the reaction of the adolescent to epilepsy

Adolescence is a sensitive period of development for any individual as it is a time when you can start considering your own identity, sexuality and independence. The development of epilepsy during adolescence can lead to psycho-social difficulties over and above those normally associated with adolescence, and can severely disrupt normal development.

possible negative effects of epilepsy on the adolescent

There may be varying degrees of denial by the individual concerned which may lead to a lack of compliance with medical advice.

Overprotection by parents or carers may cause some adolescents to become less socially skilled and therefore less confident. Social restrictions may lead to social isolation which can increase feelings of anxiety or depression and have a detrimental effect on psychological well-being. Teenagers with epilepsy may believe they have less control over their lives compared to their friends and this may cause anxiety, depression and poor self-esteem.

gaining independence

Adolescence is about learning to become more independent and living one’s own life. It is vital that parents or carers allow the teenager to take responsibility for the management of their own life and of their epilepsy. They should encourage the development of a productive relationship with their own physician where they feel comfortable about asking questions.

the impact of epilepsy on social life

The fear of having a seizure in public, of physical injury, of an accident occurring outside of the home and the possibility of hostile reactions, may lead to social withdrawal and isolation. Teenagers may end up placing restrictions upon their own social lives and thus deny themselves the opportunity of developing friendships and engaging in normal teenage activities.

helping an adolescent understand epilepsy

Epilepsy represents only a small part of the adolescent’s life and parents should encourage their child to enjoy as many of the activities that other teenagers enjoy as possible. To ease the anxiety of parents, the adolescent should be open with friends about their epilepsy, the risk of seizures and how to manage them.

alcohol

Alcohol can be a problem, especially if friends drink. In general, alcohol is sage if consumed in reasonable amounts. Parents need to discuss with their teenage child the importance of being sensible with their drinking, sleeping and eating habits and how this might affect the incidence of seizures.

forming personal relationships

Adolescence is a critical time of life for forming personal relationships and some adolescents with epilepsy believe that their epilepsy will be a barrier to forming a relationship. This may lead to anxiety and depression and will affect levels of confidence which will make it even more difficult to form relationships in the future.

Some may be afraid of having a seizure while out on a date or while having sexual intercourse. These are very delicate problems and must be handled sensitively by parent or carers.

compliance with medication

Teenagers with epilepsy and parents need to discuss medication openly and honestly and acknowledge each other’s concerns. Compliance is a difficult issue for anyone who takes any sort of medication and taking anti-epileptic drugs will constantly remind teenagers that they are different. Some teenagers with epilepsy may become lazy or deliberately not take their pills as an act of rebellion against their parents over involvement.

If communication is difficult between the parent and adolescent, advice should be sought from the GP who may be able to enlist the help of a Counselor or Clinical Psychologist.

the role of the family

The family plays an essential role in promoting an adolescent’s self-esteem and sense of control. All family members will themselves need a way of coping with feelings of helplessness and a loss of control when the adolescent begins to experience seizures. The way the family copes will influence the way the adolescent does and may lead to some psychological problems.

Parents or carers should help teenagers to understand their epilepsy and how to manage it. They should ensure that the teenager does not feel different and discuss their epilepsy openly and honestly. Social withdrawal and isolation may be fostered by parental over-protection. Sometimes, parents of teenagers with epilepsy may have lowered their expectations about their son’s/daughter’s potential which could lead to their child’s underachievement and adjustment problems.