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Has epilepsy affected your friendships?

Finding true, supportive friends can be hard for anyone! And when you're living with epilepsy, maintaining friendships can have unique challenges.

Has epilepsy affected your friendships? Has your condition made it hard to make or keep friends?

Tell us about your experiences, and any advice you may have for finding true, supportive friends. šŸ’œ

  1. After Iraq a kid and just few years of seizures my wife left me. :-/ Then my mother moves down, I get brain surgery, try other meds, and start to become seizure free (for the most part. Went from multiple a day to 1 randomly godknowing). Luckily I still have my best friend from 30 yrs ago. 😀 ,my son, and as sad as it is my mom, lol.

    1. I hate being called an 'epileptic' or that I 'suffer from seizures'. These are both such negative labels. People with cancer are not called 'cancerous'. They have cancer. Epilepsy is something I have, not something that I am.

      1. We agree! Such a big difference. Do you correct folks when they say either of those things, or do you let it go? Warmly, Corene (team member)

    2. Born with epilepsy. Youngest of 9, including 3 step-brothers. Have brother and step-brother year older. When child, oldest sister antagonize to make cry. Brother ignored, turned his back as brother & treated me as a retard. Was beaten hit in head.

      1. I can't imagine how that made you feel to endure such awful treatment. As you have gotten older, have they been more kind toward you? We are glad you are here and part of our community. You have value! Warmly, Corene (team member)


      2. I am an oldie and I fear this can happen even when older.
        Try and get your sibling to understand how you feel and how he or she would feel if in the same situation
        Good luck

    3. I have become selective who I become friends with I don't share my story with everyone.

      1. Hi, .my name is Lee Anne. I have had epilepsy since I was born. For 60 years now. I was born with galactic epilepsy *( laughing seizures) When, I was in school. Elementary and Junior high school, the kids made fun of me by calling me the seizure lady. What they said was,look at seizure lady having a seizure ' A d as they were doing that, they were laughing and having a good time making fun of me I would also be crying on the way home One day my mom said, stand up to them, then they will stop Because, they will see that you are not going to take it any more One, day I went to the principal because, Angela would not stop Mr. Ritter told me that we have to work it out I told h5, she just makes fun of me and everyone laughs at me and I till my mom when I get home. Mom couldn't take it anymore, and went to the school and spoke to him and told him that if she was going to continue, he needs to call her parents in then every one can have a talk about what their daughter was doing? It never happened But, she did stop because one day I couldn't take it, and hit her She stopped then

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