I’ve experienced a range of reactions. I’ve had epilepsy since I was a teenager so my family are used to it. Having said that, some people are very over-protective, to the point of being smothering. I’ve been trying to change these boundaries recently which has been somewhat successful but I still have to work hard sometimes to make my wishes heard. My relationship with work has deteriorated drastically. I lost my job when my seizures started again and I was very disappointed recently – actually, that’s not true, I was really angry – to see a statement from the company’s CEO stating how supportive they are of people with disabilities – what a liar!! I have a few friends who are unfazed by my situation but I always feel apprehensive if I have to tell someone new about it, and it usually comes up when they find out I don’t drive. The isolation, however, means that when I had to move (after I lost my job) I found it very difficult to meet anyone or make any new friends. All in all, epilepsy has had a huge impact on my life and relationships, and not in a good way.
