@Christine615Christine, you are absolutely correct, it is ignorant to stigmatize or have bias towards people with mental health issues or any health issue
. but there is also a responsibility for guests to try their best to manage any mental or other significant health condition and flare ups before arriving at a host who is certainly ill-equipped or qualified to provide care in an acute medical emergency. It is all of us as guests who have a general responsibility not to travel during an episode if it may impact a host, their home, family, town or the guests themselves.
Alcoholics do not get excused from drinking and driving even though it’s recognized and treated as an illness. Because ultimately we all have our challenges, we are responsible for them within reason and none of them allow us to jeopardize others - when they can be avoided. The exception of course being physician supervised and approved medical travel.
“ I’m traveling to you in order to receive medical care, by specialists at Mount Sinai hospital - where I say yes you are certainly welcome - and please let me know how I can assist to make your stay easier. Responsibility is squarely on us as hosts and guests as individuals.
The best place during a manic episode is to be supervised by family, and or under the care of a physician or in extreme cases in a health care facility. Very Personal medical details prior to his stay were likely a result of his manic episode in this case. Very possibly he is a good person and was unconsciously warning his host. Much of the population experiences mania, Schizophrenia and other mental health challenges/gifts - more than most people realize- very often (although a generalization but statistically correct) they are highly intelligent, highly educated, highly productive and highly creative individuals and often famous or extremely successful in their various fields. So as far as I concerned there’s nothing to judge, It’s nothing that should be stigmatized, or ashamed of it’s an illness like heart disease, asthma, diabetes - and often like asthma, heart disease and diabetes these health issues can be well managed with proper treatment and medical care.
But in this case there were warning signs, and a host has every right to be careful that a potential guests who is arriving will be feeling and acting rationally and responsibly. I would turn down someone who mentioned a history of heart disease and also mentioned they are experiencing tremendous chest pain and numbness on their left side - and are traveling to me for a NYC vacation. If they were arriving for medical care in that case I would be happy to assist in any way.
when guests provide me too much personal information regardless of the information it is- if it unessessary for me to know - it raises alarm bells for me.
For example:
“hi my name is Billy, I have been experiencing severe breathing difficulties due to asthma, also I’ve fainted twice today due to low blood oxygen levels - my wife just threw me out and I lost my job... I’m feeling a little depressed - I’d love to stay by you May 6 - 11th and get my head straight”
in that case (although extreme to make a point) I can’t see many people clicking preapprove. More likely I’d reply:
”thanks billy, I’m very sorry to hear about your recent difficulties. At this time I’m a little uncomfortable hosting you, since I’m very concerned about your health, and I’m not sure a strange town and home is the most prudent place for you considering all the difficulties your considering at the moment. I’m certainly not equipped to address medical emergencies should anything heaven forbid happen and you require immediate emergency medical attention- and that scares me.
I wish you a speedy recovery, because getting sick sucks and we all get sick sooner or later.
ephraim”
but yes, I would never mention his medical info in a review, however I’d be worried for other hosts their family’s and the guests future safety so I’d leave a discreetly written negative review.
Sorry for the rant - overtired I think.