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Excuses?

Mon, 10/28/2013 - 07:22
What excuses do you use when you don't/can't do certain things because of epilepsy? I don't want to tell any and everyone yet (or maybe i should?) ... i don't know. I get so many people judging me because I don't work right now or go out to parties or drive, it's sickening especially as I don't have people to lean on. My mother can say she's there but as long as i don't get seizures she's fine if i explain anything to her she just brushes it off.

Comments

Re: Excuses?

Submitted by Harry T. on Mon, 2013-10-28 - 09:58

 I think you need a support group badly. Find the one closest to you. I too hid my epilepsy for years. Once I finally began getting the word out I was surprised by how many were understaning. The ones that weren't I just don't need in my life anymore.

 I think you need a support group badly. Find the one closest to you. I too hid my epilepsy for years. Once I finally began getting the word out I was surprised by how many were understaning. The ones that weren't I just don't need in my life anymore.

Re: Excuses?

Submitted by Mollz on Mon, 2013-10-28 - 16:35
You really do need a support group. You have nothing to be ashamed of! You can't control it. Its not your fault. You can tell people when you are ready. Although people close to you may need to know so that they can help you. It was so hard for me to tell my boyfriend, but he totally accepts me. If people can't accept you for all of you then they don't deserve you! I too cannot work or drive right now or go have drinks with friends. But don't let that get you down! Do things that make you happy and that edifies you! Its hard and embarrassing sometimes to tell people that you can't go because of your epilepsy but its ok! You will find people who accept you for you! You are in my thoughts. Stay strong and stay positive!

Re: Excuses?

Submitted by just_joe on Mon, 2013-10-28 - 17:16

Support groups are needed and there are many more now compared to ehrn I eas diagnosed with epilepsy. I was lucky to have some family members who actually worried about me others didn't want to even bring the subject up.

As far as excusses I only told the people asking the question why I would or wouldn't do some things. I left it up to them wheither they wanted to associate with me or not. If I was asked questions about my epilepsy I generally answered their questions. I would also ask them questions regarding other people we knew that had a handicap that could be seen (people in wheelchairs) That would kinda make them think. considering I would tell them I have a handicap that can't be seen and it does happen what to do if they ever see me in a seizure. I would also ask them what they might do if they were in my shoes. So  I generally had people thinking and using some common sense. As for driving wellllllllllll if you tell them they might think twice. I was asked why I didn't drive and I told them If I  had a seizure drivingf I sure hoped they had good insurance bcause the sight might not look good after the crash. Kinda like When asked why I didn;t jin the military. I informed them that they wouldn't let me because if I had a seizure while carrying a m16 and in the back of the platoon I might be toe only one left after I went into a seizure. You see I joke about it and it helps me and others look at it differently. It is a real issue and we do need support but there are ways to get that support and make friends at the same time.

 I had friends that knew and I also had some that I thought were friend not want to associate with me. They would come around after some time and I explained that my issue was and tell them about what I had to go thru daily. Some of those that came back ended up being very helpful because they actually listened and put themselves in my shoes. They saw thing a little differently. At work I made sure there were people arond me that knew what to do if I ever had a seizure at work. I had some that I jot rides from from time to time. They knew I always had coffee or  a quick breakfast or even leftovers I used for lunches. Others may need a few bucks for gas but we all needed help now and then. I even helped some by building web pages for them.

As for not going out or partying I did with friends. Many of which didn't know. I limited my drinks Shirley Temples are there and they look just like the real drink. If going out is a problem hey others drive I would buy them a drink nowww and then. Parties were fun but I also had limites on time because I wanted my medications to work the next day so the guys that knew were aware of my issues and they would get me home at a decent hour. They sometimes went back to the club or party and no one thought anything about it.There were times we all left and brought the party to the house played some great music and I made the drinks. There was plenty of room for people to crash.

Dealing with the isues before us is not easy and living with epilepsy is difficult at times. I am older than a lot of people in here and have been dealing and living with epilepsy for 50+ years. If you think it is bad now you might want to do some research and see what had been happening to people with epilepsy before now.

I am currently trying to get some family members to wear purple next month I have even told them why. Considering they have promoted cancer awareness for many years. But I don't think my brothers have informed them that I have epilepsy. You see epilepsy does not come up in many conversations very often but who knoows it might this weekend because next month is epilepsy awareness month

Hope this helps

Joe

Support groups are needed and there are many more now compared to ehrn I eas diagnosed with epilepsy. I was lucky to have some family members who actually worried about me others didn't want to even bring the subject up.

As far as excusses I only told the people asking the question why I would or wouldn't do some things. I left it up to them wheither they wanted to associate with me or not. If I was asked questions about my epilepsy I generally answered their questions. I would also ask them questions regarding other people we knew that had a handicap that could be seen (people in wheelchairs) That would kinda make them think. considering I would tell them I have a handicap that can't be seen and it does happen what to do if they ever see me in a seizure. I would also ask them what they might do if they were in my shoes. So  I generally had people thinking and using some common sense. As for driving wellllllllllll if you tell them they might think twice. I was asked why I didn't drive and I told them If I  had a seizure drivingf I sure hoped they had good insurance bcause the sight might not look good after the crash. Kinda like When asked why I didn;t jin the military. I informed them that they wouldn't let me because if I had a seizure while carrying a m16 and in the back of the platoon I might be toe only one left after I went into a seizure. You see I joke about it and it helps me and others look at it differently. It is a real issue and we do need support but there are ways to get that support and make friends at the same time.

 I had friends that knew and I also had some that I thought were friend not want to associate with me. They would come around after some time and I explained that my issue was and tell them about what I had to go thru daily. Some of those that came back ended up being very helpful because they actually listened and put themselves in my shoes. They saw thing a little differently. At work I made sure there were people arond me that knew what to do if I ever had a seizure at work. I had some that I jot rides from from time to time. They knew I always had coffee or  a quick breakfast or even leftovers I used for lunches. Others may need a few bucks for gas but we all needed help now and then. I even helped some by building web pages for them.

As for not going out or partying I did with friends. Many of which didn't know. I limited my drinks Shirley Temples are there and they look just like the real drink. If going out is a problem hey others drive I would buy them a drink nowww and then. Parties were fun but I also had limites on time because I wanted my medications to work the next day so the guys that knew were aware of my issues and they would get me home at a decent hour. They sometimes went back to the club or party and no one thought anything about it.There were times we all left and brought the party to the house played some great music and I made the drinks. There was plenty of room for people to crash.

Dealing with the isues before us is not easy and living with epilepsy is difficult at times. I am older than a lot of people in here and have been dealing and living with epilepsy for 50+ years. If you think it is bad now you might want to do some research and see what had been happening to people with epilepsy before now.

I am currently trying to get some family members to wear purple next month I have even told them why. Considering they have promoted cancer awareness for many years. But I don't think my brothers have informed them that I have epilepsy. You see epilepsy does not come up in many conversations very often but who knoows it might this weekend because next month is epilepsy awareness month

Hope this helps

Joe

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