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.
Bullying- Share your stories and tips
Wed, 08/19/2015 - 09:27Bullying is a problem for so many people, but it’s not just confined to kids and teenagers. Bullying can happen anywhere – at home, in the workplace, in sports or recreational activities, or just around your neighborhood. The reasons for bullying can be quite varied and sometimes there is no reason. Bullying often occurs because the bully lacks self- confidence and picks on someone else to help them feel better. Yet bullying can also occur because people don’t understand another person’s situation or they think that it’s ‘okay’ to make fun of them.
Unfortunately, people with epilepsy may face bullying more than people without epilepsy or another disability. People with epilepsy need to find ways to deal with the bullying on top of coping with the seizures. If not dealt with, bullying can worsen the stigma and fear that often surrounds epilepsy.
Coping with bullying was a recent topic in epilepsy.com’s Chat About. (Chat About is a moderated chat hour on Thursdays at 8 pm east coast time that is hosted on epilepsy.com.) People of all ages talked about how they have been bullied and how they’ve coped with it. Our Chat About moderator, Sandra Cushner-Weinstein, has offered to work with users to collect and write up tips people use to combat and prevent bullying. I think this will be a fantastic resource for everyone and a chance to learn directly from people who experience or witness bullying.
We want your help! If you’ve witnessed or been a victim of bullying, or have ideas or tips on how to cope with and prevent it, please share your story and ideas!
Add your posts here or email epihelp@efa.org.
Thank you for your help!
Always reply to bully with
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2015-08-27 - 15:15
Always reply to bully with question-response i.e. "why do you say mean things to me like that?" to put them on the spot. He/She may respond nonchalantly then and there, but will think about it later.