Posted by tinydancer on October 10, 2003, at 13:04:21
In reply to how do you explain your illness, posted by delna on October 10, 2003, at 11:07:20
Delna, this is a tough topic indeed. One thing I feel is important to remember is that you do not OWE people an explanation. Just like someone does not OWE it to you to tell them they have a son who died at 2 years old, or that they lived through cancer, or anything else. You are in control and can choose with a clear conscience whom you wish to tell. I think that it is important to be choosy and indentify the plusses and negatives to telling different people. I come from a large family myself, and love them all very, very much and am very close to my them all, but only my mother and father know my DID diagnosis because I do not feel it is necessary to share this with the rest of them. When I was dating my husband, I introduced my problems in a very general way just so that he knew I had had a difficult time in my life. After about a year I told him about my diagnosis and it was fine. It is tough to know who to tell. It is also tough when you want to tell someone who perhaps you know in your heart you probably shouldn't tell. I think that the most important thing is to not feel that you owe people an explanation. As if they have to inspect you from head to toe before they will enter willingly into a relationship with you, either as a friend or lover. That is not how it works. I am really tired out tonight (I am in Europe) but I wanted to try to give you a few thoughts, more to come OK hang in there!!
poster:tinydancer
thread:267791
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20030925/msgs/267845.html