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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 Marla on Sun, 2004-11-07 - 13:44
I was diagnosed with epilepsy in June of 1998 and started university in September of that year. I was petrified. The seizures were new to me and I didn't know how to handle it around new people if it were to happen there. I was worried that I would miss time in class and fall behind, worried how my meds would affect my memory.
It wasn't at all as bad as I expected. I had a great first year, found out I was not cut out for a degree in Arts, and went to a private college the next year. Everyone at college on the first day is in the same boat... no one knows anyone, no one knows their way around, no one knows the professors. Every single new student there is feeling like you do about the first day.
Long story short... breathe and relax. Keep in mind that it is just another one of the many new challenges we face in our lives. You will be fine - and even if you get dropped off by your parents that is okay too. No one knows you, right? Who's going to know that these are your parents? It's not like mom's gonna get out of the SUV and do that Kleenex-lick face cleaning, right?
Take care!
I was diagnosed with epilepsy in June of 1998 and started university in September of that year. I was petrified. The seizures were new to me and I didn't know how to handle it around new people if it were to happen there. I was worried that I would miss time in class and fall behind, worried how my meds would affect my memory.
It wasn't at all as bad as I expected. I had a great first year, found out I was not cut out for a degree in Arts, and went to a private college the next year. Everyone at college on the first day is in the same boat... no one knows anyone, no one knows their way around, no one knows the professors. Every single new student there is feeling like you do about the first day.
Long story short... breathe and relax. Keep in mind that it is just another one of the many new challenges we face in our lives. You will be fine - and even if you get dropped off by your parents that is okay too. No one knows you, right? Who's going to know that these are your parents? It's not like mom's gonna get out of the SUV and do that Kleenex-lick face cleaning, right?
Take care!
RE: Epilepsy and college..
Submitted by ashkazz on Thu, 2004-11-18 - 15:07
me, i am a long way from home, which maks it really scary. i live in calif. but my school is in wash dc. it is so hrad, because now i have to warn everyone to not be so scare if i suddenly start to look like i am missing a few screws. they will of course still be afraid, then treat me like a china doll for the next few days, but i take it as a sign that they really care, and i am grateful that they are lookng out for me. once, i dissapeared for a few days, (i was over my friend's house on a mini-vacation) and they emailed my boyfriend becasue they hadn't seen me. i was touched. Find a good support group, people you can count on to be on the double when they notice anything awry. these guys will be my friends for a long time to come.
adios
ash
me, i am a long way from home, which maks it really scary. i live in calif. but my school is in wash dc. it is so hrad, because now i have to warn everyone to not be so scare if i suddenly start to look like i am missing a few screws. they will of course still be afraid, then treat me like a china doll for the next few days, but i take it as a sign that they really care, and i am grateful that they are lookng out for me. once, i dissapeared for a few days, (i was over my friend's house on a mini-vacation) and they emailed my boyfriend becasue they hadn't seen me. i was touched. Find a good support group, people you can count on to be on the double when they notice anything awry. these guys will be my friends for a long time to come.
adios
ash
Re: RE: Epilepsy and college..
Submitted by msmilinjuscuz on Tue, 2006-08-29 - 19:18
My name is Meg I've had seizures since the fourth grade also. That sucks you were in the middle of an exam and had one. I have myoclonics everyday so I've just leared to make fun of them. You just gotta deal with it and say I'm not gonna let it control mylife. I live in a small town with lots of family so we make light of them. We have a small community college and I'm in my second yr. I've been lucky enough not to have one there but I had plenty in hs. When I woke up I would say so "How was the show this time guys?" or even thogh flashing lights does'nt trigger my seizures. I coined the nick name flashy lights "Here comes Meg hope there's no cops around." I also have the coolest sippy cups they make. (less clean up when I shake about drinking, non alchoholic that is) About riding your bike or walking to class I live on a farm so I walk a lot. It's amazing the ground breaks your fall every time and you just get up if your hurt it usually can be fixed and keep going. I ride horses fiftey miles in a day I've had a grand mal at a horse show in a horse trailer by myself and no one knew you just explain yourself say you need a breather and go and help. I heard if you stop moving then you die, so I figured I'd keep at it laugh at those crazy seizures and keep moving. About the stressing it's not the end of the world your not going into war and there is always tomorrow. It's just a test. love lots hope all works out ~meg