Bullied Because of Epilepsy

Bullied Because of Epilepsy | September 19, 2012

Like lions, they smell the difference…

Like hawks, they sweep down on you…

And like hyenas, they laugh and eat your heart out.

I guess Robert Drucker never heard the saying “don’t hit a man when he’s down.” Because even though I wasn’t a man, I was surely down on the ground with a seizure. Lend me a hand to get up? Hell no. He kicked me in the face and broke my nose.

But no pity parties here. I’m sure you’re not new to the bullying game. Where ignorance rules and mean is cool. Just ask:

Paul, taunted as the “seizure boy” throughout school…

Gemma, gang raped by three boys as a teen…

Troy, whose (former) best friend beat him up…

Sarah, mugged by a man pretending to be her date while she was seizing…

Olivia, whose classmates called her “retard” and dragged her backpack through mud…

Jonathan’s teacher didn’t believe he was having a seizure and pulled the chair from under him, just to see if it was “real”…

Chris’ parents threatened him with a vasectomy, if he dared to have another child…

Tim was repeatedly beat by the police, who accused him of being high on cocaine…

Corinne committed suicide at 13, after her (former) best friends taunted her for two years and finally told her “You should just die”…

And at a State Hospital in Michigan, when Mike had a seizure, they would lock him in the seclusion room. If he had another seizure there, a nurse or attendant would come in and slap him or literally “belt him”, where nobody could see…

I’m sure you have your own story too. Will you tell it or stay silent, as so many victims do?

References:

http://epilepsyassociation.com/epilepsy-patients-tell-of-horrific-bullying/

http://talkaboutitorg.ning.com/profiles/blogs/bullying-has-to-stop-we-have-to-help

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19631586

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/en/resourcecentres/epilepsy/athomeandatschool/epilepsyandqualityoflife/pages/epilepsy-and-social-adaptation.aspx

http://my.epilepsy.com/node/969952

http://www.ct-ea.org/personalstories.html

http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=23&m=2429218

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/give/paulrothbein.cfm

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/livingwithepilepsy/parentsandcaregivers/parents/backtoschool.cfm

http://www.ncype.org.uk/all-about-epilepsy/your-stories/11279-jonathan-solomon-story

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Posted in Epilepsy, Tips
Tags: "retard", beat, bullying, death, Epilepsy, gang raped, ignorance, kick, mugged, suicide, victim

12 Comments »

I had a long hard think about this one. It is really sad to say that it reasonated with me greatly. I hope your experiences have been better than mine. Thank you for opening up the topic.

Comment by epilepsymeandneurology — October 4, 2012 @ 5:26 PM

Reply
I think it’s a fact of life, like it or not, whether you’re big or small, assertive or shy.

And unfortunately, that’s why so many people go “under cover” into isolation.

But I feel that if we can educate and advocate and create a strong community of caring, perhaps the stigma won’t sting as much.

That’s the purpose of this website. To create a “home” where people can air their fears, rant, laugh, encourage and support one another with wisdom, love and honesty.

And so far, I think it’s working!

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 4, 2012 @ 6:34 PM

Reply
- I think we also have a responsibility to stand up for people that are being bullied. Whether it be by mouth, pen, or just getting in the face of a bully and shutting them up. Thats why support groups and websites like Phylis’ little family here are so important. Knowing we are not alone helps a lot
  
  Comment by Charlie — October 5, 2012 @ 8:01 AM
  
  Reply
  - I agree, there have been times when I’m just coming out of a seizure and people are arguing about it. Saying I’m making it up or something but my friends who know me well enough to know it’s not true will defend me and try to educate those who don’t understand epilepsy.
    That takes love, friendship, respect and honor. I have a lot of appreciation for them after reading this poost.
    
    Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 9:37 AM
Those are TRUE friends.

There are “friends”, like the ones mentioned above in the article, who turn on you and taunt you.

There are “friends” who know, accept your epilepsy but don’t necessarily accept you with a full heart.

And then there are friends — like yours — who actually DO something.

They are your special treasures, worth a pound of gold.
(But you’re smart enough to know and appreciate that already.)

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 10:10 AM

Reply
I’m thankful for that, I probably would have never gotten through college if it wasn’t for them.

Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 10:13 AM

Reply
- Hmmmm… I wasn’t so lucky. In fact, I changed schools after my freshman year. (And trying to jump off a 2nd floor terrace.)
  
  Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 10:19 AM
  
  Reply
  - I can relate to that. Did you actually jump or attempt to? I hope it was a failed attempted, either way, I’m glad you’re ok.
    I’ve had my own battles with depression, especially with bullying, people not believing me, losing jobs, etc. Finally getting better, but still a barrier in finding work.
    
    Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 10:23 AM
No I tried and failed. Someone came along and restrained me.

But you can imagine the scene afterwards.

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 11:17 AM

Reply
- Understandable! You get the unwanted attention they think you want but you don’t really want, right? You just want relief from the seizures and depression taking over your life: control.
  
  Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 11:21 AM
  
  Reply
But looking back, would you rather have that, or would you rather have what you have now?

Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 11:21 AM

Reply
Well, depression is a horrible beast. I’ve had clinical depression just about all my life and take the maximum dose of Effexor to help.

Also, Lamictal at its lowest level acts as both an anti-anxiety med and an epilepsy drug.

We just do the best we can…

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 12:11 PM

Reply

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I had a long hard think about this one. It is really sad to say that it reasonated with me greatly. I hope your experiences have been better than mine. Thank you for opening up the topic.

Comment by epilepsymeandneurology — October 4, 2012 @ 5:26 PM

I think it’s a fact of life, like it or not, whether you’re big or small, assertive or shy.

And unfortunately, that’s why so many people go “under cover” into isolation.

But I feel that if we can educate and advocate and create a strong community of caring, perhaps the stigma won’t sting as much.

That’s the purpose of this website. To create a “home” where people can air their fears, rant, laugh, encourage and support one another with wisdom, love and honesty.

And so far, I think it’s working!

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 4, 2012 @ 6:34 PM

I think we also have a responsibility to stand up for people that are being bullied. Whether it be by mouth, pen, or just getting in the face of a bully and shutting them up. Thats why support groups and websites like Phylis’ little family here are so important. Knowing we are not alone helps a lot

Comment by Charlie — October 5, 2012 @ 8:01 AM

- I agree, there have been times when I’m just coming out of a seizure and people are arguing about it. Saying I’m making it up or something but my friends who know me well enough to know it’s not true will defend me and try to educate those who don’t understand epilepsy.
  That takes love, friendship, respect and honor. I have a lot of appreciation for them after reading this poost.
  
  Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 9:37 AM

Those are TRUE friends.

There are “friends”, like the ones mentioned above in the article, who turn on you and taunt you.

There are “friends” who know, accept your epilepsy but don’t necessarily accept you with a full heart.

And then there are friends — like yours — who actually DO something.

They are your special treasures, worth a pound of gold.
(But you’re smart enough to know and appreciate that already.)

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 10:10 AM

I’m thankful for that, I probably would have never gotten through college if it wasn’t for them.

Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 10:13 AM

Hmmmm… I wasn’t so lucky. In fact, I changed schools after my freshman year. (And trying to jump off a 2nd floor terrace.)

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 10:19 AM

- I can relate to that. Did you actually jump or attempt to? I hope it was a failed attempted, either way, I’m glad you’re ok.
  I’ve had my own battles with depression, especially with bullying, people not believing me, losing jobs, etc. Finally getting better, but still a barrier in finding work.
  
  Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 10:23 AM

No I tried and failed. Someone came along and restrained me.

But you can imagine the scene afterwards.

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 11:17 AM

Understandable! You get the unwanted attention they think you want but you don’t really want, right? You just want relief from the seizures and depression taking over your life: control.

Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 11:21 AM

But looking back, would you rather have that, or would you rather have what you have now?

Comment by Liza — October 5, 2012 @ 11:21 AM

Well, depression is a horrible beast. I’ve had clinical depression just about all my life and take the maximum dose of Effexor to help.

Also, Lamictal at its lowest level acts as both an anti-anxiety med and an epilepsy drug.

We just do the best we can…

Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 5, 2012 @ 12:11 PM

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