SHOCK FACTOR

I need to figure out a good way to tell people, face to face, of my situation.

So far, I’ve only had to tell a couple of people this way. There’s a good number of people who know already but they’ve been part of my support group from the beginning. But now, I’ll be having to tell people who have no clue that the next thing out of my mouth will be a shock to them.

The two people I told gasped loudly, teared up and then it seemed like they were momentarily at a loss for words. After a few seconds, they shared their disbelief and then their sympathy.

I’m not saying this isn’t normal. I don’t know what normal would be. And I’m not saying these two people should have acted in any other way. I’m just wondering if there’s a better way for me to broach the subject.

I don’t like shocking people. And I don’t want people to feel sorry for me (even though I think that would be a normal response). And it seems a little off that I have to be the one that does the reassuring that I’m going to be okay. I don’t know - maybe that is normal.