Category: Working

Choosing to disclose

~ fibro-academic ~ Leave a comment

Toward the beginning of this blogging journey, I wrote a post about nailing an interview for an internship (and how that was the only thing I could stand to do that day). I am now around halfway through the internship, and throughout this time I have struggled over whether to disclose that I have fibromyalgia.

There are many considerations over whether to do it or not. They are, in no particular order:

  • I am only at this internship for 16 weeks, and only work there 10h/week
  • I can’t think of what accommodations they could give me to make my work easier
  • I don’t want to come across as though I am attention-seeking or seeking sympathy or special treatment
  • I am already exhausted thinking about having to explain to them what fibromyalgia is and how it affects me and my working abilities

On the other hand, telling them might provide some context as to why sometimes at the end of the day I am almost unable to hold a conversation (because my brain is foggy) and why I take many very short walking breaks (because I am in pain from sitting too long in the chairs they have).

I am leaning toward not disclosing in this situation, but I have similar thoughts when trying to figure out whether it is appropriate to disclose my disability in other situations. Do I need to mention it on job applications? What about academic conferences? Sometimes I need to walk with a cane because my hips are agony, and sometimes I am fine — do I disclose and then use accommodations I don’t need, and then am I stuck in having to “perform” a disability I don’t have? Do I not disclose and potentially needlessly suffer?

It was a straightforward decision with members of my PhD committee and with my work supervisors. I am around this group of people long-term so it makes sense to let them know how fibromyalgia affects my work, and to request workable accommodations from my job. But more the shorter-term things, I usually don’t have the emotional energy to advocate for myself. It doesn’t feel like a good trade-off if it’s only for a short while.

Working Flexibility and Telecommuting

~ fibro-academic ~ Leave a comment

When the main symptom of your condition is just “pain,” doing things like getting up and on to work feels impossible on bad days. Today is a bad day for me. The only way I am getting any relief from the pain in my legs is my reclining under my weighted blanket, and I am unsteady on my feet.

I am incredibly lucky to have a supportive work environment and supervisors who allow me to work from home when needed. I filed the necessary paperwork to receive ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accommodations, which include a set number of hours where I am allowed to work from home, but sometimes I need to call in for my regularly scheduled office time.

Having a supportive work environment makes all the difference. I have shown them that I will get my work done even when I am not feeling well, but I also work in a place which values taking care of yourself and not burning out due to work. I am scared that once my contract is over, I will not have such understanding supervisors.

I can do work. I can do good work. But if my worth is measured in how well I can conform to sitting in an office for set hours, as the majority of work situations are set up, I just cannot perform. I take the moments of clarity when they come, and I can meet all deadlines, but I must do it my way.