Telling family and friends you have Multiple Sclerosis

The decision to tell your family and friends about to multiple sclerosis, is a very personal one. The people who need to know most are those that you live with, because they are the people who will be affected the most. When and how much to tell your children will depend on the age of the children, and their level of maturity. You know your children best; trust your judgment about what they can handle

Your spouse or life partner can help you research and decide upon a course of treatment. The treatment that you choose will affect your lifestyle and potentially have the lifestyle of your mate; therefore, it is important to involve them in making that decision.

It is also suggested that you have your spouse attend doctors appointments, support groups and read any books or web sites that you use to learn about the disease. Be sure to share with your spouse when you are having symptoms, what they are, and how they affect your daily activities.

Depending on the amount of emotional support you may choose to tell or not tell extended family and friends. If you know that a someone is likely to respond with pity, anger, or negativity it may be better to put off telling them so as long as you can. It's important to surround yourself with positive people who will be supportive and positive as you adjust to your new diagnosis of MS.

When you choose to tell someone about your MS, be sure not to overload them with information. Share enough so they know what's going on with you, but not so much that they overloaded. At the same time, you should try to answer all their questions and give them sources for more information if needed.

Most people will be understanding when you share your diagnosis of MS..

< Back To Multiple Sclerosis Next Previous