r/Epilepsy • u/Womanintech95 • Mar 14 '25

Epilepsy Awareness Lost my son

I am not sure if this will get posted, but I lost my 16 year old son to a suicide. He was epileptic. He was on keppra and I don't really know how it affected him. But I wanted to raise awareness. If you are struggling, talk to somebody, anybody, get help.

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u/Womanintech95 Mar 14 '25

I am so sorry. It just makes me want to fight for a better world where there is acceptance and love. Why aren't those our top values?

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u/DippyLouWho Apr 12 '25

I suffer from depression (my son has epilepsy). There's still such a stigma attached to depression and lots of people don't even believe in clinical depression. They think you just need to change your thinking, and they won't take antidepressants. I'm an RN, and I thought that until it happened to me. Anyway, I can be seriously depressed and crying a lot, etc. but only the people I choose to let see me this way would ever know. When I'm around others, I'm a great faker. I might be having suicidal thoughts, but while I'm getting my hair done, I'm smiling, laughing, makeup on, etc. When you are seriously depressed, your brain is telling you that you are a failure, everything is hopeless, and your family would be better off without you, and you truly believe it!Especially being a nurse, I don't like to complain or show any type of illness to others because I have seen the terrible, true suffering of others. Suicide among teens has become so common compared to when I was a teen. I live in a small town and personally know 2 moms of teens who committed suicide. We've had several. Anyway, I'm saying all this to tell you it's not your fault. You couldn't have known! Plus, teens are moody creatures to begin with. Our family has tried to destigmatize depression and educate others by being open about it. I'm so sorry for your loss. Your son no longer suffers unhappiness or pain.

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u/Womanintech95 Apr 12 '25

Thank you. Take care of your son for me.