How do you deal with it?
 

Is it just me or does any one else deal with feeling like the odd ball? Being afraid to tell people you have epilepsy because you'll hear stupid stuff like "Oh wow, don't have a seizure around me." and when you try to explain partial or absence seizures, no one 'gets it' and its usually the last time you hear from that person. Its hard enough to convince myself to even get out and be around people because I'm so afraid of having a seizure and looking foolish or worse. I actually got arrested twice for suspicion of being under the influence of drugs while haveing one (charges dropped but still so embarressing). The only person I know with epilepsy is my sister but she lives 4 hours away and neither of us are able to drive now so we don't get to see each other and while she understands some of what I feel, her experiences are different. She also has grand mal seizures (I don't). So she deals with some different stuff. It sounds horrible but I've actually felt jealous because at least people can see her illness and not think she's making it up. I know that sounds so bad. I'm just being honest.
I would give almost anything for one person to understand how this feels. I want so badly to not have this and be this way.

Hi Mellissa,

Welcome to the forum! Take my word I understand exactly how you feel. I have absence, complex partial and simple partial seizures (sz.) and it started when I was 10 yrs. old. I've had epilepsy now for 42 yrs. and when I was in jr. high school my so called friend would cut me down and call me rude names to the point I didn't want to go to school anymore. My math teacher hit me in the head saying I was faking a sz. to get out of class but the next day she was fired.
I want you to know that you are not an odd ball and don't ever think that you are the problem is not enough people in this world know about epilepsy even though it's one of the oldest medical problems ever you can read about epilepsy even in the Bible in the book of Mark where a boy is having a sz.
When I was in my teens it was hard for me but then I made the decision that I wasn't going to let my epilepsy get the best of my life, I got a job and worked part time while in my teens and then I got a job working in public school working with students in special education who have physical or learning disabilities and I can see how my having sz. all these yr. has helped me to relate to others I work with who have medical or learning problems.
Take a look at Elton John, Edgar Allen Poe, Alan Faneca (retired professional football player for the NY Jets), Danny Glover, Einsteen, Agatha Christy all of these people had or have epilepsy and it didn't stop them from become famous so don't let it stop you from doing what you want to do in life.
Here's wishing you only the best and May God Bless You!
Sue

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. It helps to know I'm not totally alone and that there are people who understand what its like.