Have you ever heard a song and heavily related to it? As though it was speaking directly to you? This is how I felt when I first heard German singer-songwriter Zoe Wees’ debut single – “Control.” On the surface, “Control” feels as though it is talking to anybody who has struggled, whether with anxiety, depression, or another illness. Zoe’s soothing and soulful voice croons, “Even when I know it’s been forever I can still feel the spin / Hurts when I remember and I never wanna feel it again,” later stating that, “I don’t wanna lose control.” Her song was inspired by her experiences with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE), and shares to all those with chronic or rare conditions that they are not alone. Watch Zoe sing “Control” for the Circle Sessions.

Now, shares UDiscoverMusic, 18-year-old Zoe has released another single, entitled “Girls Like Us,” through Capitol Records. Within the song, Zoe discusses many of the harmful expectations around femininity in contemporary society. Her song goes over the difficulty of feeling confident in a space which champions unrealistic body standards. She sings:

It’s hard for girls like us. We don’t know who we trust, not even the ones we love, because they don’t know.

But despite social pressures, “Girls Like Us” is a call-to-action for listeners: love yourself and be confident in yourself, because you are beautiful, strong, and empowered, no matter what is going on in your life. Shares Zoe:

Being confident helps you to accept and love yourself.

Listen now to “Girls Like Us.”

Benign Rolandic Epilepsy (BRE)

Also known as benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS), benign Rolandic epilepsy (BRE) is one of the most common forms of childhood epilepsy, accounting for nearly 15% of all cases. While doctors are not exactly sure what causes BRE, it is thought to have some genetic cause. Researchers have linked BRE to issues with chromosome 11 and 15, though not yet to a specific gene. The condition is called “benign” as many children outgrow their seizures by puberty. Typically, symptoms appear between ages 6 to 8. However, symptoms may appear by age 3 or last through age 13. BRE affects males more than females.

Seizures may occur during the day or nighttime, though the condition is characterized by nighttime seizures. Typically, seizures last around 2 minutes or less. When seizures are occurring, children may experience:

• Facial numbness or tingling
• Loss of consciousness and bladder control
• Muscle stiffness
• Jerking movements
• Interrupted or difficult-to-understand speech
• Drooling

Although there are not many additional symptoms associated with this condition, some children may experience:

• Headaches
• Behavioral difficulties
• Learning delays