how do u deal ?

[lovemyladybug]

hi all , just found this site last night , and wanted 2 join ! im 24 now have had epilepsy since i was 14 , but it wasnt till about 3 and a 1/2 yrs ago that it seemed to take over my life ! due to the change to grand mal seizures i had to quit driving ( havent been behind the wheel in 3anda 1/2 yrs) , combine that with other medical problems and i had to quit working , then b/c of that we had to move to another state so my husband could get a job that would support both of us , meaning we left all of our family and friends behind ...now here i am , not driving , not working , i'm lucky to get to leave the house once a week on my husbands day off ( if he doesnt have 2 work it to pay bills ) my hubby is gone 14 hrs a day and still has 2 sleep , so i basically talk to no one 6 days a week , and theres no end in sight ! im sure im not alone in this , but i dont know how to cope anymore , i feel like im losing my mind !

 

[Nakamova]

Hi lovemyladybug, welcome to CWE!

I'm glad you found us! One way to deal is to...join places like CWE. The membership here is friendly and diverse, and most importantly everyone here "gets it" about the stresses and frustrations that epilepsy brings. We have a "Padded Room" forum here just for venting when it gets to be too much.

Aside from CWE, are there any epilepsy support groups in your area? Any other groups you could become a part of? (Volunteer groups can be great). Do you have a pet? Getting out and walking a dog can be a great way to clear the mind, and potentially meet other pet owners if there's a dog park nearby.

Can you arrange to talk on the phone (or Skype or videochat) with a friend or family member a few times a week? Hearing a friendly voice or seeing a friendly face can go a long way. I live alone and work at home -- a potential recipe for cabin fever -- but a good friend who lives in another state calls every other day or so just to check in and shoot the breeze.

I hope you can feel better soon. Make yourself at home and explore the forums here -- in addition to the Padded Room mentioned above, there are forums for chatting about epilepsy or about nothing in particular, places to post or read a poem, or just get a laugh.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[travel bug]

Hello lovemyladybug:hello:

Welcome to CWE

No, you're not alone in not being able to drive and feeling cut off, but moving away from family and friends along with having a husband who is working such long hours makes it all even more difficult. Finding CWE is a good start in coping; there are a lot of great, caring people here who can identify with at least some of what you're going though.

I'm unable to drive or work as well, but since I am a caretaker for my father, I have the opposite problem from feeling lonely: I feel like I never have any real privacy. I'm either home with my dad or with my mom when she comes to drive me around to run errands. But either way, I think it's the not being able to drive and have your independance that can really get you down.

Hang in there We are here for you!

All the best,
travel bug

 

[lovemyladybug]

thanks for the responses , and to nakamova no where we're at were pretty cut off from parks and things and this is a small town ( no groups of any kind really !) and to travel bug , i have a friend from where we lived before that i talk to from time to time , but in todays busy world i know how hard it is for most people to have enough time to do what they have to do , much less anything else so i try not to bug people , and as far as family goes lets just say alot werent supportive of my choice of a husband or moving across 3 states so we dont really talk often . i just feel like im gonna burst at the seams , always depressed and ticked off , and i try my best to keep my husband from noticing because he works sooo hard to provide for us since i cant chip in anymore , then on top of that he has to get off work just to run errands because i cant ! but sometimes i guess i cant help but show it , and it worries him even more , so im trying to find ways to cope ! thanks for listening and offering advice !

 

[Nakamova]

Is there a library or a park to hang out at? Sometimes librarians can help plug you in to other groups or resources. Anything accessible by bike? Maybe a gym? Being around other folks -- even if you don't know them -- can help take the edge off. Do you have a garden, or can you make space for one?

And if you feel reluctant to call your out-of state friend, talk to her to see if she really feels interrupted or not. If it does seem like you call too much (and you probably don't), then try and set a fixed time very week to call Even if it's just once a week, you can look forward to it and it will make a difference.