Posted by bluedog on January 31, 2003, at 23:51:23
In reply to Re: 'Rock' solid » bluedog, posted by jay on January 31, 2003, at 23:16:02
HEY JAY
Don't worry. Though if your on a downer at the moment I DO know that you will worry regardless but I wanted to reassure you anyway. I COMPLETELY understand both points of view....dislosure and non-disclosure. My initial advice was given to Greg because he has already started down the road of disclosure.
Everyone has to do what they are personally comfortable with. I went with non-disclosure for a long time and would not recommend full disclosure to anyone until they are ready for it and at a point where they are strong enough to face the inevitable consequences. In my case my hand was forced because I had to take 4 months off work but by the time I got back to work I had had plenty of time (and advice from others who had gone through the same thing) that I was strong enough to handle it. Funny thing is that once you do reach the point where you are strong enough to disclose your illness people will sense that strength and generally won't treat you any differently. I think it's only when they sense that you yourself may be ashamed that they will treat you funny. But it's a funny illness and even now I sometimes get a sense of shame about my illness. That's where I take heart from people in the public eye who have the courage to come clean about their illness by shooting straight from the hip with the facts....in other words "I have (or had) this illness....that's how it is...I'm not ashamed....and I don't care what you think about it!!!"
I reckon your non-disclosure is the right way to go if your illness is not affecting your performance at work too much. After all you wouldn't let your boss know that you have genital warts if it's not affecting your work performance because it's none of there goddam business in this circumstance.
Hope you feel better soon....You KNOW you will if you have any sort of experience with this illness. If you live in the US or Canada (especially the East Coast) I'd highly reccommend logging off and getting some sleep because it's too late to be babbling at the moment. It was not until I stopped staying up until 3.00am every night on the internet and started getting reasonable amounts of sleep that I started to improve (even if the sleep is restless it's still better tham staying up too late on the net).
Best wishes
bluedog
poster:bluedog
thread:35944
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030120/msgs/36036.html