Getting Treated Differently | MyEpilepsyTeam

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Getting Treated Differently
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member asked a question đź’­

I have noticed, that when I'm in certain environments when the people know I have epilepsy, they tend to treat me like they know what's best for me when they know a lot less about epilepsy. Or that I can't do a lot of things that I know I can do. And no matter how hard I try to tell them it's ok, that I can still live a life doing things I want to do cause my dr told me to do anything that I think I can they gave me no limitations except for driving. As They want me to push my boundaries to see… read more

posted July 16, 2021
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A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member Unfortunately, too many people get their information about Epilepsy from something they saw in a tv show, movie or worse on some random source on the Internet. And nothing you are going to tell them is going to convince them that they have it wrong.

And if you happen to have a seizure in front of others (not truly knowledgeable about Epilepsy), then they will treat you differently. And others, like my 83 year old father, if they witness a significant seizure, then it "scars them". Every time there is a significantly loud thud in the house, he is assuming that I just hit the floor because of a seizure. In one case, it was my sister accidentally knocking her stapler off of her desk.

posted July 18, 2021
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member ... i am weird and i use my weirdness as a strength. when people say 'you can't do this'... then i do it. sometime i can't do sied item.... but most of the time i can. and my family jokes around constantly, so i am tune into that 'laughter is the best med' and the 'joker' thing. and 1 final thing... every single person on planet earth has a disability. a tree allergy? that is a disability. speech problems... that is a disability. it is just some disabilities are noticeable and some are not. and some are minor and some are major.
on with your question... yes people treat me different all the time. my reaction is to do/say things that make um impressed and/or make um funny. i am vary fortunate to get my social circle is happy and supportive.

posted July 17, 2021
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

I have this happen in both directions. They either try to be too helpful or are scared so much they totally avoid me

posted January 25, 2023
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

My husband, siblings & my boys are very good about listening to me & respecting my limits & my knowledge of my abilities. However, I do have a couple of family members that insist on referring to me as less than normal. I tend to keep them at an emotional distance, only giving them select information.
It's sad when you can't trust family.

posted July 17, 2021
A MyEpilepsyTeam Member

The Title Company where I worked at, two of the Employees saw Me have a seizure at My front desk, by the door. Instead of putting Me on the sofa (right by where I was) They dragged Me all the way from the front of the office to the back into the service room. Then They closed the door. Customers were coming for a closing and They didn't want Them to see Me! They called My Husband and He came down. He wasn't happy with the way They treated Me. He took Me home. About a month later, the Owner found out and fired the 2 Employees with what They did. He always thought I was the best Employee He had!

posted July 17, 2021

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