Stigma attached to the word "EPILEPSY"

[ranman]

We have to try to do more to educate the general public about Epilepsy. People tend to get scared when they hear the word Epilepsy or Seizure, especially at work. People tend to feel unconfortable around you b/c they think you're going to have a seizure and they won't know what they should do.

There still is a stigma attached to this condition but if you think about it it's no different than an employee having diabetes or a heart condition.

Randy

[Mandi]

You're so right Randy. I still get comments from people on occasion that think I'm demon possessed. Generally I just growl at them. They already think I'm crazy, might as well satisfy their need to judge.

I think we've come a long way, but the road still has very many bumps. As a whole, I don't think the general public have any idea what Epilepsy is and what it does to a person.

[fourstar]

Thats so odd I was never treated as a second class citzen because i had epilepsy. Not in NYC or MTL. or OR.
All my friends know I have szs I did have absence szs in front of them too. In NYC a few of my friends saw grand mal when I needed
a change of meds. But they all saw absence szs. No one ever treated me as crazy?
fourstar

[Mandi]

The demon possessed thing tends to come from the elderly. Not long ago that is what people considered was happening when they saw someone seizing. Unfortunately some people still feel that way.

[fourstar]

Mandi I send you lots of ((((((hugs)))))))) for the hurt those pple have caused by being ignorant

((((hugs))))
Riva

[andrew]

Reactions seem to vary a lot. I've been as lucky as fourstar. Virtually everyone I've told has been sympathetic or, at worst, indifferent. (To my face at least, and I couldn't care less what they say behind my back). The only tiresome thing I've found is that, with epilepsy being fairly well known, everyone think they're an expert on it. If I get asked about strobe lights once more, I may scream.

But as you say, there's still a lot of ignorance which can be far more damaging. There's a lot of work to do yet.

[Mandi]

Thanks Riva... Small town mind set tends to work against me at times. You learn to move on from the ignorance though.

Drew... had to laugh about the stroke lights comment. I honestly think that when the general public thinks of Epilepsy, they picture someone on the ground in front of stroke lights kicking and screaming like a fool. Now, mind you, this does happen. But, there is so much more to the condition than that and people just don't get it. I explain to those that listen. Some get it, some don't.

Ah, the road is long.