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Afraid of DRIVING
Sat, 07/10/2010 - 19:50Hi my names Brittney from Arizona im 18 and terrified to drive.
My parents yell at me for not being able to drive or go to college or a job.
I have grand mal seizures and frequent absence seizures but i am on depakote ER.
it works but i still have absence seizures and am scared that i will have a seizure on the road.
what should i do?any advice?
Comments
Re: Afraid of DRIVING
Submitted by katiekate on Tue, 2010-08-17 - 06:39
Re: Afraid of DRIVING
Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Sun, 2010-07-11 - 11:02
I think Barb is right on the money.
Don't drive until you feel confident and then, take it easy. When I was 18, I got my drivers license and proceeded to have 6 accidents in 10 days. (Happily all with inadimate objects.) On day 10, when I wrapped my mother's car around a cement pillar in the parking garage, I gave her the keys and didn't drive again for 10 years, until I lived in suburbia and had no choice.
I hope you fare better! Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com
I think Barb is right on the money.
Don't drive until you feel confident and then, take it easy. When I was 18, I got my drivers license and proceeded to have 6 accidents in 10 days. (Happily all with inadimate objects.) On day 10, when I wrapped my mother's car around a cement pillar in the parking garage, I gave her the keys and didn't drive again for 10 years, until I lived in suburbia and had no choice.
I hope you fare better! Phylis Feiner Johnson www.epilepsytalk.com
Re: Afraid of DRIVING
Submitted by BarbG on Sat, 2010-07-10 - 22:41
Hi Brittany,
I'm BarbG. I am 48 now but had seizures from the time I was 13-17 and was also controlled by Depakote. While on Depakote, I did not have grand mal seizures. I may have had absence seizures but if I did, I wasn't aware of them. I also was afraid to drive at your age and didn't actually get my license until I was 34, 17 years after my last seizure and only because I had 2 young children, had just left my husband and needed to be able to take care of my children to take them to doctors etc..
You are very responsible with your concern. I would suggest you speak with your neurologist and/or another doctor you have that you trust. My doctor had cleared me to drive by the time I was 17 but I didn't trust myself that things would be safe...17 years long was really too long and sometimes the longer you wait, the more your fear and apprehension increases. Perhaps if you get cleared by your doctor, you can start by getting your learners and just drive close to home and in situations where your absence seizures are less likely to happen...maybe only afternoons if your seizures normally take place in the morning or refrain from driving if you are overtired or stressed. If you have auras or are pretty self aware of the circumstances of your seizures it will be more helpful. If you absolutely don't feel safe than don't let anyone bully you into driving but my guess is that, like me, you may be suffering from a lack of confidence in yourself and you are probably more capable and responsible than most young people your age and that with your conscientious attitude and self awareness you would be fine. I wish you the very best and hope you post again and let us know how you do.
BarbG
Hi Brittany,
I'm BarbG. I am 48 now but had seizures from the time I was 13-17 and was also controlled by Depakote. While on Depakote, I did not have grand mal seizures. I may have had absence seizures but if I did, I wasn't aware of them. I also was afraid to drive at your age and didn't actually get my license until I was 34, 17 years after my last seizure and only because I had 2 young children, had just left my husband and needed to be able to take care of my children to take them to doctors etc..
You are very responsible with your concern. I would suggest you speak with your neurologist and/or another doctor you have that you trust. My doctor had cleared me to drive by the time I was 17 but I didn't trust myself that things would be safe...17 years long was really too long and sometimes the longer you wait, the more your fear and apprehension increases. Perhaps if you get cleared by your doctor, you can start by getting your learners and just drive close to home and in situations where your absence seizures are less likely to happen...maybe only afternoons if your seizures normally take place in the morning or refrain from driving if you are overtired or stressed. If you have auras or are pretty self aware of the circumstances of your seizures it will be more helpful. If you absolutely don't feel safe than don't let anyone bully you into driving but my guess is that, like me, you may be suffering from a lack of confidence in yourself and you are probably more capable and responsible than most young people your age and that with your conscientious attitude and self awareness you would be fine. I wish you the very best and hope you post again and let us know how you do.
BarbG