How can I cope with misconceptions about epilepsy?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 46-year-old male. I have been suffering from epilepsy for years, and one thing that irritates me the most is how ignorant people seem to be about this disease. If I tell them that I am an epileptic, then they start acting weird or start believing things that are not even true.

The awareness about epilepsy is far behind that of many other diseases. How can I deal with this?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I am glad that you shared your experience with me, and I can understand that it is tough to live with this disorder. You are right, there is a little awareness regarding epilepsy in society.

However, you cannot change others' views or opinions about anything. What you are doing is more than enough. This is not your fault for catching this disease; it is similar to other physical illnesses.

The good news is that this disorder is not only manageable but also curable. You can share your experience with your loved ones, do regular exercise, and make a habit of doing a 30-minute walk on a daily basis. It will help you relax. Similarly, do deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation exercises.

You should try to explain your illness to everyone, as nobody can understand you except your loved ones. This does not mean illness is not real; the reality is that they don't have proper knowledge about the illness.

Sometimes, it is possible others may not act weird, but due to constant pressure, evaluation, and stigma, our brain can make false interpretations. These are called cognitive distortions. One of the important cognitive distortions in your case may be fortune-telling or jumping to conclusions. You can read more about them.

They will help you understand how our thoughts run our emotions and behaviors, and how a single thought can change the direction of meaning.

Feel free to contact me for any other questions.

Thank you.