How you can help your loved ones with epilepsy
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Epilepsy does not affect those dealing with it in the same way. Everyone has different triggers, medical needs and varying amounts of physical care they require. Having said that, however, there are many things that family and friends can do in order to make a person’s life with epilepsy a lot easier.
Know What to Do in The Event of a Seizure
In reality, this is a fairly big thing because it could save your loved one’s life and, during day-to-day living, it will certainly put their mind at rest if they know you are able to handle things, should they have a seizure. If you’re not sure, it’s always best to ask them, but in case you feel uncomfortable about asking them for whatever reason, you could follow this general guide:
Do not try to move them unless they are in danger (on a road or near fire, for example).
If they are on the floor, make sure to cushion their head.
Loosen clothing from around their neck, e.g. necklaces, collars, or ties. This will help their airways to stay open.
Once the seizure has stopped, place them into the recovery position.
Maintain a calm and relaxed tone of voice while they are coming around.
Stay in their presence until they fully recover.
Record the start and end time of the seizure.
Besides the above, it is incredibly important that you know when to call an ambulance as well. Again, it is best to ask your loved one as they will know their specific triggers and what isn’t normal for them, but if you can’t, there are times when you’ll need to seek emergency help:
It is their first seizure.
Once stopped, they find it hard to breathe or walk.
It has lasted for longer than 5 minutes.
They have multiple seizures consecutively.
They have been physically injured during the seizure.
It has happened in the water.
The person is pregnant or diabetic.
Understand Basic Information About Epilepsy
In order to continue or start providing the best care for your family member or friend living with epilepsy, it is crucial to know the basics about the condition, so you can stay well informed.
For instance, most people may not realise that there are many different types of seizures (categorised into two groups – ‘generalised seizures’ and ‘focal seizures’), and that the type of epileptic fit will partly determine the type of care the person will be requiring.
‘Generalised seizures’ is the broad term for any type of seizure which involves both parts of the brain. Petit mal seizures – widely referred to as absence seizures – fall under this category, and involve rapid blinking and a vacant, day-dream like state for a few seconds. This group also includes tonic-clonic seizures which are also known as grand mal seizures and may make someone cry out, have muscle spasms and jerky movements, fall unconscious, and/or collapse.
‘Focal seizures’ or ‘partial seizures’ are ones that stem from a specified area of the brain. Simple focal seizures have an influence over a small area and may involve twitching or an altered sense of taste and smell. Complex focal seizures cause the person to be in an extreme state of confusion, meaning they will not be able to respond to people’s queries for a little while. Secondary generalized seizures are also part of this group, and can last for a few minutes.
Listen
Just like with any problem people are faced with, sometimes listening is the most beneficial way to help. Your loved one probably has a lot of concerns and worries about their condition themselves, especially if they have been recently diagnosed, so being able to talk to someone they trust about it will give them the amount of support they need.
Ask What You Can Do to Help
Asking what you can do to help goes hand-in-hand with listening. When asking questions about their condition and how you can support them in the best way possible, it is important to actually listen to their answer. Never assume you know exactly how to help them, everyone knows what they need, and many people can convey this well when asked directly by their family or friends.
There are a number of ways you can help which may never have crossed your mind but which your loved one might be thinking about themselves and unsure if they should be burdening you or others with things they need. They might want you to help them keep on top of any new medical benefits and programs that they could be applicable for, or maybe ensuring that they have all of their medication.
When you’re dealing with such a consistent and debilitating problem, there are a lot of things you need to think about and remember and this could get overwhelming. They might be afraid to ask for help, so you should offer it.
Everything mentioned here are all things that will greatly improve the quality of life of your loved one who is living with epilepsy and help them to achieve all the things they want to, regardless of their condition.
