Episode #88 - A Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Journey: Diagnosis Acceptance Leads to Career Helping Others featuring Mark DeFee

Seizing Life > A Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Journey: Diagnosis Acceptance Leads to Career Helping Others
Share
Subscribe

This week on Seizing Life ® Mark DeFee shares his 26-year journey with post-traumatic epilepsy. Mark tells his personal PTE story from his diagnosis as a high school Senior following multiple concussions sustained playing high school football, through his years of denial and living recklessly in college, to his acceptance and efforts to manage his seizures, ultimately leading to a successful career counseling others.

Mark speaks about the social, psychological, and physical impacts of both his epilepsy and the anti-seizure medications prescribed to control his seizures. He talks openly about his desire to keep his diagnosis a secret in college and the risky choices he made during his early years in school including joining a fraternity, drinking, and hiding his nocturnal seizures. Mark also shares the epiphany he experienced during a study abroad program his Junior year, and how it initiated a change in his outlook and behavior that led him to consciously create a lifestyle that would allow him to manage his epilepsy and live a fun, productive, fulfilling life during his last two years in school. This change ultimately opened the door for Mark to pursue a career in mental health as a counselor, and he provides advice for others going through the stages of accepting their own epilepsy diagnosis. Mark’s story, experiences, and insights will provide guidance and hope for both people navigating epilepsy and those who love them.

Download Audio

Want to download this episode? Fill out the form below and enjoy the podcast any time you’d like!

    Back to Episode Download PDF

    A Post-Traumatic Epilepsy Journey: Diagnosis Acceptance Leads to Career Helping Others

    Related Episodes

    featured episode
    Epilepsy and AdvocacyLiving with Epilepsy
    May 17, 2023

    #116 A Daughter’s Diagnosis Inspires Concerts for Epilepsy

    Guest: Matt Perrone

    This week on Seizing Life® Matt Perrone shares his epilepsy journey, discusses the impacts of epilepsy on his mental health, and explains how his daughter’s diagnosis spurred him to create EpiPalooza.

    featured episode
    FamilyLiving with Epilepsy
    May 3, 2023

    #115 Teen Tennis Player Remains on Court Despite Seizures and Stigma

    Guest: Reid and Ryan Rainwater

    This week on Seizing Life® Reid Rainwater and his father Ryan share Reid's epilepsy treatment journey and the impacts of epilepsy and stigma on his education and tennis career as one of the top young players in Oklahoma.

    featured episode
    FamilyLiving with Epilepsy
    April 19, 2023

    #114 From LGS to Surgery to Just Being a Kid: A Mother Shares Her Son’s Epilepsy Journey

    Guest: Colleen Jendreas

    This week on Seizing Life® Colleen Jendreas shares her son Owen’s epilepsy journey and discusses the two interventions that have significantly improved his quality of life.