Description:
Incontinence is a difficult topic to open up to people about. If you need support from friends or family, this short guide can help you figure out what to say.
Content:
Discovering that you have incontinence can be difficult. What can be even harder than that is telling your loved ones about it. There is a negative stigma around this health condition that causes some people to not take it seriously. However, those experiencing it know that it’s no laughing matter.
Because of that, though, opening up about it can be challenging, which is why many choose to hide the issue. If you feel like you’re ready to open up to someone about your incontinence, we’re here to give you some tips on how to approach the subject.
Set the Stage
Once you find the time and place to talk to someone about your condition, be sure to set the stage before the word “incontinence” ever comes up. A bad reaction could come from the initial surprise of your announcement. Most people won’t want to make you feel bad for having incontinence, but sudden reveals can accidentally cause unintended reactions.
Set things up by letting them know you’ve been dealing with a sensitive medical condition and would like their support. This context will make them much more open to what you have to say next, reducing the possibility of an undesirable reaction.
Explain the Condition
Once you set expectations and bring up that you’ve been dealing with incontinence, it’s important to explain what the condition is. There is a lot of misinformation regarding this issue, so informing the person is crucial for helping them better understand what you’re going through.
Start by letting them know what type of incontinence it is and, if you are inclined, what caused the condition. There are many causes of incontinence, and you don’t want them to assume or wonder how you got it. Be sure to also explain that this condition isn’t permanent and there are things you can do to reduce symptoms or even stop it altogether. Once they understand incontinence, it’ll be much easier for them to support your needs.
Be Open and Honest
Of course, you need to open up beyond explaining what the condition is. You also need to be honest about how it affects you emotionally. Let them know what your struggles are and how you feel about them. Use this time to let out some of your frustrations. Understanding the condition is one thing—knowing how you feel about it is another.
Tell Them What You Need From Them
The final thing you need to do when opening up to someone about your incontinence is to let them know what you need from them. Even though you already let them know you’d like their support, now is the time to go into further detail about what that means.
Maybe you just need someone to vent to about your situation. You might also want them to help you learn more about handling incontinence or hold you accountable for making any necessary changes. Regardless of what you need from them, you need to make your requests crystal clear. Once you explain, they can determine what they can do to help you through this difficult time.
