AFRAID TO TELL PEOPLE YOU’VE GOT COVID-19? YOU’RE NOT ALONE. HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO NAVIGATE LETTING THOSE IN YOUR LIFE KNOW ABOUT YOUR DIAGNOSIS. TIPS PROVIDED BY THE TODAY SHOW. 

 

KEEP IT SIMPLE + HONEST  

DON’T OVERCOMPLICATE THE MESSAGE. CALL, TEXT, OR EMAIL THE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO NOTIFY AND LET THEM KNOW YOU’VE TESTED POSITIVE. ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS, QUARANTINE, AND GET TESTED THEMSELVES. 

 EVERYONE WILL RESPOND DIFFERENTLY  

HOW SOMEONE RESPONDS TO YOUR DIAGNOSIS WILL DEPEND ON THE PERSON. THOSE WHO ARE PRONE TO ANXIETY MAY OVERREACT, WHILE OTHERS MAY NOT WORRY ENOUGH. BE OPEN TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE OPERATING OUT OF DIFFERENT FEAR LEVELS THEMSELVES. 

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL 

YOU CAN’T CONTROL HOW PEOPLE WILL REACT BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE WITHIN YOUR CONTROL. TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND INFORMING THEM ABOUT YOUR DIAGNOSIS IS ONE EXAMPLE. HOW YOU CONVEY IT IS ANOTHER. 

DON’T SIT IN SHAME 
IT’S NATURAL TO FEEL GUILTY BUT BLAMING YOURSELF AND OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE INFECTED YOU ISIN’T HELPFUL. SHAMING CAN BE DEMOTIVATING AND HARMFUL.