How Can I Help My Teenager Accept His Diagnosis? He Is In Denial. | MyEpilepsyTeam

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How Can I Help My Teenager Accept His Diagnosis? He Is In Denial.
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question 💭

My 19 year old son developed primarily nocturnal epilepsy about 5 years ago. He goes through phases of hating to take his medications (now on Aptiom and Zyprexa at maximum doses, 3 big tablets twice daily). There was a brief time when he stopped his medications but a grand mal in the middle of Ruby Tuesdays got his to realize he needs his meds. The problem with his disease is most of the activity is while sleeping, his only knowledge that he had the episode is a headache and usually a bite on… read more

posted April 29, 2018
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A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

When I was first diagnosed with epilepsy I struggled with depression and the loss of independence (I couldn't drive for a while). It took me some time to come to accept that epilepsy is a condition I live with but it certainly doesn't define me. The best advice I can offer as a person who lives with epilepsy is love them and treat them like you would anyone else. We don't need to be wrapped in tissue paper and treated as fragile things that could easily break, we live with a condition that can cause havoc but mostly we just go about our lives like everyone else.

posted May 3, 2018
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

hey JoyceRobertsVrabec, I went through the same phase of being depressed and resentful to the point of not taking my meds several years ago, I ended up with a grand mal seizure and fell to the cement, leaving me with a broken: jaw, nose, and shoulder, a concussion, and broke 7 teeth that had to be replaced completely(NOT fun). I felt the exact same way you are talking about how your son is feeling. I never went anywhere, avoided social activities, basically my bed became my best friend... My main neurologist refferd me to a psychologist for higher strength depression meds and a therapist to work on the issue at hand(yelling into a pillow helped me take out anger when i was enraged about taking my meds(therapist technique)) . I think the key you will need for your son might be a therapist. You might have to try a couple to find a good fit(someone you mesh with). I still don't have my license yet and i'm 21. To help me drive myself to take my meds I have a picture of my dream car, my old license, and a picture of me when i had my accident. Together they help remind me where i have been, where i don't want to be, and what i want in the future.

Hope this helps

-CD

posted April 29, 2018
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

Right!- Do NOT refer to epilepsy as "a disease"! It's a handicap. You let him know that Einstein was also an epileptic! So if his peers start making nasty statements about his brain then go online and you'll see dozens of famous people had epilepsy and were successful! Maybe video tape his seizures to show him so that he'll start to realize all the more of why he needs to not miss any medications! I developed a system with my pill bottles. When I take my night dosage before I sleep I lay my bottle(s) in the sleeping position (on their side). When I get up in the morning I stand them upright. When I take them at noon I turn them up-side down. When I take my evening I turn one bottle up and the other bottle down. Then I can call and ask "what position are my bottles in?". I also keep them near a place that I can see them most often and can look to see how they're standing. Tension seems to be one of the causes for my seizures. Beware!!!: Turn down your HOT water to a temp. that your body can handle by itself (without COLD)! I had a seizure 2 years ago just after entering my shower. I turned on the HOT and before I could turn on the COLD I had a seizure. The HOT kept getting hotter and gave me 3rd degree burns over 33% of my body (my back) which put me into a 2 month coma. Also wear a medic-alert that says "POLICE! - This is an Epileptic Seizure! NOT DRUGS! (and whatever else). They've beaten me on 2 occasions and have arrested me about 5 times thinking that I'm on drugs. They're too stupid to read those medic-alerts so they're in big trouble if they arrest you! One in your wallet, and a necklace or bracelet. There have been lawsuits against those stupid police. So get a list of or fellow famous epileptics, and maybe a list of famous diabetics, blind, deaf, MS, etc..., who more than succeeded in this world! For college, take advantage of State Rehabilitation who might pay for a nice percentage of it! Jeff Curtis Good Luck!

posted May 1, 2018
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I have the same type as your son and it took me until I was 28 until I actually accepted that I was going to have epilepsy for the rest of my life. Probably just maturity and having it come from someone other than mom(my neurologist had to be really blunt with me). Professors will grant extensions if he needs to ask for one...he might try to tough it out so he doesn’t get treated differently, but assure him that it’s not weakness, but strength that he’s showing by doing what’s best for him.

posted May 1, 2018
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

There is book about seizure that they can get. That can get. I have some infomation for you about epilepsy books. Seizure and Epilespy in Childhood a Guide Epilepsy foundation of america's National book Award Winner, I will give you more thing for you. Epilespy - Patient & Family Guide by F.A Davis Company , Epilepsy A new approach What medicine can do, What you can do for yourself - Richard & Reiter, M.D. Epilepsy 199 answers - Wilner - Living Well with Epilepsy Robert J Gunnit. Just help you out.

posted May 1, 2018

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