Epilepsy- The Disorder with a label... (My Experience of Epilepsy)

Member Name: opinionuk

Product:	My Experience of Epilepsy
Date:	06/10/01 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: NONE!!!

Disadvantages: being labelled as different, emotional suffering

I have suffered from Epilepsy since a child, something that as a child I just accepted and it didn’t really have much influence on my life, however as you enter your teens things start to change, I so desperately wanted to be ‘normal’ if there is such a word.

There is so much peer pressure that I used to keep the fact that I had Epilepsy to myself, luckily I never had an experience where I had to inform anyone as the seizures only happened in my sleep, this is no longer the case and I have been known to have them during the day.

I still don’t tell people that I suffer from Epilepsy, regardless of what people say there is still a stigma attached to it and I want people to know me as a person and not an individual with a ‘Label’, I sometimes feel that I have a big luminous sign on my forehead in big letters stating ‘EPILEPTIC!’.

Because of the Epilepsy I suffered from depression as well although initially I didn’t realise it, but being prescribed Prozac was the best thing that I’ve ever done, I’m not suggesting that this is the answer as each individual is different but it was the answer for me.
Okay I still suffer from Epilepsy but I feel as if I can cope with it, I still don’t go around announcing I suffer from Epilepsy if I’m being perfectly honest I am embarrassed about it, stupid I know considering that amount of people that suffer from Epilepsy I’m sure there are many people out there who can relate to what I am saying.

I always remember one day I had an appointment with the Epilepsy nurse at the local hospital and I remember asking if I will always be an ‘Epileptic’ and she very rightly stated you are not an Epileptic but a ‘person who suffers from Epilepsy’ and I thought you are so right I am a normal human being and not an individual with a label…

Summary: