How do we cope with the Stress & Worry that goes along with EP?

Terri, Sorry to hear you are feeling so overwhelmed. My child was recently diagnosed with epilepsy, he's 5. He was born very very ill (diaphragmatic hernia) and spent lots of time in the hospital (8 months). During that time, I felt very much like you described...exhausted!! But I was still able to go through the motions for the sake of my child. I have to tell you, it ultimately took its toll. People use to always ask "how do you do it?' I would respond, "I dont know, I just do" That was because I was ignoring my body, my brain, my emotions,etc... But you can only do that for so long. I ended up at the doctors office having panic and anxiety attacks because I had ingored my own health for all those years. With a little counseling and yes, even medication, life is much easier to "cope" with. I don't anticipate needing this level of support forever, but for me, for now and for my child, this is what I need to do. I hope you can find an outlet for your feelings. Ther are many resources out there, maybe it is in the form of a friend or a doctor or even an email buddy to let yourself be weak --- (it is okay not to be supermommy at all times) :) Search for what yon need, there are so many out there that can relate AND help. Peace to you, Stephanie

Terri, you are so right! I have never been able to "just forget about it" seems so many things make me have to think of it. A simple school trip, church outing, friend's invitation over, is no longer a simple thing!! Seems that planning is always required. Saying that, I found that finding people on websites to talk to about our experiences has been the most help to me. Finding that I am not alone, that others have faces some of the same things has been SO healing to me. I have also learned over the years to squelch the worry some and let him go do things. (Of course it depends on how often and what kind of seizures a child may have.....) Trying to teach him to have the tools to get help if needed. He has simple and complex partials and LOOKS aware but is not. He has succeeded a couple of times in telling a friend when he was "feeling weird" and they did call for help. Educating yourself in seizures can help, too, but it is easy to go into information overload as well as more fears in hearing ALL the variables and scary possibilities. Hang in there!! Take it one day at a time. KNOW that this is a roller coaster. Seems even in better times of control, it can be normal to worry and wait for more to happen!