Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Finally Telling People

Thu, 01/24/2008 - 18:03

Hey Everybody!

Okay so the deal is that I'm doing my first presentation on for Communications class on epilesy. This is my second semester in college and I've kinda been hiding the fact that I have it, not that I'm ashamed; I was just scared how people will react. After the first seizure that I had here, everyone freaked; so since then, I've kept it very low key. Anyway, I have simple partial and abscence seizures and I was diagnosed when I was in 8th grade and since then it has been a battle. When this project came up, I got the courage to put my topic in as epilepsy and I plan to tell my class that I have it and explain what it means. I really want to do my presentation on the misconceptions about epilepsy, like how one of my friends thought that I had brain damage just because I have E.  So I was wondering what other people have said to you guys about it? Or initial reactions maybe? Or questions that people usually ask? I want to get most of my information from other people with epilepsy and not just web info or books. I would really appreciate the help and this is the perfect opportunity to spread correct information about epilepsy to at least 50 students, so please help me out, perhaps it would make someone else's life a little easier.

Thanks for all the support 

Shelitha :) 

 

 

 

Comments

Re: Finally Telling People

Submitted by brainwarp on Mon, 2008-06-02 - 17:37
I think it is great you are doing the presentation!  Hopefully, it will change people's perceptions. I think that for me, the most annoying thing is that I have people assume I have had epilepsy since birth, or that they can catch it. Of course, I have also had people stick items in my mouth.

Re: Finally Telling People

Submitted by henry199 on Mon, 2008-06-09 - 16:29
when i told some of my friends they first freaked out and i think you should let people know that if a friend is diagnosed with epilepsy that it is best not to freak out and that it is impossible to swallow your tongue during a seizure. Try to let people understand that it takes awhile for a person to get use to been diagnosed with epilepsy and that it is a mental disorder and it does not not mean we are mentaly challenge we are just as mentality capable of doing what normal people can do. What you are doing is great and i hope you get a good grade on it.

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.