Does the stress of having seizures ever get better?

@jakedduck1
Hi Jake, Good Evening
Here in São Paulo we are just 2 hours ahead of Washington DC. Not that much time difference, though it is spring over here and fall in the US.
Do not blame yourself Jake for not thinking this way. I would have never had this view just by myself, it was with the help of great professionals such as my neuropsychologist that I changed my view on my epilepsy more as a friend rather than an enemy, little by little. Be nice to you! There is always a moment to start changes.
Lauren, whom I met in an epilepsy support group some time ago, has written a very nice post recently "Can epilepsy be a friend?". In case you are interested, here is the link to this post: https://laurencanaday.substack.com
Wishing you a peaceful evening!
Chris

@santosha

Thank you Chris for the link.

Jake

Hi @jakedduck1
First, a very good morning to you!
This weekend I watched a documentary called Resignify (not yet available in the States), bringing me some additional insight into "Can epilepsy be a friend?"
When I got my diagnosis and started my treatment with much suffering, I have asked myself many times "why me?". I consider myself an honest person, a person who helps so many people through my job as a career outplacement consultant, a person with a good heart and an honest one. "Why was I being punished that way?" I even got angry with God at that time. This was a time when I saw my epilepsy as my biggest and largest enemy.
Before my epilepsy was diagnosed, I was a person who was very focused on the outside, the external world, to others, and little on my inner world. I had a very agitated life with my sympathetic system turned on most of the time. My mind was my boss, listening little to my heart that has a low voice, but a very true one. Emotions, especially the emotional garbage, were many times hidden under the mat. With the epilepsy treatment, all that came to the surface.
With my epilepsy experience, I was forced to dive into my inner world, to listen more to my heart, to my anxiety, what my body was saying, and what I needed to learn about myself. I realized how aggressive I have been to myself for many decades. Today, I see the pain I went through as a sacred pain that has brought many learnings and positive changes in my life, In this sense, my epilepsy is nowadays my big friend. This process of organizing the mess of my internal cupboard is a process I am still working on. Listening to my heart the same way I listen to my mind is something I still need to be vigilant about. Usually, my seizures happen when I have surpassed my limits and have not listened carefully to what my body is trying to tell me. There is more I need to learn.
When we think that everything seems to be going wrong in life, it is often when we are on the right path!
Have a beautiful day with much peace in your mind! And let's not forget to be gentle and kind to ourselves.
With much care and love,
Chris (Santosha)

@santosha Thank you I do feel it necessary to find the right person to help me sort out these feelings I have been carrying for so many years. I will look into a neuropsychologist if I have one I can meet with. Just in the last week with so many changes and medical problems occurring at the same time it does become overbearing for me to handle.

@wkrebs59
My pleasure, Wendy.
I'm sorry to hear you have had so many changes at once. One step at a time! First, allow yourself to return to a calmer pace, and then look into finding a neuropsychologist. Respecting our own rhythm is so important when living with a neurological condition.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of any help along the way.
Wishing you a restful weekend!
Chris

@santosha I want to thank so many of you for your support and have really given me many helpful avenues to go the follow with dealing with my multiple changes with my early onset Parkinson's seems to of brought on. I do want to try to remain calm and feel the first step for me will be to focus on a neuro psychiatrist. My neurologist recommended one who is on my insurance! This is a very good place to start. Monday I will find out if I will be needing my Thyroid removed many of my Parkinson symptoms could also be caused from a goiter which I have along with to large masses in my thyroid. The other major symptom was my bloodwork came back extremely abnormal so last night I had a CT Coronary calcium score test. I unfortunately received the results already less than 24 hrs showing Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It is just another set of tests that I will be dealing with. If I have the right support system to get through all of these issues I feel the psychiatrist can help me put it into the right perspective. I have already start a very strongly supported exercise program which is being monitored by licensed physical therapists specializing in Parkinson. I also have started on the Mediterranean diet. One step at a time.

My pleasure, @wkrebs59 💜!
Having a neuropsychologist recommended by your neurologist is definitely an excellent start — mine was also referred by the doctor who diagnosed my epilepsy.
I hope you'll soon have these challenges behind you. First things first!
Chris