Wellness for All

It is very important to look at the big picture when a family member is diagnosed with epilepsy. What is critical here is that epilepsy not be allowed to overtake every aspect of planning for the future or to impede the wellbeing of the whole or part of the family.   Designing a plan to avoid a crisis will help each member to move forward in the healthiest way possible.

• Communicate.  Make sure that there is an opportunity for everyone in the family to share their fears for the member with epilepsy, to learn about epilepsy, and to voice their disappointment, frustration, and possible misplaced guilt about the changes in family dynamics that often occur.  Attending a support group is often valuable.  Support groups are usually open to patients and loved ones.
• Prioritize. Place as much importance on scheduling family recreation as you would on a medical appointment.  Both are vital to family health.
• Consider siblings.  Brothers and sisters often have their life turned around because of the time and energy placed on the child with epilepsy.  Special time set aside for the rest of the children in the family will help them to feel less abandoned and give them an opportunity to just talk about it. 
• Preserve family health. Neglecting your health and the health of the rest of the family can be easy to do when so much of life is consumed by one medical condition.  Select a healthy lifestyle for your family that includes diet, exercise and regular checkups. 
• Recognize trouble.  At the first sign of a problem look for help.  Many families dealing with the challenges of epilepsy benefit from either family or individual therapy, or both.