Wellness & Quality of Life (Kit)
FACT: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "not only the absence of infirmity and disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being".
What is Wellness?
Wellness is more than just not being sick: it is a positive state of health. The concept of wellness refers to a level of physical and emotional harmony that affords maximum resistance to disease and supports a sustained joy of living. Wellness involves the health of the whole person: body, mind and spirit. It requires taking responsibility for your own health. It is believed that positive wellness provides the most effective protection against disease by enabling you to draw upon your inner healing abilities.
The Components of Wellness
What is health?
Health is not simply the absence of any signs of illness.
In the past, health was considered to be a positive condition, a state of well-being and internal harmony, a vigorous state in which individuals felt fully alive and were able to engage in their daily routines with energy and satisfaction. However, since the development of more advanced medical technology and the decline of infectious diseases, this ancient concept of health has lost its importance. It has been suggested that, today, only a small fraction of the population experience their optimum level of health.
FACT: How you understand health significantly influences what you do to make yourself healthy or ill.
Your Health Depends on Many Factors
Factors you can't completely control – - heredity
- environment
- gender
- age
Factors you can control – - diet
- exercise
- rest
- stress
- bad habits
- attitude
The number and type of seizures a person has cannot alone reflect the impact of epilepsy on that person. Medical, psychological, social and economic issues must also be considered.
FACT: In order to increase wellness, we must dispel the myths of epilepsy.
Should You Tell People that You have Epilepsy?
YES: But you can't help wondering: will it change what they think of you?
NO: But could serious consequences occur?
If Yes, How Do You Tell People? - You can be forward and tell people directly.
- You can be subtle: wear a MedicAlert, UMED (or equivalent) bracelet and carry medication in its original marked container when possible.
- You can tell people that you have a "seizure disorder" instead of saying "epilepsy" to try to get away from the stigma associated with the term "epilepsy".
If you tell people that you have epilepsy and gain their acceptance, you may be more willing to participate in activities and, thereby, increase your wellness!
FACT: An individual's Quality of Life can be logically understood only from the eyes of the beholder.
A study to investigate the impact of seizures on those with epilepsy found that
- 50% of people with only 1 or fewer seizure per year indicated that seizures greatly affected their lives.
- Unemployed people were more likely to feel affected by seizures than employed ones.
- A recent diagnosis of epilepsy tended to be associated with a decreased well-being; therefore, the person with epilepsy needs time to accommodate to and comprehend the implications of the condition and thus develop effective perceptions of control.
- While most people were satisfied with the medical care received from their physicians, those who were less satisfied were more likely to feel affected by seizures.
It has been suggested that quality of life (QoL) is the difference between a person's expectations and their actual experience.
Epilepsy has been found to be associated with a diminished QoL. Studies have documented stigmatization, increased levels of anxiety and depression, reduced propensity to marry and higher rates of unemployment. Persons whose epilepsy is well controlled with AEDs don't experience as marked a diminished of QoL, while those with refractory epilepsy (seizures that resist drug treatment) demonstrate more profound psychosocial effects.
There are a variety of different models of quality of life since there is no consensus. Quality of life can be assessed using a number of tests including the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QoLIE) and the Seizure Severity Scale (SSS).
Tips for Maintaining Wellness
- Maintain a positive outlook.
- Eat and sleep well.
- Exercise.
- Look to family and friends for support.
- Hold on to your dreams.
- Have a positive and realistic attitude.
The support of the
Government of Canada through the Summer Career Placements programme of
Human Resources Development Canada is acknowledged.
Thanks to Michele Zysman for her work in this project.
This publication includes images from
CorelDRAW™ 7 and Corel Ventura™ 7 & 8
which are protected by copyright laws in Canada, the USA and elsewhere.
Used under licence.
Copyright © 1999 Epilepsy Ontario
