subject: Epilepsy And Raising Teens [print this page] This article examines a series of questions that come when raising adolescents who suffer from epilepsy or seizure it. I deal exclusively with adolescents because they tend to adjust their parents due to natural hormonal changes, and the need to completely healthy to feel independent, and find its own way.
Like many diseases, epilepsy, and vary from one individual to another. I will talk briefly about the disease and how many people suffer, but to get more specific information, you can access resources in your city.
Fifty million people worldwide have epilepsy, affecting three million people in the United States. And reduce the social and economic development through classes and religions and gender. Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has more than two seizures over a period of time. Is also determined matches episodes of neuronal activity is disturbed that changes to / and attention or behavior. Symptoms vary in every patient with seizures being hidden so as to be almost invisible, while others lead to complete loss of consciousness.
It usually takes a considerable amount of time before they can be highlighted in the right medicine to control the disease, and sometimes control can not be predicted. In other cases, led to surgery in a certain measure of success. Unfortunately, there is no "one size fits all" solutions to leave the family members (both staff and patients), without direction.
How do you manage this disease, especially as they affect your teen? They can manage the school and be in other long-term goals? And your descendants are able to control some of their doctor? Although I am not a doctor, should be addressed medical issues to a neurologist or epilepsy specialist, we can have a discussion on how to create life in the future.
Parents naturally want to protect their children gifts can not be predicted probabilities epilepsy. Coupled with the nature of adolescence to the instability and volatility normal. This is the challenge for young people too, when their parents hovering over them.
Since I was diagnosed with grand mal seizures like high school, I remember those challenges. I also remember that in spite of this transformation is frightening events, parents of very real concerns, they encouraged me to go to the University of 6000 miles from home. To be clear, we live in Germany and the universities of your choice and was in California.
I had to quickly learn new skills as a call to myself and to ensure compliance with medications, and access to medicines on a regular basis. In addition, I had to develop new skills in the treatment. I had to find how to find my way through a maze of doctors and pass the learning curve of the disease were not known before. There was also a cultural gap to overcome because I have never lived in the United States.
But I could and probably your child can or will be, too. It is also easier now than it was 30 years ago.
Access to medical information has completely changed since the advent of the Internet. Not only is it possible to learn in the privacy of your home, it is also quite reasonable to find others with the same diagnosis and development of support systems, friendly and helpful. You and your children are no longer alone.
So what can you do as a carer or relative or even a friend? The most important skill to develop is the ability to listen without solving the problems in your teens. Yes, you can enter the case is still necessary.
Many parents are concerned about the school offers so be sure to keep in touch with your child's teacher (s). Moreover, the attention of a child's seizures, deadlines and pressures and drugs. If one makes the medicine your child is too groggy, depression or creates other side effects, please talk to your neurologist. Laboratory tests to clarify information and as a result of changes are often small systems medicine (pre-approved by a doctor) in the main impacts. More importantly, start teaching your teenager how to do these things for himself or herself.
Every child needs a "conversation of substance abuse," (with the speech "sex" dreaded). And young people diagnosed with epilepsy face a far greater danger of mixing alcohol and illicit drugs and medicines for epilepsy. Consequences do not deserve to give in to peer pressure because there is enormous potential to break through seizures and loss of driver's license - not to mention the unnecessary risk of self and others .. .
It is important to realize that most parents have little control on their adolescents. You can believe in themselves. You can teach them to build strong support systems. You can drop them in the rear, while the communication you need to know that it will not make the right decision in the long run, if it can be seen that day or not. You can teach your children how to resolve the situation and how to deal with disappointment. But they are the only ones at the end of the day, who can not protect themselves and others.
In most cases, people who suffer from seizure disorders to normal life, including going to college, relationships and children, and the professions. Yes, there are certain restrictions that the tides of life with the disease, but also to achieve the goal and it is still in the hand.
As a person infected with epilepsy, there were periods in my life where I have not been allowed to drive. To avoid breakthrough seizures and I do not drink or take illegal drugs. I manage my diet and exercise. As a woman, I am aware of the problems of the hormone. However, there is no magic formula, at least until now ...
As a result, sometimes I'm scared, angry, and depression. However, I know that these emotional states are temporary. I try to spend more time in the present and excessive worry about the future. Of course I can not say when or if another seizure occurs, but does not rule my life or significantly alter my goals. Overall, I feel happy, success and hope.
Support from doctors, family and friends, the internal hard drive and certain guarantees, adolescents all have the same potential waiting for them.
