Managing Epilepsy fatigue is one thing I’ve learned is that acting “normal” doesn’t really work with. There isn’t a normal – we get tired faster, sometimes we’re really energetic, and then it all just shuts down.
They’re actually coming out with scientific reasons for this right now, which is fascinating to me. I’ve been like this my whole life and never understood it. I figured I just got really excited and then got lazy, but that’s not it at all.
Energy comes and goes
I’ve just never learned how to work with my energy patterns, but I’m starting that today. It’s a very profound feeling right now. I feel like I’m accomplishing stuff even though it’s just in blocks. It could be schoolwork, housework, or whatever it is.
I’m actually doing alternating blocks of 10 minutes right now: housework, rest, blog writing, housework, rest, blog writing. I’m taking 5-minute breaks in between. It’s taking me a while. That just might be part of my new normal. And I’m okay with that.
My 10-Minute Block System in Action
The Basic Rotation:
- 10 minutes housework
- 5 minutes complete rest
- 10 minutes blog writing
- 5 minutes complete rest
- Repeat cycle
What “Complete Rest” Actually Means:
- Sit or lie down completely
- No phone scrolling or mental tasks
- Just breathe and let your brain reset
- Don’t feel guilty – this IS part of the work
How I Track It:
- Simple phone timer
- When it goes off, I stop immediately (even mid-sentence)
- No “just finishing this one thing”
- Trust the system over the urge to push through
What Surprised Me:
- I actually get MORE done this way
- The quality of my work improved
- Physical exhaustion decreased dramatically
- Mental clarity stayed consistent throughout the day
Permission to Be Different
If your days need to be broken up into chunks, there is nothing wrong with that. If that’s what works for you, use it. Normal is just a word.
If you can get your tasks done without your body feeling drained and you feeling absolutely exhausted, it’s worth it. There’s nothing wrong with it – no shame in it.
Unlearning Old Beliefs
I used to think taking a break was shameful. It meant I was lazy. I’m learning that was the complete wrong way to think about it. It’s just how focal cortical dysplasia works with different types of brain cells, and I have to adapt to it.
If you have seizures, you have to adapt your life. No, it’s not fair – I wish I could say it was, but it’s not. And then you have to deal with medicine side effects on top of it.
You Don’t Have to Walk This Alone
Make sure you have somebody to walk through this with – whether it’s a parent, grandparent, friend, sister, or brother. Make sure you have somebody.
And if you don’t, please know God’s always walking with you through it. I know that doesn’t offer much comfort because you can’t hold his hand. Sometimes all we need is that hug or hand to hold. But he will give you such a spiritual peace that I can’t actually describe. He will give you peace if you lean on him, trust him, love him, and let him. He truly does want what’s best for you.