Chronic illness: A need to know basis?

I actually find that it is more difficult for me to disclose physical problems, like having fibromyalgia, than saying I've got mental health problems. 

Janet  + http://fuzzypinkslippers.com ( http://fuzzypinkslippers.com/ ) = love

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 I am pretty open about living with lupus. So many people do not understand what lupus is how it affect you. My feeling is if someone know about it they can chose to be educatied about it or not. I feel better when I talk about, rather then hold it all in.

Chronic Chick Talk ( http://www.chronicchicktalk.com )

 I am pretty open about living with lupus. So many people do not understand what lupus is how it affect you. My feeling is if someone know about it they can chose to be educatied about it or not. I feel better when I talk about, rather then hold it all in.

Chronic Chick Talk ( http://www.chronicchicktalk.com )

Shoot, I missed the teleconference. Where can I find a recap?

I am now struggling with the "to tell or not to tell" dilemma. I am starting a slow downward spiral and I'm wondering if I should give my boss the heads-up (who only knows I have a "chronic illness" so I can go to my frequent doctor appointments) should things get to be unbearable and I need to take a leave of absence. I have been at my job for a year and a half and haven't had any major episodes so this may come as a big surprise. Not sure what to do . . . guess I'll talk to my doc about this as well.

Thanks for the post and the link to Mentally Interesting. I think it can help me.

Just the Way It Is ( http://www.justthewayitis.com ) - A laugh, an epiphany, a like-minded soul

I used to tell everyone I had Bipolar as I wanted to be part of the revolution that changed the world. Now that I have cancer, I just tell them about the cancer, and keep the Bipolar thing quiet especially at work. Now I am hoping to change the taboo on cancer....

That whole meds tweak is troubling - the world notices, don't they?

Thanks for both comments, Belinda. I didn't realize your husband has bipolar disorder. I've been collecting links to people talking about family members with the illness. I'm adding you to my list. :-)

~Denise
Daily Dose of Denise ( http://flamingohouse.blogs.com )

I could only view the top half of this post, where you mentioned Lupus and Fibro, and was opening it up to make the comment, "Yeah, try it on for size when it's a mental illness!" And lo, that was your point. My husband goes through this sort of thing on a continuing basis, as far as who needs to know what. When you drop off the face of the earth every spring for 2-3 weeks while you tweak meds due to that yearly mania creeping to the surface despite your medications...well, you gotta tell 'em something. I stinks either way, really, but then, so does the disease.

And that makes two BP-related posts from you on Bipolar Disorder that I've commented on today.

Belinda ( http://www.ninjapoodles.com )

At this point in my life, I lean towards keeping medical information private as much as possible. Of course it shouldn't have to be that way, but unfortunately there is still a lot of stigma attached to some illnesses and you never know when being open with someone could come back to bite you.

Trisha
Women's News Blog ( http://www.ideasforwomen.com/news/ )

I have struggled with this issue as coworkers have steadily begun discovering my blog via Google in recent months. My first reaction was to privatize any posts mentioning bipolar. It's enough to be the girl who can stop breathing at the drop of a hat---but what does it mean when I'm mentally volatile, too? In fact, I guess my question is whether or not I trust them enough as objective adults to realize that bipolar disorder does not mean that I am mentally volatile. It is a very interesting subject. Thanks for bringing it up.

-Ashley ( http://youlikeashley.com )

I have disclosed my mental condition at work and for me it was somewhat of a relief. I shouldn't have to feel like I should conform to everyone else or hide how I'm feeling just to satisfy other coworkers. I will admit that I am possibly hard to work with, but what the others have to realize is that this can go both ways. I find many days where it is difficult to work with people. The ones that actually matter to me have been pretty much okay with it and the others that aren't, well, they weren't worth fooling with anyway.

Liz
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This Is Me...like it or not. ( http://proffburd.blogspot.com )
Blogged ( http://blog-ged.spaces.msn.com )

When you tell people there is something 'wrong' with you, their attitude towards you changes, no matter how much they like you. My friends were bound to find out about my mental problems and they accepted them without flinching, but I feel they are more careful with me now. They tend to talk less about their personal problems and such, as if that would make my life harder. On the contrary. Getting an opportunity to reach out and help someone is healing to me.

Every knot has someone to undo it (Syrian proverb)

It's difficult to know how much to disclose. On one hand you would like for people to understand if your having an "off day" but you don't want to bust in people whispering about who has bipolar.

I've just learned to tell on a need to know basis. If I need the day off for a bad health day, I just explain that.

We tend to add these identifiers/qualifiers, and most of us would rather not be known by them. I'd prefer not to have trannie attached to me, and damn well don't wish my daughter to wear diabetes around her neck.

I try to think and catch myself, but... it's not easy.

Nelle ( http://liberalfeministtranniedyke.blogspot.com/ )