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Another beneficial way that you can learn to cope with, and self-manage, your epilepsy is through trying to become more aware of your own thoughts, feelings and behaviours. By becoming more aware of how you're thinking and feeling and how these thoughts and emotions affect your behaviours, the more capable you will be to re-adjust these beliefs, emotions and behaviours so that you have a more optimistic outlook on your life situation.
Some of these techniques include:
- 'creative visualization' and/or 'guided imagery'
- re-framing or re-adjusting your thoughts
How does 'creative visualization' or 'guided imagery' work?
One such technique is called "creative visualization" and/or "guided imagery". Once you have entered a relaxed emotional and physical state (see section on relaxation exercises), close your eyes and consciously and purposefully guide your mind so that are thinking about positive, relaxing and pleasant images. For example, you might close your eyes and begin to think about sitting on a beach, and imagining the warm sun on your body, the sound of seagulls and the waves gently washing onshore. Pay close attention to how all your senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) react to this very detailed and creative visual image in your mind. As you are thinking about these positive and pleasant images, you may also want to quietly speak to, or think to, yourself using short and simple positive "self-affirming" statements (example: "I am a kind and helpful person.") These "self-affirming" statements can further help to reduce your stress levels and relax you.
(Thanks to D. Sawyer and C. Sugden's Working Towards Wellbeing)
What are the benefits and advantages of 'creative visualization'?
By carefully thinking about, and trying to experience these positive images and experiences within your mind, you are helping to reduce and/or block out from your mind the stressful effects arising from many of the negative feelings, events or situations that may trigger or precipitate a seizure. Indeed, by developing pleasant and relaxing mental images, you are helping to promote the physical changes in your body - steady, normal blood pressure; relaxed heart rate; stable and 'calm' brain electrical patterns -- that will reduce the likelihood that you will experience a seizure.
What does re-framing or re-adjusting your own thoughts and feelings mean?
Simply put, re-framing or re-adjusting your own thoughts and feelings about your life situation means becoming more realistically optimistic and hopeful about your life situation by focusing on the strengths and positive qualities that do exist within your life.
How can I re-adjust my thoughts and feelings about myself and think more optimistically when I am experiencing so much stress and difficulties in my life?
It is quite true that you will likely feel overwhelmed and 'stressed-out' when you are faced with many very difficult and challenging life problems. When you feel such a sense of overwhelming stress in your life, and particularly when others in your life have repeatedly told you, "I don't think you can do this because of your epilepsy" it is often hard to take the time to look at yourself and recognize that you do have strengths and resources. Indeed, all of us have strengths, talents, resources and skills.
Some of these possible strengths can include: supportive family members and/or friends, your personal life skills (eg. skills in areas such as work, school, socialization, communication, creative arts, etc.)
Being optimistic about your life and recognizing your strengths does not mean ignoring the reality that you have epilepsy. Indeed, you as a person who has epilepsy will likely have to make adjustments to your life so as to help ensure your safety and well-being. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that, often times, you can make these adjustments and accommodations to your life in ways that are as minimally intrusive and which allow you to live your life to its maximum potential. Our section dealing with making safety adjustments in your life, can provide you with some useful tips in regards to this issue. By becoming more realistically optimistic about your life situation, and beginning to recognize the personal strengths, skills and talents that you do possess, you will be better able to recognize how you can use these 'resources' in order to help you overcome many of the life problems and difficulties that you face.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that even if you cannot achieve the tasks, activities that you would like to achieve, you should not feel personally to blame. Indeed, many of the limitations that you experience in life are an effect of the discriminatory barriers created by society and the various institutions in society which do not provide you and others with epilepsy with the accommodations and resources that you require to live your life to its maximum potential. But remember that Epilepsy Toronto is here to help. Epilepsy Toronto and its counselling staff can provide support and advocacy to assist you with any circumstances in which you believe you have been unfairly treated or discriminated against.
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