I am proud of myself!!!

[Crazy Monkey]

As most people on this forum know, I have a problem talking about my epilepsy, so this was a real breakthrough for me.

I can't believe it, I actually managed to tell someone at work last Friday about my epilepsy (one of our site managers), the moment just seemed right as we were talking about medication so I mentioned about my current meds and that led to me saying about the big E.

I think I caught him by surprise and he was a bit shocked to begin with and lost for words, his first remark was that I had hidden it well over the years, unfortunately we didn't have too much time to talk about it, so I followed it up today, as I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable talking to me and from past experience people normally have a few questions etc and I wanted to give him the chance to ask them.

I knew that he would take this new info ok, I have worked with him for nearly11 years so naturally after this amount of time we have built up a mutual trust and what I consider to be a very good working relationship. I had a long chat with him today, he reacted the way I thought he probably would which was very understanding and non judgemental which made it easier for me to talk to him and explain about my E from my past, present and future, also I shared with him the way that it affects my life, how I deal with it and how I try to get around restrictions.

I am currently feeling on a bit of a high after successfully telling someone about my condition and not having the person run a mile afterwards. I know that he will respect my wishes for confidentiality, he is one of the only people in my workplace that I would ever consider telling and I work with 300.

I really hope that he understands how much his reaction means to me, how I wish more people in my life are like him.

 

[Meetz1064]

Wooo hooo!!!

I am so very happy for you!

Hot dog!

:clap::clap::bigsmile:

YEAH FOR YOU!!!

 

[Birdbomb]

 

[TeeTees]

Yay - good for you....glad it all went okay. You've obviously spoken to someone who has a brain, and doesn't think 'E' can be passed on, or any other stoopid thing :clap:

 

[skillefer]

Yaaayyyyy!!!! Good for you!

 

[RobinN]

I am proud of you too.
Something that you would remember for a long time is to tell him this:

I really hope that he understands how much his reaction means to me, how I wish more people in my life are like him.

either in person or in a note. It would make his day too, I am sure.

 

[Crazy Monkey]

Good idea

Thanks Robin, sounds like a good idea, it is a bit of a poor show when you have 2 work colleagues offering more support then your own parents or any other family member, they both deserve a thankyou from me.

 

[BuckeyeFan]

Hey CM :woot:

This is another thing that no one else can understand how hard it is to do. It is so much more than opening your mouth and saying those words, "I have Epilepsy".

Even our great parents of children with E here can't really understand how hard that is for us. Though they will be with their children all the way, that is just a VERY personal challenge.


One thing I have learned over the past few years is that each new person you tell is easier than those first couple.

 

[Crazy Monkey]

:agree:

You have hit the nail on the head there Buckeye, it is very difficult to explain what a big deal it is too say those 3 words, because once the words are said, you can't take them back. I need to be really sure that I trust a person before I go ahead. But it doesn't stop there because you can't tell a person then run, you need to spend time with them so that they have a better understanding of epilepsy and how it affects you as an individual and it can all end up being quite a private affair and you have to be prepared to answer some really personal questions.

 

[Nancy]

Wonderful! What a strong person you are.

 

[Crazy Monkey]

Thanks everyone, all of your comments and support are much appreciated :rock:

 

[Georgiagirl88]

Wow!!!!
That is absolutely wonderful. I am sure it felt totally liberating!!! Good for you!!

Michelle : ))

 

[Cint]

I'm proud..

of YOU, too!! :clap:

I know how difficult it can be to disclose to others about epilepsy.

Cindy

 

[Ann T.]

CrazyMonkey!
Holey Moley! Give yourself a pat on the back AND take a bow!!! Take care! ~Ann

 

[MichelleMC]

Hey Crazy Monkey,
I'm so glad that you felt you were able to tell your boss today. Does he know what to do if you should ever have a seizure? When I told my boss, I don't remember if I told him what to do, but he has a friend with epilepsy, so he might already know. He's not one to keep things to himself. If he felt he needed to know, he would have asked, so maybe I shouldn't assume, but I do assume he knows since he already has a friend with it.
Anyway, I'm happy for you. I am sorry though that you don't get support from your parents. I don't understand that part, and I didn't mean to be nosey in bringing that up. That's just a surprise for me since we don't choose to have this condition. My family supports me except when the discussion of my possibly being pregnant comes up. My father and mother are against it and they worry about me. My stepmother seems a bit more opened to the possibility.
I didn't mean to make this about me in some parts. I was just trying to identify with you. Again, I'm glad for you, Kim. It is important that your boss knows.

 

[Bernard]

Congrats CM. Sometimes it's not so much what you say, but how you say it that drives other people's reactions. Sounds like you are finding some inner peace with your situation and that is allowing you to talk about it (without giving off a bad vibe).

 

[jazz'smum]

Congratulations!
Wonderful to hear that your work friend was so supportive.:clap:

 

[Belinda5000]

I'm glad you where able to disclose your epilepsy to someone you trusted.
I don't know how it feels not be able talk about ones epilepsy.

Belinda

 

[Crazy Monkey]

Congrats CM. Sounds like you are finding some inner peace with your situation and that is allowing you to talk about it (without giving off a bad vibe).

:agree: with Bernard

I have recently told another 3 people that I work with about my E, with my situation changing at work due to redundancies I had to select some new people to inform.

So as an obvious choice, I chose an ex-nurse due to her medical background, I chose our production manager due to me being in his direct line of sight and I have also told our UK sourcing Manager (he wasn't essential) but as I am going to be spending a lot of time with him on the road, I decided to spill to him as well.

There is no way I would have been able to do this before joining CWE, so I have come along way in the last 7 months.

 

[dfwtexas]

Good for you, I have a similar situation as you. Only one member of family is supportive and understanding. No one at works knows, there has been times I want to tell them, but I really fear for my job. It's makes it harder to open up to when you have gotten shut down when you told family members.
I keep thinking, one day I will be able to open up about it.