My challenges
Honestly, over the years I’ve found it very hard sometimes coping with the struggles of epilepsy.
I found it frustrating because of how it felt like the whole world was against me. I felt like there was no one to help me through what I was going through because I couldn’t explain to people how I was actually feeling inside.
It felt like there was no way out and I was on my own. Honestly, it used to wind me up and I’m kind of ashamed to say it, but I would verbally lash out at anyone who was actually trying to help me because of how frustrated I felt. I just felt like what’s the point. I pushed everyone away who did care and was trying to help support me when I needed them the most. The way I was feeling made me like a horse with the blinkers on – not seeing the bigger picture.
"I pushed everyone away who did care and was trying to help support me when I needed them the most."
The voice that followed me around in my mind was constantly telling me don’t bother and to give up. Then I thought to myself, just sitting there feeling sorry for myself and listening to my negative thoughts will not help me progress, it’ll just knock me back. So I started to think about what would be best for me and made some changes.
What I used to do
- I usually went to bed late sometimes 1:30am+
- I drank high amounts of Red “Coca Cola” so a high caffeine intake
- I didn’t move around as much as I should and wasn’t very active
What I changed
- I set an alarm at 12:30am for going to bed
- Now I only drink Coke Zero which is zero sugar and low caffeine
- When I go to the shops I walk
- I stopped sitting around feeling sorry for myself
I used to have sometimes 5 or 6 absence seizures in a day, but since making the changes my seizures have dropped to 1 or 2 a week.
To read more about how having epilepsy has affected Aaron check out his blog My Epilepsy Journey – www.myepilepsyjourney.uk