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Stigma and Epilepsy (or any stigma)
Epilepsy & Seizures | Last Active: Feb 26, 2023 | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
@jinhd
Hi Jim,
Small world isn’t it, Modesto is my home base.
My county has 537 confirmed with 23 deaths.
California has 76,354 confirmed cases with 3,821 deaths.
I haven't had a seizure in public in almost 9 years so it's definitely better but still out there. My cousin who lives Mt Shasta is Developmentally Disabled and was walking down the opposite side of the street from where my neighbors lives and I went over and asked what justification she had in calling the police. Both she and her husband are attorneys. She was evasive and never did answer my question and so I tried to explain about stigmas and the harm they do but she didn't seem to be interested. It's people like her who help perpetuate these stigmas. side of the street from where my neighbor's lives and I went over and asked what justification she called in calling the police. Both she and her husband are attorneys. She was evasive and never answered my question. Stigma associated with Mental Health issues are really bad. My cousin who is Developmentally Disabled was hung, had an illicit drug put in his soft drink and other things and ostracized unmercifully. I can't comprehend why kindness, understanding, and compassion is such a difficult concept for everyone to grasp.
Jake
Replies to "@jinhd Hi Jim, Small world isn’t it, Modesto is my home base. My county has 537..."
I had a seizure in public once. In fact, on the job. I was fired because of it! The stigma was so great where I lived that I couldn't get a volunteer job. Small town people, small minds. They know all your business. Especially since my father was a well known man. I moved from that area 22 years ago to a city. Now I have privacy of my own business (except with the apartment management). I'm afraid to tell people that I have epilepsy, I only say seizures, because of the stigma and fear of rejection. If I tell them they accept me here.
When I was in Giant once they said something about raising money for epilepsy. If you would have done that in public where I lived you would have been put in jail!
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@jakedduck1 It escapes me, too, Leonard. I think it's connected with our society's pervasive self-centered attitude. And the notion that's almost universally accepted that there's no such thing as truth, and right and wrong.
Jim