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Reach Out Brochure
As parents, it seems we never stop worrying about our
children. And when they finally reach adolescence, the risks seem endless.
Although our instinct is to protect them and anticipate any harm that might
come their way, it becomes increasingly difficult when our children are
living with epilepsy.
As teens, their job is to break away from us and become
their own persons. And ours is to let go and watch from a distance. Because
we can't be with them 24–7, this letting go process can be a time of stress
and constant worry.
Before we know it, we are spending all of our time concerned
about this one special person. And our other relationships are beginning to
suffer. Before too long, we feel isolated and so do the people who love us.
To feel reconnected and regain the strength it takes to let go, it's
important to reach out to others.
On this page:
Reach Out to Your Spouse
WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS when we
become parents. Once a romantic couple, our relationship becomes redefined
and we become co–parents. Add to that the challenges and fears of raising a
child with epilepsy, as well as the different ways we react to stress and
the divide increases. To bridge the gap, we must make a continued effort to
reach out to our partners.
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Take time at the end of the day to talk about something
other than your teen.
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Never go to bed angry.
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Remember what
attracted you to each other in the first place.
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Make a date to go out together at
least once a week. Make that date sacred.
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Find someone you can trust as a
back–up in the event of an emergency.
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Reach Out to Your Children
A TEEN' S EPILEPSY AFFECTS THE WHOLE FAMILY. If your
teen has brothers or sisters, chances are they worry about their sibling as
well. And when they are not worried, they may be feeling a bit resentful
that they aren't getting as much attention. Complex as these emotions are,
they can all be eased by openness, love, and attention.
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Make listening to
each of your children a priority. Talk about their feelings.
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Spend some
time, even just 10 minutes, alone with each child each day, or create
special one–on–one time with each of your children on a consistent basis.
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Find something special to celebrate individually with each child.
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Have
positive answers for "I hate her" or "You love him more than me."
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Help
your children learn to be advocates, react to the stigma that still faces
their sibling, and educate others about the condition.
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Carry a cell phone
or pager so that your spouse and kid(s) can reach you if they need to.
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Reach Out
to Other Parents
THERE ARE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION parents in the
United States going through a similar
experience—they have a teen living with epilepsy. Like you, these parents
and their families have faced challenges along the way, and most are happy
to share their stories. Through support groups, you can meet parents and
learn about the strategies and tips that have worked for them. Contact the
Epilepsy Foundation* to find a support group in your area. Or
ask them about organizing one of your own.
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Attend a parent support group or consider joining an online
forum.
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Start a parent support group if one is not available in your
area.
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Participate with other parents in an annual Epilepsy
Run/Walk that raises awareness.
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Share with other parents tips, ideas, and strategies that
have worked for you.
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Reach Out to Yourself
AS PARENTS, OUR OWN NEEDS ALWAYS seem to come last. But we can't keep giving if we don't
have the time
to replenish ourselves. Giving all that we can to all of our loved ones means
taking care of number one first. Here are some basic tips:
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Schedule time for yourself each week—a walk in the woods,
read a book, take a yoga class, get a new look, or even go bargain shopping. Take the time to do something that makes you happy.
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Stay in touch
with yourself. Keep a journal in which you can express feelings and
thoughts.
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Continue to grow and reach your potential—whatever it takes.
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Try to eat healthfully and stay physically active to prevent chronic
disease.
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Look your best. Although it takes energy, it also feeds your
spirit.
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Remember who you are. Look at old photos from before you got
married and had kids.
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 Download
the brochure (PDF–159K)
One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format
(PDF). You will need Acrobat
Reader to view and print these documents.
* Links to non-Federal organizations are
provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an
endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none
should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual
organization Web pages found at this link.
Date last
modified: 03/15/2006
Date last reviewed:
03/15/2006
Content source: Division of Adult
and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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