Question
My plan is to tell potential employers, in interviews and in cover letters that I send with my resume, that I had STROKE and that is why I have not worked for 7 years.  

I have to give some explanation for the 7 year gap in my work history.  The true reason is that I was unable to work due to a serious mental illness [paranoid schizophrenia].

I am on medications now, and can now work again.

A stroke makes sense, I think, because the period of recovery and rehabilitation can take many years, even up to 7 years.  If I used cancer, that might not make sense, because it usually doesn't take 7 years to be treated for cancer, or to die from it.

I've already begun my research into the medical and health and treatment information concerning strokes.  

It feels so much better to me to be saying that I had a stroke.  No one hates you or fears you for having had a stroke.  In an ideal world I could tell the truth.  But this world is not an ideal world.

Any thoughts on this plan?  Any practical problems that you see with it?


Answer
Hi Bob:

I don't see a question here, but I will give you feedback on your plan.

I understand all your reasons for wanting to provide a red herring for a potential employer.  I do not recommend your doing that though.  If the employer were to find out the truth, that would be the end of your job.

Also no matter the diagnosis your employer may, illegally of course, choose not to hire you as he will fear that his employee health insurance premuyms will go up if he hires someone with a serious  medical condition.

If you are going to lie.. and I don't recommend it.. why not say you were traveling?  Or that you ran a small web design or other business, or tried freelancing?  The fact is that  unless your disability would interfer with your work you are not required to tell an employer about it at all.

Here is a few articles on revealing a disabilitry to an employer that discuss the pros and cons.

Addressing Concerns About Your Disability In A Job Interview
http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=126

What Employers Really Want to Know About Your Disability
http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=609

Don't Ask, Do Tell - but When  
http://www.esightcareers.net/View.cfm?x=671

I recommend looking around that site -- lots of relevant material.

Good luck!

Nan Hawthorne