Hesperian Health Guides
Talking with young people 14 to 18 years old
HealthWiki > Epilepsy and Seizures > Chapter 8: Talking with children about epilepsy and seizures > Talking with young people 14 to 18 years old
Help teens feel heard and supported. Give your teen space. This can mean letting them know you are there for them, but the decision to talk is up to them. While it is important to show interest in their life outside the home, asking too many questions can feel invasive and push them away. Teens often share less with parents than they did when they were younger. When they do open up, be prepared for lots of emotions, including anger, frustration, and sadness. Show the teen you are comfortable listening to them express their feelings and try to listen without judging, even when their views are different than yours. This helps build and maintain trust between you.
Peer pressure. Young people often feel they have to go along with what others their age are saying and doing. Peer pressure is social pressure to act as others do, in order to be liked, included, and respected. It can lead to behaviors that may be dangerous, such as using drugs or alcohol, because a person fears saying ânoâ will make their friends dislike them, reject them, or see them as unworthy of friendship. This is as true for teens with epilepsy as it is for other youth.
Talking with teens about alcohol and drugs is important. When a young personâs brain is still developing, use of alcohol and drugs can be harmful. For someone with epilepsy, alcohol and drugs may trigger seizures or interact badly with antiseizure medicines, causing unwanted side effects and changing how well seizures are controlled. Using drugs or alcohol can also cause other problems, such as missing a medicine dose while âsleeping offâ a hangover.
Peer pressure to physically look a certain way can also be challenging for teens with epilepsy. Some teens may feel pressured to lose weight, so they skip meals as a form of âdieting.â This is particularly unhealthy if hunger is a seizure trigger. Others may feel pressure to build up their muscles, so they start a new or more intense exercise program. This may make the tiredness caused by some antiseizure medications even harder to manage.
Managing screen time. Young people with epilepsy are just as likely as anyone else to spend a lot of time on mobile or computer screens. The use of electronic devices can bring both positives (like learning and connecting with friends) and negatives (like lost sleep, stress, unsafe interactions, or even seizures, if their use is a trigger). Encourage your teen to talk with you about their experiences online and how they can navigate the digital world. If the teen is worried about telling friends they cannot spend time online, offer to practice having conversations about setting limits and finding alternatives. See information about ways to stay safe and protect your privacy online.
Getting enough sleep. Because bodies and minds change so much during these years, young people also need more sleep. This can be difficult as the amount of schoolwork increases and teens want to enjoy time with friends later into the evening. Not getting enough sleep or enough good quality sleep can trigger seizures. Encourage 8 to 10 hours of nighttime sleep every day. For more information on sleeping well with epilepsy, see Chapter 6.
Fighting stigma and wrong ideas. When your teen is feeling low about having epilepsy, supporting their connections with other young people can be especially helpful. Encourage teens to seek out peer groups or online communities where youth can share experiences, build friendships, and support one another with their challenges. Getting involved in community activities or volunteering to raise epilepsy awareness can help them feel included and valued as they develop new skills and confidence. For more on stopping epilepsy stigma, see Chapter 5.
Planning for adulthood. Teens with or without epilepsy begin to think about their future and the kind of life they want as an adult. Epilepsy does not mean they cannot work, study, or have a family, but they may need extra support or face job discrimination due to their condition. Encourage the teen to talk about their interests and dreams, and to identify people they can rely on for guidance and friendship. Remind them that epilepsy is only one part of who they are and will not stop them from building a meaningful life.