If you’re newly diagnosed with epilepsy and looking for medical information about your condition, this isn’t the book for you. However, if you’d like to read an intensely personal account of how Cara Coles came to terms with her diagnosis – and eventually began to see it in a positive light – give Living and Copying with Epilepsy, My Way (2015, Soul Rocks) a shot. Shocked by her seizures, British healthcare worker Cara decides to use the law of attraction and positive thinking to prove that she can have whatever she wants out of life, no matter what. She writes a list of wishes, from getting her driving licence back to meeting her favourite band – I would love to know which band, and what happened on the sixth tour date that “we don’t talk about” – and publishing a book, and trusts the universe to deliver. It’s an easy book to read, with the short chapters giving it the feel of a series of blog posts. Although this isn’t the case, it does seem a bit like a self-published vanity project, and it’s quite repetitious in places with some odd asides. Having said that, I did enjoy reading it. I have epilepsy myself and recognised many of the stages she goes through, from the fear of having a seizure in public to the intense grief of losing your driving licence and hence your independence. I too went through a period of being afraid to go to sleep in case I had a seizure. It was a great comfort to read about the emotional impact of having epilepsy and feel that I wasn’t alone. Given that the theme of the book was the law of attraction, I was concerned that at some point was going to trust the universe to deliver a cure for her epilepsy. I was glad to see that she trusts her neurologist’s advice throughout and doesn’t advocate throwing away your medication and hoping for the best. Cara’s sincerity shines throughout the book – she clearly believes in the law of attraction, that “like attracts like”, and presents a convincing case. Even this sceptical reader felt inspired to think about clearing out the spare room to release the blocked energy within. No matter what you think about the book’s central premise, you can’t deny that it would be a better world if more people considered the power of gratitude and kindness. And this is something everyone could benefit from, with or without epilepsy. “It’s still your life: how you live it is up to you. You are who you are; you are not who your illness says you are.” Cara Coles ~ Hannah Hiles, www.hannahhiles.co.uk

This is a very courageous book. The author is a 36-year old registered health care professional who was recently diagnosed with epilepsy and this is her story of coping and coming to terms with the illness. Epilepsy is a frightening condition, both for those suffering from it and for friends and family who witness its effects but Cara Coles manages to offer a ray of hope (and help) for those who find themselves in a similar situation. In the early stages, the author discovered ‘the law of attraction’ and described how it helped her overcome many of the problems surrounding her recent changes of lifestyle. This is a form of developing ‘positive mental attitude’ and based on the belief that everything is made of energy, and we attract the same energy that we ourselves generate. Since our thoughts are energy, our actions are energy and our feelings, if we think and feel more positive, we will attract more positive things into our lives. In ‘Living and Coping With Epilepsy, My Way’, Cara Coles offers practical step-by-step instructions on how to approach the ‘law of attraction’ and incorporate it into your new lifestyle. As she says in her book: “The law of attraction has helped me to deal with the illness. It has helped me to deal with what was happening to me and in coming to terms with this disorder. It has helped me to see that no matter how I felt, there was a future out there for me and it gave me the strength to get up and go out and get it.” If you have just been diagnosed with epilepsy, Cara Coles’s story will strike a resonating cord as she shares her darkest moments of coming to terms with the fact that life is never going to be the same again. She talks of the embarrassment, loneliness and fear in a way that fellow suffers will empathise with; her approach to the illness will enable the family to understand what the sufferer is going through – and how to offer practical help. ~ Suzanne Ruthven, Waterstones and Amazon (2)

I very rarely find a book which grabs my attention and make me feel like i would like to read more and more of it. This is exactly this type of book. The story of one persons life, the experiences of a tough illness, learning to deal with it and turning it into positive life changing experience is so inspiring!! It is very handy book to have not only when you have a serious health problem, but also when you feel down, or need a bit of reminding how positive thinking can change us and our life's! Highly recommend this book! ~ Radost Handzhieva, Buyer emailed me a review

Congratulations to Cara. I did enjoy her book. What a brave woman she is. I learned quite a few things from it including about myself. I think she writes very well and it is no mean feat to get a book published. I hope she continues with her writing. ~ Brian, Australia, Buyer, emailed me a review

This book is a must read for people who have or just been diagnosed with epilepsy. There is so much information in the book that will help people come to terms with having epilepsy. I am sure people will read this book and come to terms easier with them having epilepsy not like the author of this book who had to find out things for herself. Congratulations Cara Coles for writing an amazing story. ~ Joy Danby, Amazon

An inspirational true life story which illustrates how Cara Coles comes to terms with her frightening diagnosis of epilepsy at the age of 36. She shares her vulnerability and the isolating fear that can take control with a serious diagnosis such as this. For someone who must deal with the effects of the unpredictability of epilepsy and the toll it takes on the body and mind, the author is sensitive to how she might be perceived by others. She goes on to explain "When my memory problem occurs and I get caught in midsentence, I can see the other person’s face getting annoyed, shortly followed by a sigh. This doesn’t help me because I find myself getting upset by it, then trying to explain that I have a memory problem because I have epilepsy. Then the person may feel sorry for me and the first conversation is completely forgotten about. I don’t want them to feel sorry for me; I just want them to understand." But what this book is really about is how her illness ultimately created an opportunity for deeper meaning and understanding of her life. As Cara acknowledges "It gave me time to really think about what I truly want out of life and that wasn’t where I thought I was heading." Woven together are two elements that we all must deal with; that which we cannot control and conversely, that which is within our power to mirror in our lives. Cara wants us to learn from her experience that while we might not achieve all of our dreams in a single day, the obstacles we face may very well be the thing that teaches us just how to get there. A splendid read written with sensitivity and humor. Does Cara get what she's hoping for? You'll just have to read the book to find out. ~ Alicia Garey, Amazon