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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. 

Parents

  • I think it's good to be cautious whom you tell. Certainly, people you feel close to, rather than blanket all, 'family and friends.' I walked out of my NHS career before I was diagnosed [stress triggered more overt, 'symptoms' which enabled diagnosis, so the Consultant said], but later the employer tried to deny my diagnosis to avoid compensation, which really upset me; I'd suffered so much in life and this was like denial of my suffering. But your employer being supportive makes yours a different case. I would be careful to not disclose to all colleagues, until you've carefullly considered the likely reaction. Best of luck!

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  • I think it's good to be cautious whom you tell. Certainly, people you feel close to, rather than blanket all, 'family and friends.' I walked out of my NHS career before I was diagnosed [stress triggered more overt, 'symptoms' which enabled diagnosis, so the Consultant said], but later the employer tried to deny my diagnosis to avoid compensation, which really upset me; I'd suffered so much in life and this was like denial of my suffering. But your employer being supportive makes yours a different case. I would be careful to not disclose to all colleagues, until you've carefullly considered the likely reaction. Best of luck!

Children
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