Engaging in work with TLE and Geschwind Syndrome
Franco works as a cook in a restaurant in San Francisco for long hours, and when he is not working, he walks around in a daze, thinking only of Pontito (166). Franco is unable to work a more engaging job because of his extreme obsession. Also, Franco does not wish to work a different job, because all he wishes to do is dream of Pontito and bring his dreams to life in his paintings. Though Franco was trained as a woodworker, all he wishes to do is paint Pontito.
A similar symptom with TLE is hyperreligiosity in which the affected person is completely focused on their religion. In one case, when one man was admitted to the hospital as his wife was nervous of his repetitive conversation, he attempted to convert his doctors and nurses to his religion (Garcia-Santibanez). Clearly, this would not be functional in a work setting, so unless this man habitually took his medication, he was unable to work. Though this is true, when the man did take his medicine properly, he was more alert and returned to his “baseline” (Garcia-Santibanez). Those affected by TLE can also have hypergraphia in which the constantly write. This symptom would not allow the person to complete a job, meaning they would not be able to engage in work fully.
Although those with TLE and Geschwind syndrome are often unable to complete a "typical job," they are often able to excel in their area of expertise. For example, in her book "Seized: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy as a Medical, Historical, and Artistic Phenomenon," author Eve LaPlante writes that Vincent van Gogh was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy, though TLE was hardly known in van Gogh's era (10-11). Now that more information is available about TLE, it is clear that van Gogh suffered from these psychic seizures. As van Gogh aged he experienced visions including one of Christ, and he often had attacks of rage. Though this is true, and van Gogh was unable to engage in a typical work place, he was clearly an extremely talented, and famous painter. This exemplifies that though people with TLE and related syndromes may not be able to work in a typical environment, they are able to excel in their area of expertise.
