Learning to Live with Epilepsy with Author, Gareth de la Torre #79
CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes particularly detailed discussions about suicide between the 32:30-35:00 mark, which listeners could find distressing, and may wish to avoid. If you, or somebody you know, requires urgent assistance, Samaritans are available on 116 123.
Our lives can be turned upside down in an instant, but as Gareth de la Torre can attest, losing everything isn’t an ending, it’s a beginning.
Epilepsy is an often-misunderstood condition with far-reaching, daily impacts, and while it cost Gareth much of his previous life, the hope and inspiration that he exudes comes from how he’s reclaimed that life.
Join us for a deeply impactful journey of adversity and perseverance in this episode of the Extrology podcast.
Lee and Gareth discuss:
The accident at home which led to Gareth’s epileptic seizures
Common myths and misunderstandings with epilepsy, and the unique ways that it can affect people
Everyday life challenges less frequently considered by non-epilepsy sufferers
The challenge of epilepsy being an invisible disability
Gareth’s attempt to take his life, and turning around from rock bottom
The awakening moments that continue to give a new lease of life
Links & references
Lee Cooper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecooperrecruiter/
What the Ruck Just Happened by Gareth de la Torre:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/WHAT-HAPPENED-Gareth-Edward-Torre/dp/B0CL2XHQNM
Get in touch: lee@extrology.com
Episode highlights:
“I think when we talk about epilepsy, everybody imagines the shaking seizures and foaming at the mouth and that, but there's various different types of epilepsy.” - 8:00 - Gareth de la Torre
“We use the term epilepsy, but it’s so broad. It's like saying cancer - we all know what cancer is, but when you dive deeper, there's so many different facets and ways of treating it.” - 13:30 - Gareth de la Torre
“Epilepsy is completely invisible. I think it's only those friends and family around you that are close who actually know how debilitating it can be.” - 23:00 - Gareth de la Torre
“I'm of that generation where you don't talk about your weaknesses, but I think to get the story across, I think you have to understand where you were, the catalyst of how it all happened.” - 37:05 - Gareth de la Torre
“I was now on my own. So I'd learned to cope, I had these little things like sitting down on the toilet, sitting down in the shower, when I'm walking up the stairs, always leaning a bit forward and so on. ” - 52:00 - Gareth de la Torre
“If you knew that all your dreams were going to come true, and you knew you were never going to fail, how big would you dare to dream?” - 1:09:00 - Gareth de la Torre
Extrology is sponsored by Progresso Talent Partners who for more than 25 years have successfully delivered interim and permanent leadership talent to transform businesses and to hire the talent you need to enable your business to thrive: https://www.progressotalent.com/