Detoxifying My Body Helped My Epilepsy

Living life with any medical problem can be a colossal struggle. Nevertheless, it is a challenge and an opportunity to help others. I am a mother of three, a wife and writer. My journey and reason for being are defined each day by the happiness in my children’s eyes and the people with epilepsy and other medical conditions I have helped through my writing.

“Through this experience with epilepsy, I have learned to accept my limitations and to change the way I look at things. Through my writing, I am able to help others and just knowing I’ve helped is enough of a reward.

How it Began

At five years of age, I contracted encephalitis from what doctors’ surmise began as an ear infection. For four days, I laid in a coma and doctors were unsure of whether I would suffer from paralysis as well as the extent of the brain damage.

Fortunately, I recovered from my bout with encephalitis with no paralysis. However, I was left with epilepsy. Since my diagnosis, 39 years ago, I have experienced seizures ranging in severity from mild seizures in her sleep to tonic-clonic seizures.

Living with Limitations

As a wife and mother of three and a woman with epilepsy, I have to be realistic about my limitations, “Having epilepsy and being a mom is difficult at times because I worry that if I have a seizure and I am unable to recover fast enough, that my family will suffer.

In fact, the entire time I have been a mother I have had a couple of tonic-clonic seizure resulting in serious injury. One instance, many years ago, I was walking the dog with my children when I felt a seizure coming on. I immediately instructed the children to go inside and wait downstairs for her. Following the seizure, I realized I had suffered a head injury and reached out to a neighbor for help. After the tonic-clonic seizure, I decided to write a children’s book, called “My Mommy Has Epilepsy”.

My goal was to help children understand epilepsy in an age-appropriate way as well as to help dispel some of the fear I had witnessed her own childhood experience. “I didn’t want my children to get nervous or to worry about my seizures and the tonic-clonic seizure really motivated me to write a children’s book to help them and other kids cope and understand epilepsy.” Now my kids are grown up and they have become very compassionate, accepting and caring for others with disabilities.  I admit being able to drive was a difficult time in my life, but it helped strengthen me as I was forced to ask for help even though I didn’t want it.  Sometimes we need to let go of our pride and do what’s best for ourselves.

For fifteen years I couldn’t drive.  I was limited by not being able to drive but attributes my ability to ask for help when I needed it as one more lesson learned. “At first it was difficult to rely on other people to drive the children and me places. I felt bad asking family and friends. But, now I eventually accepted my limitations and accepted who I am.”

Wisdom for Women

People with epilepsy need to monitor their stress level. “Don’t try to accomplish too much. Do as much as you can and remember to set realistic goals and to reward yourself each day.” I also believe that in order to live with epilepsy and maintain a positive attitude it is important to focus on one’s self. ” Don’t look at what other people can do, only focus on yourself and your abilities because if you constantly compare, then you are adding to your stress level, which leads to being more physically drained and ultimately leaves you open to experience more seizures.”

Women with illnesses or diseases need to educate themselves about their condition and I believe knowledge helps alleviate stress as well, “Women need to consult with their doctor, but not rely on their doctor for all of their information. In order to really feel empowered, it is essential to take the initiative to learn all you can about your medical problem or the illness you suffer from.”

Detoxification

I strongly believe in detoxifying the body.  When I began to detoxify my body I was not in a good place in my life health wise. Once I began to detoxify, my seizures went from nine seizures a month to six then to two then to none.  My energy level increased.  My metabolism increased, I began to become more focused and the list goes on.  I strongly believe that detoxifying my body changed my whole life around.  I am a strong believer in detoxifying the body and living a clean lifestyle.

Why Detoxify?

At one time, the need for a natural body detox seemed to apply only to those who suffered from some form of drug or alcohol dependency. However, today with the increase of heavy metals, synthetic chemicals, and toxic materials in our everyday environment, everyone could benefit from a body cleanse on a regular basis.

There are approximately 100,000 synthetic chemicals in industrial production today. While many of these are harmless to human health, a significant number are highly toxic even in minute amounts. These chemicals have been linked to serious diseases like diabetes, cancer, autism, and a host of autoimmune disorders. These hazardous chemicals have been found in many common household items like cleansers, cosmetics, paints, carpeting, floors, drywall, and even bedding!

Mentioning just a few things above is the reason to have a good body-cleansing regimen. By now, you are probably wondering just how to detox your body. Detoxifying the body is easy.

How to Detox

It can be done in many ways.  Some include:

• Foods
• Detox baths
• Herbs
• Whole body cleansing
• Herbal teas
• Herbals
• Alternative medicine
• Botanical medicine
• Liver cleanse
• Mental Cleanse

Today, I can happily say I am seizure free and living the life I always dreamed of having…It’s not easy having epilepsy.  Once you have it you always have it.  Each day is a challenge filled with limitations and struggles.  However, with a healthy lifestyle and positive thinking, anything is possible.