Having a positive attitude sometime can be hard if your incontinent like me especially when you have an embarrassing accident. To help keep me from getting depressed I think of positive things and I hang around positive people like my cycling buddies (athletes tend to always have a positive attitude). I think that incontinence is no different than having any other disability and there are lots of other disabilities that I would take incontinence over them any day. By placing this stigma of incontinence in the same light as other disabilities, incontinence is not any different. By saying that gives me much relief.

One of the ways that I have been able to keep a positive attitude is by telling my friends and love ones of my condition. I know this can be hard trust me I have been there. I started by calling a friend I don't talk to very often and he does not know any of my other friends and family. I hate to say this but I used him as a test subject. I just wanted to know what his reaction would be. He was not much of a friend and I knew if it scared him a way it was not a big loss and he did not know any one else that I knew which would save me from embarrassment. I have to say that I did not feel to bad to use him as my test subject because he has used me for all kinds of projects he has had going on, so I think of it as an equal opportunity. I started off by telling him that right now I am having bladder spasm from IC (Interstitial Cystitis) then I explained what IC is. Towards then end of my conversation of my medical problems I till him that this has all lead to my incontinence and that I have to wear protection 24/7, yes a diaper. He was very sympathetic about me and at this time I told him he was the first person I told other than my doctors and my mother. At this point I got brave and I started to tell one friend after another. By telling them has given me an outlet to talk about my problem at the same time has made me closer to my friends. For the longest time I have tried to hide my problem. But all that did was depressed me and put me in a closet all by my self. What I have found is that my friends care about me witch has give me a positive out look on life.  I can even joke with them about my problem.

In conclusion, thinking positive at first can be had but achievable. Think positive things. There are a lot of worst things than incontinence and I would take incontinence over that any old day. Lastly talk to your friends; after all they are your biggest assets.