This is a counterpart to Bluemountains' thread on stigma.

I see doctors a lot. P-doc. T. Endocrinologist. Upcoming full physical and then a skin exam - I faithfully get those yearly, as I am light-skinned.

So I have to make things up at work, to avoid saying "doctor" all the time. On Wed, when I see my new p-doc, I will have a "dental appointment". In a month, when I see him again, I will "go to an eye doctor". Why? Because other people do that; my boss had a dental appointment today.

When will the day come when I can just quickly email my team "psychiatrist appointment tomorrow 2-4" and no one will bat an eye??!

I work for a progressive company which turned out a hefty participation in San Francisco AIDS Walk, yet I STILL cannot send such an email.