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Telling a friend that I have epilepsy?Is it a good idea or not?
Sat, 09/17/2016 - 17:25After I moved to another country to study I haven't tell anyone I have epilepsy, I had only one seizure in my life when I was 4 and since then it's all controlled by the medication so I haven't seen a reason to tell anyone about it. However I have few friends that would share their medical or personal problems with me. Me on other hand, have the mentality not to share my problems personal or health with anyone(kinda ok to do it anonymously on the internet though). However there are few situations where sharing that I have a health issue would be a good idea but I am afraid that they won't accept it or to be more specific that they won't understand the health issue that I have. I know some people misunderstand this health issue with mental disorder(which is not) or become overprotective because they don't understand the different variations of epilepsy.
Josh It's your call. But
Submitted by just_joe on Sun, 2016-09-18 - 12:59
Josh It's your call. But while reading your post I thought you might be young. I understand that you have only had the one seizure. You want to keep things under your control and not let people know more then YOU want them to know.Yes people can misunderstand your condition. Some may become over protective. Others may not want to be around you all because they misunderstood and the stigma associated with epilepsy. If misunderstanding are there then YOU need to clear them up. It can be done. But it takes explaining what happens and how it affects you. So if questioned answer them and refer them to places they can get information. It can become a teaching and learning experience that can help if your friends are out and they see someone in a seizure.Being older and knowing what I went thru also means we had a rougher time since research was not done on computers but in libraries. This site has all the information you will need when teaching if you decide to inform them.Like I said it is yours to call. In other words your decision. It all comes down to your ability to talk and make them understand what you have verses the stigma that is associated with epilepsy.Yes I told people but that was because I wanted to know and did research because I was having seizures. That research was written into an essay which was read to the student body 3 times a year for at least 8 years, The teachers and vice principle wanted the other students to know what epilepsy was and how to help someone if they have a seizure. I hope this helps.