Coping with Disease: My Life with Epilepsy

By Sydney Marsman on February 5, 2016

I was born an epileptic. I had my first seizure at two years old, and the disease hit hard at the age of nine. Seizures have been a prominent part of my life ever since I can remember. What most people don’t realize, though, is that epilepsy is more an internal disease than anything. When people look at me, they can’t see my disability. They can’t see the constant battle going on inside my brain. But what they also can’t see are all the ways epilepsy has helped me grow. The most recognizable change, I believe, has been my change in optimism. Because I am living a life where certain activities are off limits (including driving), I have created an atmosphere for myself where my life moves uphill despite these obstacles. And here is how I do it: persistence. While living the college life, I have learned that in order to be successful, one has to find a routine that works for him/herself. The same idea applies to coping with epilepsy.

Most of my friends, to the best of my knowledge, are aware that I have epilepsy. Only a few of them, however, have actually experienced the effects of it in real life. Only a few of them have had to pick me up from the hospital or tend to my wounds after a bad seizure. My roommate has been there for a majority of my seizures, bless her heart. Over time, she has evolved into a mom-type figure, making sure I drink plenty of water and texting me when I’m out late. Socially, epilepsy is a blessing because it establishes trusting relationships.

I have had to find a lifestyle that suits my body in order to keep my seizures under control. Don’t get me wrong, this does not mean that there isn’t an occasional setback. Because there is. When living such a busy lifestyle, I have realized the value of stopping to listen to what my body is telling me. For example, I make sure to spend at least thirty minutes alone every day in order to relax my body and mind. Personally, I find it helpful to listen to calming music and read a bit before bed. This helps me achieve a good night’s sleep – something that is very necessary for people like me.

In order to cope mentally, I focus on maintaining my stress level. When stress takes over my mind, seizures become a more frequent occurrence. Therefore, over the years, I have been working on ways to keep my stress at the lowest level possible. This includes living a more organized life, and yes, managing homework is a big part of this. When I find that a project or test is overwhelming me, I take a break and distract myself with something I find peaceful, i.e., a conversation with my roommate or a quick Netflix break. Though there are obviously many ways to improve quality of life, I believe that there is no single key to success when living a life with epilepsy. The best thing I can do is be thankful for my epilepsy and the unexpected ways it has given me contentment.

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