University life is all about enjoying life and partying hard – correct? Not necessarily. As a young epileptic person, enjoying university life may be the last things that you have on your mind or you’d probably be looking towards such a lifestyle. Well whatever are your expectations and anticipations, making epilepsy just a part and parcel of your everyday life will help you experience the best days of university life.
University life brings a whole lot of new experiences and people, which can be both exciting and frightening. Planning ahead is helpful to make the transition to university life easier, giving you ample of time to prepare yourself for the upcoming events of university life.
How to Plan Your Living Arrangements?
When you go to a university, the first thing to decide is where to live? If the university is close to your home, you may live at home. But if the university is away from your home town, there are many types of student accommodation available: you can live in student halls, or in a shared flat or home. Or you could live somewhere you feel you are comfortable on your own.
It’s important that you form an idea about what type of accommodation will suit your needs, as well as what you would prefer.
- Are you comfortable living in students halls, where a warden is available 24/7, should you need it? Would you be able to spend all your university life living in student halls residence or would you like to shift to a new place after the first semester?
- Do you require any specific equipment or facility to make your living environment safe and secured? For instance, do you prefer shower than a bath? Or do you need a microwave rather than an oven to cook your food?
- Do you need someone to be with you especially during or after a seizure episode? If yes, who might be the best person to help you, and how will you manage to call for help?
- What type of electronic device should be available to make your living arrangement safer especially when you have a seizure? For instance, do you need a room that has a seizure alarm, so that you can call for immediate help?
The best way to decide and get an idea on the accommodation is to get in touch with the staff that handles university accommodation. They can understand your needs and talk through the various options that are available with them according to your needs and how they can provide their best help to you.
Communicate About Your Epilepsy
It is important for you to communicate your epilepsy issue. Don’t feel any hesitation or shame revealing your health issue to your trusted friends and following departments so that you can get necessary help.
- If you need any help from student disability service and your lecturers – You can tell them you have epilepsy. Only when you talk to them about your epilepsy, then only they can help you.
- If you need any financial assistance, such as special allowances for the disabled, you need to disclose your epilepsy condition and show them necessary reports in order to qualify.
- If you experience seizures, it will be very useful for your trusted friends to know about your epileptic condition and provide you necessary help during a seizure.
Final Words
The key to enjoy the university life is to plan ahead, take care of yourself, inform necessary people about your health condition and make the most of what support and help available to you.
I had 5 seizure in last 5 years, and specially I am getting this attacks during my sleep,i never got any seizure whenever i am awake. I always have seizure during my sleep.