exclusion and isolation from friends and peers, along with dating. Its small things that unless you have to worry about, others don’t really notice. From my own experience, I now try to avoid going on drives on sunny days because I have had seizures from the sun flickering through trees or bouncing off windows and shiny surfaces. In Ireland anyway, as long as I’m seizure-free for one year then I am allowed to drive but I would still be fearful and find it hard to ever travel alone. There are many things I can think of but these come to mind first because they affect my daily life a lot; I’m a student who commutes to college every day and back, and the town is known for its nightlife and partying. Some people have other ‘habits’, such as taking showers over baths in case they seize and you know, drown themselves. We all take preventive measures but there is no cure or safety belt. Like I said, it affects everyone differently so always consult the person you know. It lets them know you care and it helps you to help them too!

There are several great epilepsy-centered blogs on Tumblr and I’m too shy to tag them here... However just know that a whole supportive community is behind the ‘#actually epileptic’ tag and that you are not alone in your condition, or that if you have any further interest or questions then there are others out there who can help share their knowledge and experience with you. Thank you for reading all of this and I wish you a happy and seizure-free day <3