The impact of epilepsy on relationships

This chapter examines how epilepsy may impact the important relationships in a woman's life: parents, partners, children, and friends. If the parents have a healthy attitude toward epilepsy and encourage normal functioning, the child can grow up with epilepsy in its proper place, just one part of what makes up that person. People who run from relationships on the basis of learning about the epilepsy are not really ready for a mature relationship. The parental relationship with children can also be affected by epilepsy. Some parents, not wanting to burden their children, may try to keep the epilepsy secret. Without healthy discussion of the facts, the child has to depend upon other sources for information, such as friends, which may or may not be accurate. For each person, the experience with epilepsy is a little different. The chapter also presents some suggestions of coping strategies.