Epilepsy- The Wake-Up Call Part 2 of 3

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to my 3 part series of articles about my transformational Epilepsy Healing Journey and through it give hope to millions of sufferers. I trust many of you enjoyed reading Part 1, and if it left you intrigued, inspired and with a thirst to know more, then do grab a cup of coffee or make yourself your favorite tea before you start reading this post.

As I mentioned in Part 1, in the last twenty years, I have experienced discrimination of the highest order in some of the places I have worked just because I had Epilepsy and mental health issues I was afraid to speak about. What you are about to read is my personal experience of this discrimination and the lessons I learned that may help you raise awareness in your own company, family, and socially so together we can change the way we go about addressing those issues.

I've always believed in Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace, in fact, if you look at practically every company in the world, you will find information about it on their websites. Many companies websites tell you how they value their people, appreciate the diversity of thought each employee brings to the overall company success, and how they actively encourage diversity in the workplace.

No matter what job you do or company you work for, I’m sure you have seen such information that actively promote diversity and inclusion. However, what many are wondering is how much of what companies say on their websites and brochures is actually applied when it comes to accommodating the needs of individuals such as myself who may have a mental health problems or individuals who have some form of disability. 

We know it’s morally, ethically and legally the right thing to promote equality, diversity and inclusion, we all can agree on that. But we also know that in the real world this is far from being the truth.

Most likely, if like me you have been or are an Epilepsy Sufferer, you have experienced the effects and the discrimination that comes with this illness. Many of you may be emotionally, mentally, financially detriment because of it, but the truth is it does not stop with you. Your families, friends, and workplace colleagues are affected too.

In August 2013 I was offered a new job in the Oil & Gas Industry, as a Piping Supervisor that paid well and was a long-term contract of 5 years. I was so excited to be offered this role, reason being, I love supervising and looking after the welfare of fellow employees.

Since my first job in the oil and gas industry, I’ve always been a caring person who loves to work hard, help others in the team, and enjoy creating the finances that gave me the security I needed to change, heal and transform my life.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Despite me signing the contract during a few pre-job training days at my new employer’s offices, truth being, when I disclosed my Epilepsy to the company, immediately there whole demeanour and attitude changed towards me;

Despite me reassuring those interviewing me that my Epilepsy was controlled by medication, never been an issue before, and that I had already passed a medical deeming me fit to work, I was told, further investigations would be held before I can continue the work.

Back then, I had just left my previous job on another of the client's facilities in my hometown, where I had undergone this medical and passed with absolutely no issues.

On pointing this out to my new employer, they merely rebuffed this information and decided to send me home after completing my training days. I was told everything would be sorted in a week or so, but to my astonishment I was kept in the dark. They cut all communications with me for weeks. The weeks turned into months, and I find myself three months with no job, no pay and no answer. You can imagine my frustration, anger, and disappointment.

At the end, I had to ask my previous employers for my old job back, thankfully they had available role for me that I could do. I remember being so stressed about this particular incident as my house was at stake by this point; my fear that I might lose my home and my health would deteriorate to what it used to be took over me.

After three months I’d given up all hope of this job, but later that year, out of the blue, I received a phone call from them. I was informed that they had completed their investigations and despite having a signed contract, completed the training days required, and my Epilepsy being under control, they would not employ me.

Following a heated telephone conversation asking them to explain their reasons and how they took the decision, much to my surprise or dismay, few days after this conversation I was summoned for a disciplinary hearing. I was told this was due to my conduct on the phone with them.

Not only they did not give me a copy of the signed contract, did not employ me, but also they thought they could summon me for a hearing, which after seeking legal advice they backed of after hearing in detail the chain of events that lead to that heated debate. I knew then that this was a clear case of being bullied and being a victim of discrimination.

So I asked the question, where does one goes to seek help or legal advice? Of course, the first thing that crossed my mind was the Union where I was a long-term member. They took up my case, their lawyers became involved and informed me this was outright discrimination and would take my case to court.

They informed me during my initial interview that I would be entitled to damages, much to my dismay though, the Union Lawyers who were so adamant the case would be won, then began acting very shady. They suddenly informed me they weren't sure they could win the case or reclaim my three months unpaid wages.

By this time, my trust that the Union was there to help employees who find themselves in similar scenario was completely shattered into pieces. I knew I had been treated unlawfully by both the company and the Union. I realized I had learned quite a lot from this experience and I decided to let it go as I had wasted a lot of time and emotions.

I had built a significant amount of stress in my body, but interestingly, a few months later, I ended up working on the same site for another contractor and eventually was even seconded to work for client who owned the site with absolutely no issues.

The moral of the story,

We in United Kingdom like to treat animals better than our fellow human beings. Don’t take me wrong, I love animals, my point being is that some companies and people in charge of hiring and firing people seem to have forgotten how to treat their employees with respect and honour.

The values they hold so dear seem to fly out of the window when adversity hits the fan.

For sure, going through this experience wasn’t nice, but, it made me seek the help of the world’s best healer and a leading an expert in human behaviour and emotional intelligence, Tony J. Selimi to look within for the answers I was seeking without.

On this unique holistic coaching journey with him I started to learn how to expand my thinking, ways of being, acting, and behaving. I also became a better listener, communicator and more productive in my work.

My awareness of how everything we experience on the outside is a reflection of what truly happens within us helped me understand why fear of the unknown makes us humans do unjust things to one another.

In part 3, it will be my pleasure to share with you a bit more on how I overcame some of my worst fears and completely healed myself from Epilepsy. Through Tony’s multi-disciplinary approach to wellbeing, his masterful integrated coaching and mentoring techniques, reading his books, meditating twice a day, practicing the mindfulness techniques he teaches, and attending his talks that equally challenged and supported me, I created the mindset shifts required to heal my life.

What I can tell you for certain not only through my experience but also by meeting many of his private clients is that a teacher like Tony helps you realize the true meaning of this powerful quote taken from his four times #1 International Best-selling Book A Path to Wisdom:

For a Scot like myself, growing up in isolation, at first this quote did not make any sense to me and for sure it was a very difficult concept to grasp. However, with time, as I started to experience how my body started to change and respond to his hands of light.

Going with some of Tony's private client on one of his life-changing spiritual guided trips to John of God in Brazil helped me see that only by going to the level of the soul you will access your infinite potential to heal, change, grow and bring more intelligence, creativity, and awareness into every aspect of your life.

In this powerful yearly integrated coaching journey with Tony, he shows you how to commit yourself to deeper awareness, deeper love, and deeper relationships needed to enable us to embrace every day as a new world, and transcend the obstacles that afflict our body and mind.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article, I look forward to writing the final article where I will share both the pain and the gain I recieved by deciding to commit to fully heal my Epilepsy despite my fears, money issues, and my negative self-talk.

Paul McMonagle

P.S. Do leave your comments and together let's inspire others to find their unique path to healing their own Epilepsy, overcome Mental health Issues, and raise the so needed awareness of the impact Mental health has in every sphere of our life. To read more about Tony J. Selimi's incredible work, what it can do for you, your family, business, and invite him to speak at your event, do make sure you go to https://tonyselimi.com