i've pretty much given up on people "getting it" if they haven't had some direct experience with lupus or something similar. i get tired of being judged or blamed for my illness, so i generally don't tell anyone I even have a chronic illness until I figure out they can be trusted not to say or do something hurtful/ idiotic.
it ticks me off that comedians use the word "lupus" as a punchline. they would never use the word cancer as a punchline.
i have heard the word stroke used as a punchline and i didn't think it was funny at all (of course i've had a stroke- that may have something to do with it).
maybe when someone asks me what my diagnosis is, I'll tell them I'm a comedian. that really should be a disability. noone normal does that for a living, trust me!
