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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-11-27, Page 3Mewsand featares Epilepties are victims of door attitudes By Kathy Bromley November has been declared "Epilepsy fl Month" in Canada. Epilepsy is not as uncommon as most peo- ple assume. There are over 400,000 Cana- dians with epilepsy. That is three times the ' total amount of people who are afflicted with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis r. and cerebral palsy. Epilepsy is not a disease — it is a disorder. Yet, man has looked down upon epileptics ' for centuries. Back in the early days, it was considered a "curse" and the devil was presumed' to be in your spirit. Anyone who had this so-called "curse" at one time, became the "victims" and were supposably killed. • After that era passed, death wasn't used Alas a form of punishment, but epileptics were Wifforbidden to marry. It was presumed that this would keep it from spreading. It is a proven factor now that the ones who have chances of passing it on to their children are the ones where both the husband and wife • are epileptics. Even then the chances of passing on epilepsy is slim. With one spouse being an epileptic, chances of the off -spring being affected are slinuner again. Very rarely is it inherited. Some of the most. famous people were epileptic — Julius Ceasar and Alexander .the Great. Years ,have now passed, BUT, has ]]tan's attitudes changed that much? Of course, the killing is forbidden, but what treatment the epileptics do receive can be and is just as painful. What I am referring to isn't the physical treatments and misuse that are practiced. BUT the mental punishment. Looking at it from this aspect, I can relate. I am an epileptic. Today epileptics are still considered the "victims", not in the same sense of the seizures themselves, but the downcast and poor attitude some people have on you because of it.' The epileptic seldom gets hurt physically during a seizure. However pain is brought :on "mentally" afterwards, due to some at- , titudes people have and it hurts emotionally. • After this has occurred, one gets to the point Illof being ashamed to show their face in public. Seizures may occur at any age. A sudden blow to the head is just one example that can cause one to.have convulsions. People don't realize that they could be in the .same posi- tion some day, • I can remember host hard it was going through school. An encounter with one' of nay teachers was my first experience with how .one is accepted. I began taking convulsions in Grade 5. They were mild, but they were blackouts and I couldn't recall anything that • occurred. • As the year progressed, apparently, they got worse. The teacher obviously had no idea what was happening, but I knew there was something definitely wrong. When she was confronted by my parents, trying to get to the roots of it all, they asked if she had any idea, what was the matter, or if she recognized it from before, she replied '•Nn". She then went on to say that as far as she was concerned, it was all in my head I, she . was right there,. at least, as it is in the brain that the disorders causing seizures arise) and I was doing it to get attention! Little did she know, that if I wanted attention, I sure would have taken a different route! It did take a few years for the medical department to finally relate my problem with epilepsy. The easiest way would have been for the doctor to see during a seizure, but the chances of that are almost impossi- ble. The difficulty was mostly due to the fact that no two people experience the same symptoms exactly, and therefore, are each affected in their own way. Some people will just stare, others have sudden loss of con- sciousness, some are restless with jerking and movements and the list goes on, depen- ding which area of the brain they derive from. As no two people have the exact facial features; no two are identical in a seizure. It is common for an epileptic to be labelled as "one who falls to the ground, shakes and• froths at. the mouth" during a seizure. This occurs with grand mal seizures, the most common type, and the type under control, thanks to modern medicine. Seizures fall under different types according to the symp- tongs shown. Besides Grand Mal, there is Petit Mal, Phychomotor and focal seizures. Once a person is in a seizure, there is nothing one can do to bring them out of it. The seizure will take its course. Just ensure that the person is set down to avoid falling and to take them somewhere where it is quiet. Sometimes, the more fuss raised, the longer they are in the convulsion. Don't make a big issue Of it and make them feel any worse than they already do afterwards. Usually, within a few minutes, they can con- tiiiue right where they left off. With man being brought up with many of the attitudes he, has been, mostly due to what one hears, as in this case, it is easy to see where one gets to the point of being• ashamed to go back in the public after a seizure. Recently, when I was on a guilt trip, I was told by a great and wonderful friend "not to let it bother me. People who have the ig- norance to see things in that respect are the ones who have a bigger problem than the epileptic." . Always do your best and let people get to know you for who you really are. If 'they think anything of you at all, the seizures will take. the back seat as far as 'for coming between friendship. The seizures weren't brought on by you — you had no control over it, unlike the alcoholic, who has only himself to blame for his condition. Therefore, there is no sense in an epileptic feeling guilty. Epileptics can lead just as normal a life as anyone else. Thanks to modern medication, many people (nearly 80 percent) have their seizures under control. There is no reason they cannot be a part of the working force. If the seizures aren't controlled 1001 percent, they still work, just avoid jobs working with and -or around machinery, and in high places where one might fall. Studies have shown that epileptics take less sick time off and have fewer accidents on the job than that of the general work force. One thing I learned, though, was when ap- plying for a job, don't put on the form about being an epileptic. There is a great chance that your resume will be filed under "G" for "Garbage right then and there. Let your employer get to know you for what you are — your working capabilities, talents and of course, your personality. Then, once he -she has come to know you, tell him -her of your problem. Chances are they will think twice before letting you go. Yes, mental and emotional insecurities seem .to play a bigger role in the life of an epileptic than the seizures do themselves. In school, kids teased me about taking "fits". Looking Back at it now, I can't see where they were any worse than those taken by some children who didn't get their own way and took a temper tantrum. I even see some adults still pull, this stunt. Still, that was hard to relate with then. Sometimes, adults aren't much better. Many still go by the drastic thinks they hear, plus add.a little here and there to spruce it up and will always think the worst. I, like many people, have a tendancy to complain about this, or that in relation to how I am feeling. But, I have had my eyes opened earlier this year. One of my younger brothers, a victim of muscular dystrophy, died at the early age of 21. His life ..s oneof confinement, unable to d as iers h age did or participate in an 2i ' et, ow I realize, I can't ever reca Peyer complain- ing. Here was a young man whose life .went from the bed to the wheelchair and back to bed again. He had every reason to complain, wanting to be able to do so much more than he was able to. • Movements we do automatically without hesitation —scratching a sudden itch— .was one of great difficulty fbr him. Things like Turn topage 5a Rain causes delay. from page 1 The high level of rain in the area has had little effect on the moisture level of the corn. "There's a little bit of moisture, but nothing serious," he said. Jim Howson, however, of Howson Mills in Blyth, considers the delay in the corn harvest has been a blessing in disguise. He says the delay has spaced the harvest out and has prevented a glut from emerging in thF enrn market which allows the See Hejwoois Sports for Gifts you'll love to give... 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