What would you tell your younger self?

[CathyAnn31]

What would you say?

(heard this question on the Today Show and thought I'd ask)

[Belinda1961]

I'd tell a younger me that it will get better and to stick with the doctor and stop going to to specialist at Emory hospital and to also have her heart checked out.

[smtobin50]

I would tell my younger self, stop messing around with meds. Just because you don't have the Tonic Clonics doesn't mean you are "cured". I doing well on Phenobarb/Dilantin and kept messing around, not taking it, having huge grand mals, and the doctor put me on Depakote (which made me gain 50 pounds and messed my intestines up!) Now at almost 50 having not had a Grand mal for over a decade, I find I am having petit mal (a Lot) and am on a new med - keppra xr - I am terrified of side effects, but more terrified of dying from a fall because of a grand mal. So that is what I would tell my younger self, TAKE YOUR MEDS faithfully!

[Loopy Lou]

I'd tell myself to stand up for myself more. I've always been a bit of a doormat.

I wouldn't tell myself that I'd be diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 22.

[neil129]

Im not sure ive got enough space!!,i think epilepsy wise,i would tell myself not to have fought against it for so long,also i would tell myself that i wasnt a bit of a social outcast.

[CathyAnn31]

I'd tell myself to stand up for myself more. I've always been a bit of a doormat.

I wouldn't tell myself that I'd be diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 22.

You sound like me. I think I'd tell my younger self that too.

[smtobin50]

How I've felt: Doormat, outcast, fearful, anxious, different, invisible, odd. What I've been called: elitist - because the meds make you so out of it people think you are ignoring them; mysterious - because the meds make you feel so out of it people interpret your lack of engagement as some mysterious quality; spooky - because as a watcher I seem to know more of what is going on. Who I am and what being epileptic really has meant to me for 50 years? - although I've run from it and tried to ignore it, it always pops up to remind me that I am different and that being different is okay.

[C0urt]

strange women, and strange cheeses are best avoided.

[CathyAnn31]

strange women, and strange cheeses are best avoided.

I'd also tell myself to not take things so seriously.. And to see the good in the little things.

[C0urt]

it makes life a lot more livable.

[valeriedl]

Do what you want to do and not what you have to do!

I had a job that I absoluty loved!!!! I quit it though for another job where I made more money. I don't remember too much about the job but from what everyone has told me even though I was the receptionist everyone layed their work on me and the whole place drove me crazy.

I think I could actually go back to the job that I loved and be able remember how to do everything that I did there in about a week. It seems that I remember things that I really liked but the things that I didn't like are gone.

Another thing I'd tell myself is which guys that I dated were loosers and not to waste my time with them!

[travel bug]

First of all - don't worry so much about parental approval that you become an uptight, neurotic, goody-goody outcast.

Second - Don't worry what others think in general. Don't assume that everyone else is better, smarter, more talented, etc. Remember what Aunt Ella from the musical Oklahoma! says, "I'm not sayin' I'm better than anybody else, but I'll be damned if I ain't just as good!"

Third - (like Loopy Lou) Stand up for yourself.

Forth - Just because math doesn't come naturally doesn't mean you can't do it. Just keep working on it and follow your dream to be an astronomer.

Fifth - You are going to deal with scary health issues when you hit (??) years old, so live! Damn it ! Live life to the fullest while you are still healthy! But remember that even with the health issues you can still live a great life, you just have to make more of an effort.

Sixth - Well, if I followed the other advice, I wouldn't have to worry about getting mixed up in that self esteem sapping relationship in college.


Okay, that would be a good start

[Chel]

I'd tell my younger self to:
- spend my money on the things I enjoy, and not save for a "rainy day"
- don't believe those experts, because the next one who comes along will contradict them
- not think I'm responsible for the actions of others: they are. It's taken me 47 years so far, and I'm still working to accept that one. It's become my mantra.
- don't accept that "women's problems" are something we have to live with
- don't accept that any health problem is something I have to live with, if there is something I can do to make my life more comfortable
- give myself more freely to others; I am worthy of their love.

[Chris515]

If I was to tell my younger self anything, wouldn't it potentially change the course of my history and my ability to travel back in time in the first place (chaos theory)?

Well if there were no temporal ramifications, I would tell myself to appreciate the good times, and don't dwell on the bad. I'd tell myself that things will get better, keep your head down and you'll get through high school.

I'd tell myself that you'll meet people going through similar things in regards to epilepsy, and finally find a place where people respect and care for you. (cwe)!

even though I haven't been here in a while it's always comforting to be back.

[nicholasscott21]

believe in one's self
Nick
xx

[Screamy]

stop worrying so much about what people think about you"

[nicholasscott21]

-I'm sure people only think good of you Screamy!
Nick
xx

[CathyAnn31]

stop worrying so much about what people think about you"

Ive never really been competitive and unfortunately it makes me appear lazy and like I have no drive. I also don't have much energy, never really have, so maybe the laziness is kinda true....I don't know...

But I do care what others think of me, even if I sometimes put on a Screw You If You Have A Problem With Me attitude.

I need to work on liking me for me. Easier said, then done, unfortunately.

[stilldancing_98]

eat healthy and be a better listener.And everything that Chel said.

[epilepticloner]

Love every moment of your life.