Dealing with Others

"It is a very personal thing, your health, but I don't see why I shouldn't be upfront. I'm not embarrassed about my MS it's a fact of life."

Once you have initially come to terms with being diagnosed with MS, and have discussed it with your close family and friends, you'll have to decide whether or not to tell other people about your condition.

It's a very personal decision and one that only you can make. Here are some things to consider though:

• There is no reason why you should feel pressured to tell everyone you know that you have MS, or share that information immediately with strangers. Your health is a personal thing, so only share the information you feel most conformable with.



• If people are aware of your condition then they are better placed to offer their support if and when you need it.



• There is a lot of ignorance surrounding MS and some people's insensitivity and lack of understanding about the condition can be hurtful. Remember that before you were diagnosed you probably didn't know that much either and had preconceptions about the disease.



• Many MS symptoms such as fatigue are not outwardly visible. It can be difficult and frustrating trying to explain to people how they affect you and how debilitating they can be. Avoid using woolly terms. Simply saying "I'm tired" won't give people a proper understanding of what you are feeling.

Often people with MS find that telling people they only see socially is surprisingly hard. Telling your family, close friends and someone you're starting to fall in love with, means sharing your feelings with people you know and trust. When you have little or no emotional ties to people, they might be less inclined to understand MS and how it affects you. Other, closer friends, who are more aware of the situation, can be very supportive in situations like this.