People with a chronic illness, neurologic or otherwise, are often faced with the dilemma of whether they should let their coworkers, family and friends know about how they are feeling and even if they carry the diagnosis. This is a highly personal decision. On the one hand, allowing others “in” can help you get the emotional support you need and even out of cleaning the dishes if you are not feeling well. On the other hand, many feel they don’t want their diagnosis to define them; they want to be seen for who they have always been rather than the person with that diagnosis. Some worry that mistakes made at work may be attributed to their disorder and might interfere with promotions or collegial relationships.
Some disabilities associated with MS are visibly obvious to others, such as mobility issues and speech abnormalities. But there are many more MS symptoms that interfere with quality of life that cannot be outwardly seen. These include bowel and bladders issues, depression, dizziness and vertigo, overwhelming fatigue numbness, stiffness, swallowing difficulties, vision issues and more.
Whether or not a person with MS decides to share their plight with the people in their lives, others with MS can be a great source of support without judgment and with perhaps better understanding. Support groups, whether in-person or online, are a great resource.
BeCareLink has a community on its BeCare MS App for its users to share experiences, support and advice.