Social reactions to the word Epilepsy

This is one of the most common reactions when people around you find out you have epilepsy goes exactly like this, "oh my goodness poor you or I feel sorry for you". This reaction is them not knowing how to process it or know what to say to you, most of all they mainly only know the one type of seizure that is visible, but in reality there is more than they think. There is a massive lack of understanding in this world, they don't see what is really going on with you. My response to those comments are plain and simple, I don't need your sympathy I just want your empathy and understanding, one instance, some old friends of mine, decided to think that I was the baby of their group because of my epilepsy, particularly because I was very sick at the time, I only found out that later from my boyfriend who has mutual friends with me, but hey you win some and you lose some, I realised shortly after that, they were in the category of fake friends. The ones that really stick by you through thick and thin are the real deal, your ride or die kind of friends, I tend to keep my close friends small, less drama. Because trust me I know what drama and gossiping is like as I went to an all girls high school and it was exactly like the movie "Mean Girls". There is nothing to be ashamed of about the word epilepsy and seizures, you learn after a while to accept it, what I'd say to anyone out there that has epilepsy or has a loved one with it, is to remember that your empathy is much better than sympathy.