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Frustration with 'The Fam'.
Fri, 10/13/2006 - 20:54Hi!
After many years I am finally getting some answers for my conditions as I have found a fab Neuro (he suspects TLE and Partial Complex Sezuires). For 7 years I was told I was having panic attacks. Ek!
I have been like this my whole adult life (from the age of 17), and it has been horrible and very difficult to deal with. I am SOO excited I am now on the right path, and I am also scared.
Don't get me wrong, I have a very supportive boyfriend who comes to all my Neuro appointments etc, and my family is great. ALthough I get the very strong feeling that they get sick of me talking about 'it'. I like to understand what the tests are that I go for (for example the Telemetric Study) and it's almost as if they get angry at me for talking to them about it. I also want to FULLY understand what is happening to me - this also seems to annoy them. Before I was speaking to my mum and was saying how the heat sets me off and makes me feel awful (its really hot here today in Sydney!), and I almost feel like she thinks I am making it up or that this has just started happening since I started reading about TLE. So I have become paraniod or similar. I then start to doubt myself and become really critical of myself.
They all seem to think i should just let it be and not even really care. How can I do that when I have had this for 7 years and it has almost completly wrecked my life?
Is it normal to have such a interest? Am I over doing it? Am I wrong for wanting to understand everything that is happening to me?
I tend to think to myself they just dont understand. Which I suppose is the case. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there anything I can do? I'm thinking there might be a support group I can join.
Thanks for listening.
Bedge
Comments
Re: Re: Frustration with 'The Fam'.
Submitted by Bedge on Fri, 2006-10-13 - 22:41
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for that link. That is so interesting and it really makes sence to me. I just read it to mum and she listened, and said that it has always been in my nature to over analyze things (apparently this is a very Gemini trait!). But then again, I would prefer to be like this rather than being a door mat.
Thanks for sharing your experinces with me. It makes me feel better. Maybe it's just a parent thing to have that frame of mind. It must be hard to grasp your child going through something like this.
I just feel alone, but not alone. They don't understand why I am always on this site! I feel like i finally belong some where. And people feel how i feel!
Anyhoo. Thanks!
Re: Re: Re: Frustration with 'The Fam'.
Submitted by solis on Sat, 2006-10-14 - 03:36
Hi Bedge :)
I promise you. you are NOT alone re your family experiences.
So don't dispair.
And know you are among friends here that do understand and can relate to the situation.
take care & wish you the best,
~sol
Re: Frustration with 'The Fam'.
Submitted by wldhrt13 on Fri, 2006-10-13 - 21:58
hi Bedge! My mum is the same way. She has always minimized or completely invalidated whatever is going on with me medical or otherwise. One time my lymph nodes were so swollen and sore, the doctor wanted to take the largest one out for a biopsy to make sure i didn't have lymphoma. My mum's response, "I'm sure it's just allergies." My freakin lymph nodes were the size of golf balls and she writes it off as seasonal allergies... I just know that if I want support now, not to go to her for it first. I talk to my friends etc...but to answer another question of yours, it is completely normal that you want to know everything about what's going on with your body. I am the same way. My family says I "perseverate" about things, meaning I'll talk the topic to death. And you know what? maybe I do! but that's just who I am. I guess it can be annoying but.....by the same token, this attribute can also be an asset. Because I perseverate and analyze everything like that, I was always the student who comes up with the answers b/c I keep on churning it in my head til I solved the problem. Plus, as I am learning about Epilepsy, (particulary temporal lobe stuff) it's not uncommon to have this attribute. A number of folks with TLE tend to perseverate more than usual: you will have to scroll down a bit til it says "Protocol for Management of Emotional Reactions Associated with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE)" http://www.angelfire.com/va/MFMartelliPhD/page10.html I personally think it's great you have a strong curiosity and are eager to learn. I say it will stand you in good stead on life's journey. If you have any questions or need an ear to vent, feel free to email me.