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One important way that you can cope more effectively with epilepsy is by becoming more educated about it. As a person who experiences epileptic seizures, you need to know what it is that is happening to you and what you can do to reduce the risks and negative consequences that you may face as an affect of your epilepsy.
What are the benefits of learning more about epilepsy?
A number of research studies have suggested that learning about epilepsy has a number of positive effects and benefits for a person who has epilepsy. Knowledge about epilepsy helps the person, who experiences epilepsy, with the following (Thanks to Gus A. Baker, "Knowledge of epilepsy promotes positive change"):
- make a "positive adjustment" to his or her diagnosis and condition as well as to the various psychosocial issues and problems arising from this diagnosis;
- become more aware of the various factors, actions and steps that can be taken to potentially decrease the amount and/or severity of the seizures he or she experiences. In other words, knowledge about epilepsy (its triggers, how to abort a seizure, etc.) helps a person with epilepsy have better "self-management" over their epileptic symptoms;
- help those with epilepsy learn about the many professional and community services and programs that are available which can provide them with support and resources to help them cope with epilepsy and the psychosocial difficulties that are an effect of this disorder;
- help those with epilepsy become "...partners in their own health care so that information can be exchanged, options discussed and treatment plans agreed to with patients being central to the process"; those with epilepsy who have more information about the disorder are able to "...monitor and self-regulate behaviours that affect seizure susceptibility such as sleep, fluid balance, photic stimulation, excessive use of recreational drugs and alcohol, and stress";
- help educate their friends, family members, colleagues, as well as the wider public about epilepsy so that the public can gain a more accurate, honest and less stereotypical and less biased understanding about epilepsy;
- knowledge "...will help confer an increased sense of control over a condition characterized by its unpredictability."; through this feeling of increased control over one's life, the person's level of stress and anxiety decreases, thereby helping to reduce the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures.
Becoming educated and learning about various factors and issues related to epilepsy helps you answer the following very crucial questions:
- What is my medical diagnosis? What factors possibly contributed to my epilepsy? What types of seizures am I experiencing? What do my symptoms mean?
- Why am I taking certain anticonvulsant medication(s)? How do these medications work? What are their side effects - short-term and long-term effects? How can I work along with my physician to help him or her find the right medication(s) that will help control my seizures with the least amount of adverse side effects?
- What other alternative treatments are available to help me reduce the amount and/or frequency of seizures that I experience?
- What kinds of things can I do, on my own, to reduce the amount and severity of seizures I experience?
- When is a seizure considered a medical emergency? What are the standard first aid procedures for different seizure types?
- What accomodations can be made so that I can live safely and successfully in society?
- How do I maintain or search for employment?
- What can I do to cope with different psychological and social difficulties which I experience? Where can I turn to, to find emotional, social and/or economic support?
These questions are only a few of the many questions and concerns that you might have. Epilepsy Toronto can help provide you with the kind of information and knowledge you need to help you cope with epilepsy through the following programs and services: educational courses, workshops, lectures and conferences; newsletters; resource library; internet website; counselling; support group services; and advocacy.
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