Photography by Julia Forsman/Stocksy United
Letting your loved ones know about your symptoms, triggers, and boundaries can help them better support you — and help you feel less alone.
When you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, it can feel like a big step to tell people about it. While it’s not easy, letting loved ones know about your condition may help you foster better connections. Having people to understand, support, and accommodate your needs can help you feel less alone.
It took me years to open up to my loved ones about my chronic illnesses. I feared being judged or seen as a less capable friend. I imagined that people would start seeing me only as “the sick one.”
As time passed, I realized it was better to tell people about my health. If they’re understanding, then we’ve developed a more meaningful connection, and if they’re not, then the relationship may not be worth pursuing.
Here are my tips for talking about your health with your loved ones.
Explain your condition in terms of its symptoms
I find it useful to simplify the medical jargon by answering two questions: Why does it happen, and what does it cause?
For example, to explain IBD, I might say, “I have an autoimmune disease called IBD where my immune system attacks my digestive tract. It gives me symptoms like stomach pain, cramps, weight loss, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and bleeding.”
Sticking to a formula like this can help you explain your conditions easily.
Share resources about your condition
It can be hard, time-consuming, and exhausting to talk about your condition over and over again. Websites and charity organizations are designed to explain aspects of your illness in ways that are easy to digest and often quick to read. Advocacy pages can also provide an in-depth look at the stigmas surrounding your condition.
Sending these links to friends and family can provide a convenient way for them read up about your condition in their spare time.
Tell them about your triggers
CLICK HERE, to continue reading