Epilepsy as a Teenager

iRefresh Team
Feb 4, 2021
2 min read

Updated: May 14, 2024

Teenage years can be difficult, but add the diagnosis of epilepsy, and your whole world is turned upside down. That's exactly what happened to Isabell. She tells us the journey of learning how to live a full life with epilepsy with the help of God, her friends, and family.

Podcast

Show Notes

Isabell is a second generation pastor's kid that loved Jesus passionately. Her friends had fun in fresh new ways. For example, they'd go to the mall and prophesy over people, or go to the mountain cabins and have worship. They loved Jesus and desired to be pure and clean to where He'd be proud of them.

Isabell's Journey with an unexpected diagnosis -

Nocturnal Seizures

Having to take medicine was a big deal for her when it became apparent she needed to consider it seriously. The medicine stops seizures. Downfall - depression and mood shift.

Mental health and depression was a big issue with her and friends, yet they'd joke about it. The culture is that we all deal with it.

"I was so hungry for Jesus but I felt like I wasn't worthy to come to Jesus because I was so broken."

"My body was broken, I felt like I didn't have enough faith because I wasn't getting better. I felt ashamed that I had to come to Jesus in this broken state."

Ways that Helped Fight Depression

Stay around friends
Minister to others who are broken helped in her road to recovery
Love yourself, love others, love God; depression can be fear-driven

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

How to Help Others

simple 'hello'
we're made for relationship; reach out to others
Be a 'vault' to keep private what private messages are shared, but don't hold the responsibility to solve their problems

Lost faith with God due to sickness.

Sought truth to: Who is Jesus? Valued relationship with Jesus more.

Teach, write and travel was her newfound discovery on missions.

Ways to Live Healthy with Epilepsy:

Take care of health; exercise, water, don't stay up late, stay close to God, good friends that help her, sleep enough, have them pray for her and keep her accountable, plan day events vs night time

Advise from Isabell:

Learn who you are, learn what makes you tick and find safe ways to pursue it.
Find relationships, learn how to love people, God, and every part of yourself
learn what you believe and create a strong relationship in Christ and build on it.