Sharing stories and seeking support are two human activities that we value quite deeply. We imagine if you’ve found yourself here, it’s probably the case that you do.
How do you share a story during a meeting? Unlike pills that be can be shared, there is never a formula that can be patented for the sharing of a story in a human life, from one naturally whole mind to another.
However there are some guidelines or principle we can share that, if you’re nervous about sharing your story, will hopefully make it a bit easier.
Confidentiality
There is a saying in the twelve step support community:
What you see here,
what you hear here,
when you leave here,
let it stay here.
Members should strive to take this value of confidentiality with the utmost seriousness. Though we may be inspired by witnessing others’ strength through struggle against the situation of misdiagnosis, the stories of fellow members of our spiritual community are not ours to relate.
No one came to the meeting to judge you
No one came to the meeting to judge you. Everyone who is in the meeting wants you to feel accepted for who you are. However difficult your experience, or however stigmatizable or hideous you imagine your thoughts might be, there is someone in the meeting who understands, or who has had thoughts of an even stigmatizable or hideous nature.
Just say what’s on your mind
Just say what’s on your mind. Human beings are naturally honest, reflective, curious story-tellers. It’s our nature to make sense without really even trying that hard. If you start talking about your day but then an emotion comes over you relating to the experience of your misdiagnosis, that’s okay. We’ll understand. We have emotions too.
The easier it is to share, the easier is to share
When you share something deep, it becomes easier for others in the group to also go deep and share.
When you share something that might not seem that deep or “misdiagnosed” to you, something about the basic facts of your life, or a perfectly normal experience you had recently, you also make it easier for others in the group to share.
Any and all sharing helps us as misdiagnosed persons better realize our actual struggles.
Show up
Just show up. It’s not about sharing a “so misdiagnosed” story, or a weird story, or an interesting story, or totally coherent story that everyone understands immediately and magically without any time effort or patience. It’s about showing up. It’s about sharing you.
Millions and millions of people who have participated in support groups can attest that just letting your voice be heard with your group is a real kind of power.
Now you have our guidelines for sharing stories. Thanks for reading them!
If the reading and writing are closer to how your unique minds likes to process, or if you just simply would like to send us your story in writing for whatever reason, please do it!
Our email inbox misdiagnosedanonymous.story@gmail.com is waiting.
In any case we are excited to witness and learn your story
Misdiagnosed Anonymous 