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Positives and negstives of disclosing.. can anyone share their reasons for and against being open about your diagnosis?

Ellie1984

I know I ultimately need to make this decision for myself but I just can't make my mind up. I'm feeling very alone because I haven't told anyone my diagnosis but at the same time i'm really worried about people's reactions so it might be easier to just keep it to myself. I'm obsessing over disclosing in work and who to tell. I work in education so a field in which people should be fairly well informed about autism. Part of me feels it could help to explain things I struggle with but part of me worries it would change things /peoples view of me and its easier just to keep things as they are. I work in a supportive workplace and my boss has helped me a lot in the past so my hestance around it isn't due to an unhelpful or unsupportive work environment. Just not sure if it's necessary to disclose. 

  • in reply to Ellie1984

    Yes and maybe these people will be able to support you better with this knowledge. I told my boss first, she said if there is any accommodations could be made she would support me. I had to tell a couple of colleagues because I fell apart in a Teams meeting and thought they deserved an explaination. One girl has ADHD so that’s was an easy one. The last lady I felt sorry she was the only one who didn’t know, so I text her. I am a nurse and all my colleagues are nurses, I felt it was safe to say. I am very cautious who else I tell in my life. 

  • in reply to Orangegnome

    Thank you. In considering disclosing , I am being careful and very selective about who I'm thinking of telling. I thought maybe my boss as he has been very supportive of some health issues I've had and is legally obliged to keep it confidential. Or a couple of colleagues who i know have autism in their family or are generally very kind people who always seek to support others and I know are good at keeping things confidential.  

  • I have told my work colleagues, but there are only 7 of us in the team. I really struggle with so many aspects of my job so felt I needed to explain why I often get overwhelmed. I have told a couple of friends who knew I was going through the assessment process, and knew about my mental health journey. I have a complicated family situation and really don’t want to tell any of them, I know the comment “but you can’t be, you don’t look autistic” will just piss me off. So it’s  a difficult decision to make, I was say choose carefully who you tell. 

  • For me, being only recently diagnosed in my 70s there doesn't feel much need. My partner accompanied me to the diagnostic sessions so was aware of the diagnosis. The GP and NHS were made aware. 

    I can recall the time when I have divulged other information and the person could not keep a confidence despite promising to.  I suppose my view is that it is generally impossible to put the genii back in the bottle.   

    Also, my assessment is such a personal part of me although every one on this site knows; but that feels fine.  

  • in reply to emanningis

    Thank you for your perspective. To some degree keeping it to myself feels right as I only sought the diagnosis for my own peace of mind and self understanding. I'm not wanting anything from people if I choose to disclose. 

  • I personally feel more freedom keeping it for myself.

    The only ones aware are my psychologist and doctors/GPs.

    If I struggle with something, I try to specify what it is and what could help, but not my diagnosis.