Do you find you suffer from very bad self confidence when you have had epilepsy for a long time?

[Adlon57]

I have had Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy since I was 14 now 65, I have always had bad general self confidence, especially now having early dementia, my bugbear technology remembering all those "security" numbers/letters that EVERYONE has to survive on, and getting angrier at doing it, I know this to a certain extent is the dementia. But do people find their general confidence is always stunted when you have long term epilepsy?

[EpilepsyAction1 Partner Epilepsy Action]

Hi Adlon57

From time to time, everyone feels nervous about doing certain things, or feels like they can’t do something. Especially so for people with epilepsy.

You may find the Wellbeing section of our website helpful. It explains how wellbeing can affect someone with epilepsy and offer tips to help when someone is lacking confidence or experiencing ow self-esteem. epilepsy.org.uk/info/health...

Take Care

Regards

Diane

Helpline Team

[Iringa in reply to EpilepsyAction1]

Was so self conscious, embarrassed having sudden seizures, falling etc

[Adlon57 in reply to Iringa]

I feel it inside, why, no confidence at all, falling behind the 'new technology' getting angry inside, will I get another seizure because my body does not allow me, I must be stupid, strange looks at me, it must be the epilepsy/dementia, I have had this feeling and the dementia amplifies it, pressure anxiety sets off seizures, a catch 22 situation! I HATE PEOPLE, LOOK HE HAS EPILEPSY, HE IS MIXED UP, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT HE HAS EPILEPSY/DEMENTIA, THEN TREATING ME LIKE A FOUR YEAR OLD IDIOT!😤😤

[TMeeps02]

I can relate. I can sometimes forget my own address or phone number after an episode. I'm usually able to play it off, but, I truly do live in fear of being cornered by a cop and being told I'm drunk or of being reported to child services because some full-of-it teacher at my kid's school thought I was "too out of it" and something must be wrong. It's kind of silly but those types of negative whispers never really seem to leave the back of my mind. After a few bad experiences I also now fear new doctor's appointments. It seems like the patient is often the one asked to put themselves in humiliating positions or explain themselves over and over, and I used to not mind, but, well, hey, now, I get tired of pretending it doesn't bother me.

[Adlon57]

I am getting worse now, talking in a conversation, suddenly I forget a word in the middle of the sentence, I can see the object, but the brain stops, I get angry, because my stupid brain cannot remember an ordinary word/object, I have to 'blurt' out of it, boy do I feel stupid🥴🥴I talk to myself, I live by myself, no one else will listen, but even when talking to myself, same thing! That is dementia, and now my doctor knows about it, no way out!🥴🥴

[Adlon57 in reply to Adlon57]

Getting old?

What I feel like now

[Adlon57 in reply to Adlon57]

I have to laugh about it just to keep my sanity?🥴🥴🥴