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Melanie Griffith reveals private battle with epilepsy six years after diagnosis

The actress claims getting a divorce has helped heal her epilepsy symptoms.
Exes Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith Reunite
Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith reunite on their daughter's graduation day
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Famed actress epilepsy diagnosis, which she kept private for many years.

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The Hollywood Reporter cites, that during the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Melanie suffered two seizures.

โ€œI had this major grand mal seizure and they took me to the hospital in Cannes and then brought me back to the boat,โ€ she said during the Womenโ€™s Brain Health Initiative panel Wednesday, October 18, in Beverly Hills, California.

โ€œAnd then I had another seizure and I went back [to the hospital]. They did the EEG and started to look at it seriously.โ€

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She continued, โ€œWhen I came back [to the US], I was diagnosed with epilepsy and nobody had said to me over a period of 20 years, no one paid enough attention to even diagnose me.โ€

Even though Melanie hasnโ€™t had a seizure in three years, she admitted they would come when she was extremely stressed.

โ€œItโ€™s been three years [since a seizure],โ€ she said. โ€œAs women, we take on family, we get the husband, we have the life, we have the children, we take care of the house, we also go to work, we canโ€™t sleep at night because we are up with the kids. I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ve slept for 35 years. I still donโ€™t sleep; itโ€™s totally fโ€“ked up my sleep cycle.โ€

โ€œEvery seizure that I had was at a point when I was extremely stressed.โ€

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Since divorcing her husband of nearly 20 years, Antonio Banderas, Melanie admitted sheโ€™s been able to live a healthier life.

โ€œI got divorced, which is the real healer for me,โ€ she quipped.

Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas ended their 20-year marriage in June 2014.

Despite the circumstances, though, Melanie was just glad she was able to access good health care.

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โ€œI thank God that Iโ€™m in a position where I was able to find out where I could go to thatโ€™s the newest high-tech place, to find out the most information that I possibly can,โ€ she said.

โ€œIf I was living in poverty with four kids, and I couldnโ€™t make ends meet and I had a fโ€“king seizure, what do you do?โ€ she asked. โ€œHow does the average person, man or woman, get the help?โ€

Weโ€™re so glad Melanie is feeling better!

This story appeared on Womanโ€™s World

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