‘Coming Out’ as a person with a disability

[tealcoat]

We keep being told at work to be our ‘authentic selves’.

I have an invisible disability. My authentic self is on shit loads of medication, hurts all the time, often has brain fog and struggles to stand up for long periods of time. I know I’m more than just this but I’ve been going through a difficult patch since Christmas and it’s on my mind a lot.

I’ve been wonder whether I’d be happier if everyone knew, that I wouldn’t have to pretend to be okay. But then I probably would still have to pretend to be okay because you know life goes on. Does anyway have experience with this? Did it help how you felt about yourself?

My manager knows to a point and the people around me know that I have a bad headache sometimes but that’s about it. Sometimes I want to shout it from the roof tops just so people know what I’m dead long with but I’m also pretty worried that it could effect my career advancement if people think I’m not ‘up to’ a challenge.

Any advice welcome.

Same to you mini-mum, Hope I have not offended you. You haven’t offended me in the slightest. Your post was perfect. Do not worry.
:)

"being told at work to be our ‘authentic selves’. "

what industry is this that tells you that?

I used to put myself down as unreg disabled (in the anon surveys) & now I don't coz my condition improved, I don't feel it applies any more. So yeah I guess I didn't want them to adjust expectations of me due to the condition & then it got better, anyway. So not saying was fine for me.

We have a similar thing - 'bringing your whole self to work'

I had to decide to admit my migraines were a disability. I was experiencing up to 27 days a month of migraine, and my life was imploding let alone the pain I was in every day.

I forced their hand on some reasonable adjustments, but they have so far refused to accomodate any sickness which is a nightmare. If they continue to push it I'll have to bring the union in as I believe our policy is discriminatory anyway (civil service agency would you believe!).

I have formally declared myself disabled on all HR systems etc.