It's surprisingly easy to deceive people

R

Rose65

Senior Member
Location
United Kingdom
I'm reading a book about a high profile woman who became ill with a joint disease that she didn't want anyone apart from family to know about as it would impact on her business. She did keep it secret for a long time and she described how surprisingly easy that was. She realised that most people are so focussed on themselves, especially in show business, that they barely notice anything about anyone else. As long as a person smiles, looks ok, it goes unnoticed. It's easy to act a part if you need.

How much we hide from others. Have you or do you know of someone who hid a serious illness from everyone? It does happen, although it seems in this day and age high profile people talk openly about their problems. Yet every now and then we hear of someone suddenly gone and nobody guessed they had major problems right in front of them.
 

Rose65 said:
I'm reading a book about a high profile woman who became ill with a joint disease that she didn't want anyone apart from family to know about as it would impact on her business. She did keep it secret for a long time and she described how surprisingly easy that was. She realised that most people are so focussed on themselves, especially in show business, that they barely notice anything about anyone else. As long as a person smiles, looks ok, it goes unnoticed. It's easy to act a part if you need.

How much we hide from others. Have you or do you know of someone who hid a serious illness from everyone? It does happen, although it seems in this day and age high profile people talk openly about their problems. Yet every now and then we hear of someone suddenly gone and nobody guessed they had major problems right in front of them.
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I tried that for about a year when I fell ill with acute chronic neuropathy. No one can feel my pain, so all they have to go on is my actions/words, behavior. I tried all kinds of ways to be normal, but nothing felt right. It feels more right to be open about what is really happening. Sometimes you just have to suck it up though. That is part of living with a chronic illness.
 
I’m hoping that I can learn not to complain.
Everyday I count my blessings and feel very grateful for my day. Living one day at a time IS doable. When I remind myself that the future doesn’t exist in the now, it relieves a lot of anxiousness. I’m practising not being a Debbie Downer and an attitude with gratitude sure helps.
 
I blab a lot in general. Not everyone is comfortable with that, so I've been trying to keep more of a lid on it.

It doesn't bother me because, well, I'm old. When I was younger and then when I was working I kept things inside. But I'm retired now and there is no organizational hierarchy or H.R. looking over my shoulder.

I think I've drifted off topic though. Or maybe not.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I’m hoping that I can learn not to complain.
Everyday I count my blessings and feel very grateful for my day. Living one day at a time IS doable. When I remind myself that the future doesn’t exist in the now, it relieves a lot of anxiousness. I’m practising not being a Debbie Downer and an attitude with gratitude sure helps.
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Some people really need to vent. Nothing wrong with that! 🌹
 
I used to hide everything. When it started coming out there was no stopping it. I think I would talk about illness in myself or others without too much of a problem if others wanted to talk about it. We go through life keeping so much inside and sometimes it might help to find out someone else is going through the same thing. I think it is possible to talk about it for some people without it being too much of a "downer". We are all different.
 
I think that within a CLOSE family, it's important for all of us to be aware of someone's serious illness. The ill person needs the understanding of the family and help when it can be given. Without knowing this, how do you account for personality changes, etc., and mis-read behavioral changes?

Outsiders? I have little if any interest in them but maybe it's because we do have a large family in our area and have few close friends still alive.

Just my thoughts, right or wrong !
 
Beezer said:
It was a joke. I was deceiving you. Irony...etc...
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Oh... I guess we all missed it. Well, until after you said it was a joke. Here I was thinking you were going by the "i before e" thing... but forgot the "except after c" part... so it wasn't that?
 


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