Dancing With MS Diagnose

Telling Others

Talking about your MS to family and friends:
There is no denying that living with MS can be difficult, frustrating and at times, frightening, particularly when you are first diagnosed. It can take some time to come to terms with the fact that your life is likely to change and it is natural to grieve for what you may lose. In the initial stages, it is likely that only those who are very close to you will be aware that you have MS. Once you have had time to adjust, you may want to think about telling a wider circle of people.

Telling friends and family for the first time :
MS doesn't only affect you ; it may also impact on those around you. Broaching the subject for the first time with family and friends can be a little daunting. However, keeping things hidden can be a great strain, so it is often a relief to get things out in the open. The chances are that you will find most people to be supportive when they are aware of your situation.

Some begin by telling only family and very close friends initially and then gradually inform others when symptoms become apparent . However, there is no need to hide the fact that you have MS and you may prefer to talk openly about it from the outset ; just do whatever feels right for you. You can never predict how people will react when you tell them. They will probably experience a mixture of emotions, just as you did when you were first diagnosed.
Encourage those around you to build up a good understanding of what MS is . Finding out about the condition may allay their own fears and helps avoid misconceptions about MS. For example, there is a common myth that everyone who has MS will end up needing a wheelchair, which is far from the case.

Even if your MS is common knowledge, you will still need on-going support and help from those around you. Most people have no idea what it is like to have MS and you will need to express your needs clearly so that people know best how and when to help and support you ; an on-going dialogue is essential.

Putting on a brave face all the time may leave you feeling isolated and frustrated and you risk shutting them out If you go through a bad patch and life feels like an enormous struggle, talk to somebody. If you are worried about upsetting those close to you, there are other people you can talk to. For instance, your local Ms Chapter or Society.
While it is good to talk about your feelings, try not to let MS dominate your conversation at all times. You risk others thinking of you purely as a person with MS.
Some of the symptoms of MS, such as fatigue, are not obvious to others. Sometimes you will need to spell it out if you need a hand. People usually want to help but they need to be told how and when.