So Who, What is Normal

Speaking as an epileptic to all people with or living with epileptics normal is considered what
is socially and culturally acceptable but, social and cultural will change normal thus altering
the concerns of cognitive social psychology. !STRANGE AH if you were born with epilepsy
you are 'normal' you just have fits, simple enough ah but, if you have had a bad hit to the
head you probably will end up having epilepsy because of brain trauma. It is from this that
(from experience and a degree course in psychology i speak) i can say, epilepsy is not your
(there) problem it is cognition. Because of the brain damage the cognition (thinking
processing response time) causes you/them to appear to be not 'normal' thus although
they/you may pysically be appealable a patronization comes in between them/you and the
'partner' and 'we' become unlovable as people and sex objects. We are viewed as ohh or ahh
or poor thing not come here i want you now? This dilemma is further complicated when you
end up on sticks/wheelchairs. Phenomenological psychology at face value can be a most
beneficial for understanding and/or revealing an individuals "self" through its uninterrupted
methodology through the use of Free Association Narrative Interviewing (FANI) to establish a
subjects "self". This is where there is a difference Basically it is all about and quite simply
means, 'talk to them/us, give them/us time to process what has been said and to think of a
reply. You will be very surprised at how clever people actually are and--how sexy/lovable.
WHAT? Simple really, as Socrates once implied 'why should society follow each other like
sheep. We all have an opinion and a brain to process our thoughts. Why then should we
accept 'normal/fashionable' simply because the majority says it is. Equally, Normal is based
on a majority rule so who is right and even if normal (majority of) has an opinion why cant
we challenge it and say 'your wrong?. I have a different life style to you. Am i wrong or are
you, should the answer be based on a survey of 'majority rule (what’s normal) or should we
accept that we are both right and then look for a common ground that we can both agree to be
normal. Why should we be alienated because we need sticks/wheelchairs and have fits.

learning how to cope with epilepsy

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/romance-epilepsy/

Self consciousness, it has long been considered that this is innate it would follow therefore
that attitudes accompany our innate self consciousness due to our automated behaviour to a
situation. For example, at maturity we look to the opposite gender! Generally speaking this
drive is both innate and an attitude based upon the implementation of monogamous attitudes
from parents, media and society. Religion with its implications that "self' is our soul is
questionable based on our religious in doctoring and the society we live in yet can also be
used to create attitudes.

‘What’s this to do with epilepsy’?

In modernistic terms it is argued that self consciousness, attitudes and our innate self is
dualistic, that is to say they are one of the same. It is as important though to accept that due
to an attitude (triggers for seizures) we all have behavioural responses, some good some bad
and these can lead us to have an emotional deficit. To fit into our society we have to learn
how to behave, alter our attitude! In doing this it can take people out of there comfort zones
leaving them uncomfortable, nervous or even vulnerable and more prone to fits.

Attitudes and self consciousness are innate/ media and society based constraints that are
imposed upon individuals as they grow and develop from child hood through adolescence
into adulthood where, the links and chains of opinions are enforced upon the next
generation. This is why it is vital that we and our nearest and dearest understand and give us
a wide birth.

A prime example of this can be seen in the modem child of today, there are few who are
aware of the constraints of familiarity and or respect to there elders. This "mind set" is a
complete change from thirty years ago clearly indicating that "attitudes" towards teaching
respect (to create an attitude) has changed. It is apparent that, in this instance child rearing
is not innate, it has to be taught but, when a child is in danger it is a self conscious innate
response to protect it. So, it is that same attitude that we all need to adopt to ease the
pressures on both the epileptic and the family/friends.

I introduced this article by referring to attitudes/ triggers and how they accompany our
innate self consciousness due to our automated behaviour to a situation. Hence, the starting
point for this topical research is as old as researchable recorded history, from the mass
attitudinal hysteria towards the Jews before the Second World War to the good will drive to
save the planet. These are all attitudes which when reaching a point of hysteria can affect
self consciousness and can become an inherent attribute for the innate self “US” AND OUR
SELF CONFIDANCE, (I wont go out just in case---).

The concept of Social psychology of self could be summed up by Solomon Asch (1956) where
his studies into "normal" (what is socially and culturally acceptable) groups, there social
influence and places they are at will result in a form of conformity. This however is a
resulting opinion of a minority (US) not a majority and over looks the individual. It is this
attitude that affects self consciousness and is the frustrating difficulty, helping people to help
us help ourselves?

As "We" the human race are from many differences a starting point for this researchable
history into attitudes and self consciousness is through the eyes of religion- self-soul and the
inherent parental/ cultural dis/approval of behaviour. Is society to be held accountable for
these behavioural attitudes or society for en doctoring the youth. Either way both are based
on a common ground/need, that being cohesion based upon a fear factor.

Contrary to this social influence on behaviour and to re enforce the point raised earlier With
regards to the frustrating difficulty in researching social psychology of self we have a strange
species called the individual/non conformist. (An example of such was reviewed by us in the
mirror)

In a drive to research self and attitude "Unfolding discourse analysis" in post modernism
has been researched by (McGuire, 1985, p. 239) raising the concept that "attitudes are
locating objects of thought on dimensions of judgement and placing it in a hierarchy
(phenomenological narratives). Equally Potter and Wetherell in there research are more
interested in how people talk (cognitive processes). This turn to language research though is
seen as a model of contained, rational and stable individual processes. For now, in short
phenomenological narratives are pictorial descriptions, used as a method to converse with
‘society’, this method is used unconsciously due to hemispheric damage (a side of the brain).
For epileptics who acquired or were born with the disadvantage the cognitive processes are
more intact. This is partially why ‘we’ are all different, that and the fact that the pills we have
to take change our personality.

Cognitive and behavioral disorders often overshadow seizures and can be the greatest cause of
impaired quality of life. Patients with epilepsy may have cognitive impairments, which effect
attention, memory, mental speed, and language, as well as executive and social functions.
Furthermore, these problems often go unrecognized and, even when identified, are often
under treated or untreated.

In this section you can see in greater detail the cognitive and behavioral disorders associated
with epilepsy. The information is divided into two sections: Mood and Behavior 101, gives a
basic overview of mood and behavioral disorders associated with epilepsy. Advanced Mood &
Behavior, provides a more in depth, intermediate level of information regarding mood &
behavior disorders associated with epilepsy.

Mood and Behavior

Epilepsy and its treatment affect the way that some people with this disorder think and behave. While a
seizure is happening, it interferes with thinking. If seizures happen over and over again (as they
sometimes do), they can have a lasting effect on many of the brain's functions, from memory and
language to planning and reasoning. It's possible that epilepsy may change how you relate to others,
your mood, even your personality. But most people with epilepsy find that it has no effect on their
behavior.

Do any of these sound like you?

"I just don't trust my short-term memory."

"I knew the word I wanted to say, but I couldn't get it out. Or I'd say another word that wasn't quite
right."

"I am more irritable now; everything is an effort."

"I'd finish watching a show, and somebody would ask me what it was about, and I couldn't answer
them. I didn't know, and I just watched it!"

Not only can seizures and epilepsy affect how you react to the world, but they also can affect how the
world reacts to you. Many people don't know what to do when they see a seizure. Some can't
understand that a person who looks pretty normal may not understand a single word being said. The
workplace can bring new challenges, and some people with epilepsy have to find other jobs because of
their seizures.

Advanced Mood and Behavior

Neurobehavioral disorders including fatigue, depression, anxiety, and psychosis commonly affect
patients with epilepsy. In addition to neurobehavioral disorders, patients with epilepsy may present
with cognitive impairments, which effect attention, memory, mental speed, and language, as well as
executive and social functions. Cognitive and behavioral disorders often overshadow the seizures
themselves and can be the greatest cause of impaired quality of life. Furthermore, these problems often
go unrecognized and, even when identified, are often under treated or untreated. Patients with epilepsy
frequently suffer from cognitive and behavioral disorders that range from subtle to severe. Behavior
changes occur during and immediately after most seizures. However, in some cases, cognition and
behavior also change for prolonged periods after individual seizures or throughout the long interictal
gaps.

Aggressive control of seizures, and possibly reduction of interictal epileptiform activity and
epileptogenesis, may help prevent interictal cognitive and behavioral disorders. The late 19th century
view of epilepsy as a progressive disorder—in terms of both seizures and cognitive-behavioral
disorders—is finding support from modern studies (1). While the best therapy for cognitive and
behavioral disorders may be prevention, there is little systematic study of the phenomenon either
retrospectively or prospectively
Epilepsy has long been recognised and invoked as a significant ingredient in the mechanism
of sudden unexpected death, particularly in the setting of status seizures, trauma, drowning’s
and aspiration of gastric content. However, a wider appreciation that epilepsy per se may be a
major cause of, rather than contributory factor to death, is a relatively recent concept which
may not be widely comprehended or accepted by the community at large, epileptic patients and
their physicians, and perhaps some pathologists. Since these cases present as sudden,
unexpected and often unexplained death, they will fall under the jurisdiction of the coroner,
and in most circumstances require specialist forensic pathological investigation.

Like that other acronym SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), the term SUDEP (sudden
unexpected death-) hints at a relatively stereotypical series of circumstances allied to an
unascertained cause of death; but unlike SIDS (or perhaps the more controversial SADS
(sudden adult death syndrome)), the field of potential causative mechanisms appears narrower
and is arguably better delineated, holding the promise of effective intervention strategies.

Much research over the past few years has pointed to complex cerebral and cardiorespiratory
factors, which individually or in concert may result in death during or shortly after a seizure.
If the task of clinicians is to predict and intervene, the role of the forensic pathologist and
coroner might best be seen as recognition and comprehensive investigation so that the true
incidence (at various points in time) is documented, and effective multidisciplinary remedies
implemented. A vital first step along this path is uniformity of approach, but many factors
need to be addressed before this pathological nirvana is attained, some of which may be
subject to considerable regional and situational constraints: