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Epilepsy and college..
Fri, 11/19/2004 - 10:47I'm going to college in a month. Although I am a commuter student, I'm scared of how I'm going to handle college. See, I was absent..a lot in high school when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I had about 5 seizures over the course of my senior year and a lot of traumatic things happened to me which made me feel really down and hurt my grades a bit-for instance, not being able to drive.
I'm supposed to find out this week if i can finally drive again..oh how I love the New Jersey DMV...heh obviously sarcasm there. Anyway, I'm panicing about everything. I'm scared I'm gonna crack up when I get the work load which I know is going to be hell. I'm scared if I don't get my license back before september I wont be able to drive and my mom will have to drive me which will be really embarrassing and upset me a great deal. I've been waiting since September.
I've been in such a depression all summer..I haven't even left my room and I barely talk to my friends anymore or go out with them when they invite me places. The last thing I wanna do is go back to school..college no less where I won't know my way around, dont know about the teachers or how much work I'll have to deal with, and I don't know a soul there and see I'm a really shy person and every year since I was little I've cried on the first day of school. I know that's pathetic since I'm 18 now but it always happens.
I quit my job when I got epilepsy and lately I was trying to get another job but now my mom and dad dont want me to cuz we got my schedule for college and it's ridiculous..I wont have time for anything much less a job.
So basically I'm really losing it...I'm so scared and alone and upset and I just wanna run away and never come out of my room or something..I dont even wanna go to college..in fact my mom and I thought about not sending me for a year b/c of the epilepsy and the driving situation..God if any of you have been through this I beg you please respond!!!!!!!! I need support more than ever, God I just need something to hold on to..
Comments
RE: Epilepsy and college..
Submitted by Elaine on Mon, 2004-08-09 - 18:41
Hi,
I am far-removed from the college scene, but was afraid to go to school, too. I lived on campus, which helped. I was fortunate to be able to drive just with medical restrictions.
My advice: Eat regular meals. Try to keep most of those meals resonably balanced. Keep a planner and schedule in your study time - not just homework and tests. Don't set yourself up for cram sessions. Those stresses and/or lack of sleep could trigger a seizure.
Set a reasonable bedtime for yourself. You hear a lot about kids pulling all-nighters or partying. This cannot be your scene. Everyone doesn't do this in school - don't be fooled. You know how much sleep you need.
Best yet - find a group, Bible study, student organization, etc. to make some friends with that you may someday trust. You might need them someday. In a way, that isn't such a bad thing. That's what friends are for. I have made life-long friends from college. We don't live near each other, but we all meet about once a year 15 years later!
College is a wonderful thing. You get to experience it all - success, lonliness, etc. Know yourself and be proud. You are not epilepsy - it is just a part of you.
Oh - you will see LOTS of people with visible disabilities in college now. People know more now, and seem much more understanding than when I was in school. I never had any problems.
Go get 'em!
Elaine
Hi,
I am far-removed from the college scene, but was afraid to go to school, too. I lived on campus, which helped. I was fortunate to be able to drive just with medical restrictions.
My advice: Eat regular meals. Try to keep most of those meals resonably balanced. Keep a planner and schedule in your study time - not just homework and tests. Don't set yourself up for cram sessions. Those stresses and/or lack of sleep could trigger a seizure.
Set a reasonable bedtime for yourself. You hear a lot about kids pulling all-nighters or partying. This cannot be your scene. Everyone doesn't do this in school - don't be fooled. You know how much sleep you need.
Best yet - find a group, Bible study, student organization, etc. to make some friends with that you may someday trust. You might need them someday. In a way, that isn't such a bad thing. That's what friends are for. I have made life-long friends from college. We don't live near each other, but we all meet about once a year 15 years later!
College is a wonderful thing. You get to experience it all - success, lonliness, etc. Know yourself and be proud. You are not epilepsy - it is just a part of you.
Oh - you will see LOTS of people with visible disabilities in college now. People know more now, and seem much more understanding than when I was in school. I never had any problems.
Go get 'em!
Elaine
RE: Epilepsy and college..
Submitted by drainbamage on Mon, 2004-08-02 - 23:54
Been there..... Done that..... Got the tee shirt, the degree, the dean's list too. I have some warnings for you going in.
1. Unless you are VERY lucky you will have a teacher that will try to hold your seizures against you.
Since our seizures are unpredictable, if one happens and it causes us to miss school, many teachers try to hold it against us and refuse to allow us to take an exam or turn in school work. Most do not know that this is illegal. BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT WRITTEN IN ALL YOUR RECORDS AT THE COLLEGE THAT YOU ARE EPILEPTIC. You can do this at the guidance office. MAKE SURE THE TEACHERS HAVE IT IN WRITING AS WELL.
I had a professor who graded on only 2 things. 1 exam and a notebook. Because I had a seizure on the day the notebook was to be turned in I was going to fail his class. I had to threaten to take the college to court before they reconsidered.
BE PREPARED TO GRAB THEM BELOW THE BELT AND TWIST. But do not be a behind about it. Let them screw up.
If they are good to you, be good to them.
Been there..... Done that..... Got the tee shirt, the degree, the dean's list too. I have some warnings for you going in.
1. Unless you are VERY lucky you will have a teacher that will try to hold your seizures against you.
Since our seizures are unpredictable, if one happens and it causes us to miss school, many teachers try to hold it against us and refuse to allow us to take an exam or turn in school work. Most do not know that this is illegal. BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT WRITTEN IN ALL YOUR RECORDS AT THE COLLEGE THAT YOU ARE EPILEPTIC. You can do this at the guidance office. MAKE SURE THE TEACHERS HAVE IT IN WRITING AS WELL.
I had a professor who graded on only 2 things. 1 exam and a notebook. Because I had a seizure on the day the notebook was to be turned in I was going to fail his class. I had to threaten to take the college to court before they reconsidered.
BE PREPARED TO GRAB THEM BELOW THE BELT AND TWIST. But do not be a behind about it. Let them screw up.
If they are good to you, be good to them.