Epilepsy in Young People
Friends and epilepsy
Here young people talk about friends and if, or how, having epilepsy affected their friendships. They explain how their friends had been there for emotional and practical support, to share experiences and just to have fun with!
Sharing, support and having a laugh
For many young people we spoke with, friends were the most important source of support, sharing and encouragement, and many said they couldn't have got through their experiences without close friends. People felt the most comfortable talking to friends about their feelings on living with epilepsy, seizures and difficult times.
A couple of people said that they didn't want to talk to their friends about epilepsy because they worried about being seen as a burden on others or looking for pity, or because they wanted to talk only about fun stuff.
Simon has a lot of friends both at home and college. Together they go out for a meal, to the...
Simon has a lot of friends both at home and college. Together they go out for a meal, to the...
When I was at school I had friends which I still go and see and, and I've been in contact with them for, since I first, I left school really. And I still go and you know see them at times and yeah and they stay in contact with me. And, and if they have anything on they sort of, we go and see each other and they don't live, shop very far away from, in my home. So I can, like either ask my mum and dad to like drop me off there and then spend time with them and come, and then come back later or something. So I have friends round my area where I live and that I go and sort of see now and again and it's quite good thing to do really.
Yeah, what do you do together with your friends?
Like we go sometimes we go out to the cinema, we would go out for a meal together, we… we would do, we go bowling together sometimes. We would go, I go to their house and basically have a meal over there or something and, and we'd play a few sort of games over there and to just like socialise over there really. Catch up on sort of things that they've done and I tell them things that I'd done and so that we, we'd just catch up on like news and that. Cos I like sort of hearing what they've done and, and I like hearing what I'd done.
People described how their friends had made them feel better about having epilepsy, taught them how to appreciate the positive aspects of life and not to feel embarrassed about discussing their epilepsy.
Friends were also those with whom people could tell jokes and have a laugh with, about their epilepsy. Many felt this was really important (see 'Humour and jokes about epilepsy').
Nick's friends know how to deal with his epilepsy. They are not too serious about it and the only...
Nick's friends know how to deal with his epilepsy. They are not too serious about it and the only...
Yeah you said earlier that your friends had been really good with you.
Yes, they have. First my High School friends, I was told that I would drift away from them, 'Oh don't worry about that you'll find new friends at university, and you'll drift away with them.' I never have, 'cos they were there when I first found out about it, and we were just always remain friends. I suppose it's probably a separate issue but we've just always been friends about it, and they've always knew how to deal with it, and they are the only people I'll let me tease about it. They're the only, there's only certain people, you have to be a very good friend before I'll let you have a go. And I'll have a go straight back at them, but they're the only, it's only like, I think he once had a go at us, and I was like, I was really upset to begin with, I was like, 'How do you do that man, that's really harsh, that's harsh.' But I had a go in the end, and we just sort of, it made it a bit more, giving it a bit of levity made it a lot easier to deal with I suppose. So I suppose not taking it too seriously is probably the best thing to do with your friends. I mean your parents, well my parents take it so seriously, it's good they're so concerned about me, but with your friends who are also concerned about you, deal with it in a different way. They deal with it by not being serious about it.
Many people emphasised how important it was for friends to know what to do if they had a seizure so that they wouldn't panic or freak out. Many had been in situations where their friends had to call for help or an ambulance, when they had a seizure. Most people felt reassured knowing that their friends would be calm and responsible if anything did happen.
Harry never felt different from his friends. He says they were never bothered about his epilepsy...
Harry never felt different from his friends. He says they were never bothered about his epilepsy...
My friends have been good and they have helped me when I've been ill. And they've called, called like call, you know call people to help me. And they've never left me or anything. But it also emphasises the fact that you, I think that you should, can't, shouldn't really be on your own if you've got epilepsy, in case you did have a seizure. When I have been on my own a couple of times, one of my first big fits I was on my own, at a bus stop and put me in hospital for a few days because I had a big fit and I broke all, I broke my nose and smashed all my face up, and I just woke up in hospital, and I didn't have anyone to help me and the problem is people thought I was actually a drug addict someone and they didn't know at all.
Paddy's friends have always been really good and they know what to do when he has a seizure.
Paddy's friends have always been really good and they know what to do when he has a seizure.
A few people mentioned that their friends had learnt basic first aid and how to put them in a recovery position after a seizure. Some said they felt safer and more confident to go out with their friends rather than on their own, knowing that 'friends will keep an eye on me'. One woman said it was funny how her friends were sometimes even overprotective, constantly making sure she was okay and looking after her.
For many, friends were also there for practical help, if needed. A few people took a friend with them to the epilepsy clinic appointments, both for emotional support but also to help them remember to ask questions and recall what had been discussed. Other practical help from friends included having lifts if they couldn't drive, though some people pointed out that they didn't want to depend on others for getting around.
Feeling isolated
For some young people, making friends hadn't been easy. Those who had been diagnosed or were struggling with severe seizures in their teenage years or in the first year of university, said it had been difficult to make friends. For a few, making friends had been really difficult because their lives were taken up by hospital appointments, treatments and seizures.
Clair found it difficult to make friends when she was diagnosed in her first year at Uni. She...
Clair found it difficult to make friends when she was diagnosed in her first year at Uni. She...
Yeah, it was difficult because obviously one of the things is, a sleep you shouldn't stay out late and I found it quite difficult anyway because of my medication makes me sleepy in the evening so I tended not to go out in the evenings so I'd rather go out in the daytime and do things but obviously that's not really the student culture it tends to be sort of go out late and stay out late, so I did find that quite difficult. But my boyfriend actually is he's actually the same as me he likes to go out and do things in the daytime rather than go out late 'cos he works as well as Uni so he's, kind of on the same timeframe [laughs] as me I guess. So we do quite a lot of things and just go out in the daytime and my housemate she's actually, likes to [laughs] sleep as well, so we can, well I mean I think I've, the friends I have made are quite useful 'cos they, they are all sort of the same people as me and they don't like to go out late and stay out late and so we do do other things so. I think it meant that I'm probably made better friends because they'll support me more and they're not just gonna sort of leave me out. But it was hard because I was looking forward to going out and that sort of life but I thing is made me more sensible. And that I don't drink whereas a lot of people do so and I'm glad that I don't because I can see all the stupid things that other people do and so, yeah I think it's, I think it's actually been good in that respect.
Some people talked about how their friends had disappeared after they had been diagnosed because they couldn't go out, drink and have the same lifestyle as before. Many said their friends had found it really stressful to see them have seizures and gradually stopped asking them out. These experiences were hurtful and made people feel isolated.
When Becky was at Uni it was sometimes difficult to keep up with others. There was something...
When Becky was at Uni it was sometimes difficult to keep up with others. There was something...
Some people were concerned about being a burden on their friends and one man felt his epilepsy put 'a strain' on them. A couple of people said they felt 'guilty' for 'ruining' a night out for others if they'd had a seizure.
Donna couldn't go out or drink when she was younger because her seizures were really bad. She...
Donna couldn't go out or drink when she was younger because her seizures were really bad. She...
One woman said that, after her diagnosis, she saw her friends in a different light because some of them became more distant towards her.
Maria has some supportive friends but others find it difficult to appreciate how epilepsy affects...
Maria has some supportive friends but others find it difficult to appreciate how epilepsy affects...
I definitely think that my social life has been affected a lot, and that's, that's been one of the hardest things, is that I do feel like I'm missing out a lot and it's just not very nice.
Yeah. What, what about your closest friends, closer friends how have they reacted?
Well even there I think a lot of them don't really understand, because they take those things for granted, and, I think it's very easy to say well, “Big deal, you can't go out very often.” So, so? “At least you, you can walk? At least… could be worse?” And yeah it's true it could be worse, but, it's still not great, so, I'd say there's only probably one or two of my friends who've really, really sort of grasped it, and the rest are like, really not very well. But then also I think young people are generally sort of very involved in their own lives, and while you can sort of feel sorry for one of your friends if they're going through a difficult time, you also are thinking, “Well, I want to go out, so I am gonna go out, even if my friend can't.” That sort of thing, so, so yeah I think a lot of my friends probably haven't reacted in an ideal way and that's been difficult as well.
And certainly one or two of my friends have just always been really, really supportive, and very understanding, and sort of asking a lot of questions because they want to know and they want to understand. But then I think beyond that it's such a bizarre thing and something that's so alien to people because it's, if someone looks at me they can't tell that I'm ill, it's not, you know I'm not missing any limbs, I'm not in a wheelchair. So it's very hard for someone else to relate to, and so, yeah, you're right, yeah I probably has lost friends, or, I'm certainly not as close to one or two people as I was a year ago.
Yeah. How does, how do you feel about that?
Oh, it's just sad. It's, and it is upsetting… but then it also makes me appreciate those people who have been supportive, so it's, on one hand it's really horrible, but on the other hand it's, it's made me closer to one or two people and that's nice.
Another woman's close friendship had broken down after her diagnosis. She felt that it was partly because her 'expectations were too high' of him. They were both quite young and her friend was also dealing with issues in his own life. Generally, people felt it was easier to make friends when they were a bit older and people a bit more 'mature'.
A couple of people had decided not to tell most of their friends about epilepsy, at least for a while after being diagnosed. One woman said she kept her epilepsy 'a secret' from most friends and had to make excuses why she couldn't drink alcohol.
Friends for life
On the whole, the young people we spoke with said that having epilepsy had really shown them who their real friends were. Many said they'd gained 'friends for life' - friends who they knew would always stick by them.
Last reviewed May 2016.
Last updated March 2011.
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