Unique not Different
In today’s society we are surrounded with many types of people. And some teens are unique, but not in the way that an average person may think, they have epilepsy. Epilepsy is a brain disorder where a person suffers from seizure. And there is not just one type. The type everyone is familiar with is the shaking and falling on the floor. But my seizure is the complete opposite, some even go unnoticed. For example I talk in confused speech, I walk without knowing where I am going, and I stare off into space and every time I have a seizure I do not remember and I sleep anywhere from 4 to 6 hours straight.
Frustrating Beginnings
As a teenager this becomes so frustrating, especially when you feel alone and like no one understands you, especially your parents, friends, siblings or others you care about and care for you. So what do you do? How do you handle this? And how can one get their attention and support without them handicapping you or showing pity towards you?
As I suffered through my teenage years and into young adult hood I felt like no one understood me and I made it clear that unless one has suffered from this disorder than you cannot tell me you understand. As a teen you hate that. So many teens in that suffers from epilepsy also hates the title everyone wants to give us or calls us, an "Epileptic," I hated that word I felt like it was a label placed on me that I could not remove once someone would find out I had epilepsy.
The rebellious Stage
I talk from personal experiences I had and I hope anyone that suffers with epilepsy can receive something and offer any help they can to other that has this unique issue. Some of the things I rebelled against was taking my medicine. I would forget and not really take my doctors advice. For instance they would say make an alarm in your phone to remind you to take your medicine or use a labeled medicine tray (labeled Monday through Friday.) But I rebelled because when everyone got on me about it I just wanted them to leave me alone and not treat me as a child by making me take it in front of them. Plus at the time I felt like the medicine tray were for the elderly. So that was a challenge on me and my parents.
No control, No license
Next was the fact that I was not allowed to drive, at all. That was the law so I had no choice but to abide by that rule. I had two bad experiences trying to speak to drive. The first was my freshman year in high school I signed up for drivers Ed with all my friends, even though I knew I was not aloud, I wanted to fit in. But before I could attend the first day of the class I was called to the office and kicked out my account was flagged and stated I had epilepsy. The second time was when I went to college because I was in another city I figured I could go to the DMV and no one could stop me. But boy was I wrong, they found out I was not allowed to drive and let me go with a warning, so I learned my lesson quick and just realized I could not drive until I went a whole year without a seizure. I became depressed about it; my younger sister received her license and received a car. And I just hated it, especially when my parents could not understand why I did not want to ride around with her; they just did not get it.
I'm a Teenager, Not a Child
One thing that I felt for so long was the fact that I felt I did not understand and that I was always treated as a child no matter how old I got. For example, my mom always wanted to come to my class on the first day of school to make my teachers aware of my illness, and then she wanted me to stop riding the bus even though she was there at the bus stop when I got on and got off. I was embarrassed I was the only student whose parent did that. I remember when I received my cell phone only for her to constantly check on me. I could not always hang out with my friends because my mom did not trust I could be by myself long or around those who did not know what to do if I had a seizure. I had an early bedtime because sleep was a key to cutting back on seizures. Although I felt like I was being punished, it was years later that I realized she did all this because she cared and wanted me to be safe. And that’s it the key knowing it not that our parents our just going out there way to make it harder for us, but we just have to realize there trying to do what is best for us, it may just not be in the way we want them to.
The keys to understanding one another
Always be honest about your feeling, never hold things in.
Parents and teens must realize they must communicate with one another to understand where there coming from
Realize the doctor’s advice is the best advice they are there to help you control the seizures or stop them.
Try not to stress or worry about having a seizure, try to not always think about it, push it to the back of your mind.
Try not to get frustrated, it’s ok to have or ask for help, look at it as your support team.
Realize some people, family members, teachers, and close friends have to know your "unique" so they know what to do in the event of a seizure.
Also remember you not the only one, so try to find others with this problem and not be ashamed but tell your stories so that it can inspire others with epilepsy.
And last but not least you are not an "Epileptic," but "Unique."
So now comment and tell your story.
Angeldee
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