Self Diagnosis Is Not An Option

[Deleted member 487]

AFAIC it's ok to self-diagnose a physical injury, like the proverbial cut finger, as demonstrated by Anthony. Or perhaps even a broken leg. But anything involving the brain, come on guys! Leave it to those that know their schtick. As was said, the brain wants attention. Almost like a separate living creature, IMO.

It bothers me as I have 3 traumatic brain injuries and PTSD, not counting the other physical issues. Where as Anthony says it's mental, for me it's not. I don't think so at least. For me I believe it's all physical because of how I got it. And as I have been dealing with this living nightmare for decades now and I'm still not over it, I have to say that if anyone fakes either or wants either is truly mentally deranged.

I would rather be a legless & sexless man in a wheel chair if I could live without the TBIs and PTSD.

 

[Tress]

I was diagnosed twenty years ago with bi-polar. Told it was a chemical imbalance probably triggered by traumatic events in my life. My psychiatrist doesn't deal with PTSD.How do I find one who does?

 

[Rigel IV]

Unfortunately, for me it appears that diagnosis is not an option at all. I have had half a dozen or so therapists between age 15 and age 40, and none of them were willing to diagnose me at all. Drug me, chat with me, whatever, they absolutely would not diagnose me and by and large could not figure out why I was asking about diagnosis.

I suppose I could search for a PTSD / limbic disorder / Asperger / complex trauma therapist all over and demand up front that s/he be willing to diagnose, but I know longer have any time or money for therapy so I guess that is the end of it.

 

[Pia]

The term mental illness is probably one of the most degrading, despicable vile and derogatory label that professionals and therapists bandy around and once labelled can be used to take someones sovereignty away from them. I think this is evil.

 

[mamachick]

Cactus jack-I appreciate what you are saying. I have TBI as well and for awhile I insisted that my problems were part of TBI. Sometimes it is like splitting hairs-mental vs physical. I have a mild TBI and am very mildly impaired according to two different neuropsychologist and their testing. Im still as smart as average. Then why can I not perform as before? Mild TBI can cause affective disorders (anxiety and depression) that can be debilitating.

I was a very good mental health therapist and it never occurred to me that I had PTSD. It takes someone to be objective. A woman fell down and a child got up-is the best I can explain it. I use to teach some substance abuse and what I told clients was that the doctors who test brains on drugs, test other peoples brains on drugs and not their own-because if they were on drugs they would be impaired and unable to be objective. One can not be the subject and the interpreter at the same time.

My beef is the same as it has always been. It doesnt matter if mental or physical, we need a wholistic approach. Some other countries that treat illness this way are way ahead of us. Body, mind and spirit has an effect on each other. We can't seperate it. If there were not the stigma, we wouldn't have to defend it.

I attempted suicide when the TBI and ptsd and some other stuff got to be too much. I was on a psych ward and in group when the group therapist addressed this woman that suffered hallucinations among other things. The therapist asked her if she was Mary(which is my name) and the woman said yes. (this was not her name but I knew that she thought the leader asked if she was married.) The patient began to tell the group leader about the voices and people coming in her room at night, etc. I panicked. I interupted and said that she is not Mary, she is Betty and I am Mary. I did not want those things written about me or they would never let me out. A year later I saw the hospital note and it stated that I questioned staffs competency in group. It was a humbling experience and I got a better idea of how things work, or don't work.

 

[Cheshire]

The term mental illness is probably one of the most degrading, despicable vile and derogatory label that professionals and therapists bandy around and once labelled can be used to take someones sovereignty away from them. I think this is evil.

I don't really think "mental illness" is a label in the way you suggest. The term itself is fine, it's descriptive of what it is - an illness or disorder that occurs in the brain, relating to the psychological function of the brain, rather than the physiological function of the body. That's my understanding anyway.

The stigma that's attached to the term "mental illness" by those who don't understand it's meaning is pretty horrible, but it's hardly something that doctors, psychologists and other professionals throw around because it's a buzz word.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

 

[Deleted member 487]

I don't really think "mental illness" is a label in the way you suggest. The term itself is fine, it's descriptive of what it is - an illness or disorder that occurs in the brain, relating to the psychological function of the brain, rather than the physiological function of the body. That's my understanding anyway.

The stigma that's attached to the term "mental illness" by those who don't understand it's meaning is pretty horrible, but it's hardly something that doctors, psychologists and other professionals throw around because it's a buzz word.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Oh, yes. Having any form of mental illness puts, almost, like a bullseye on your butt and people will watch you like a hawk. Having "mental illness", no matter the form it is in, scares people. They categorize using their own experience, which isn't much. I found out from a girlfriend that they go from rain injury to mental illness to psychotic because they know no different.

I might be posting in another thread my experience over the past few years. And then you may understand what I'm saying.

 

[Pia]

Once you are labelled with the term mental illness you now have not only a stigma but you also have a recorded disorder that can impinge on your life forever. It also removes your liberty if someone deems so you can get locked up without consent. This label in the legal world can never be removed it can be amended but never removed. It, unlike a criminal record can never be spent. This term will travel with you throughout life. So although doctors, psychiatrists, psychologist and other professional you think just note it down, there is it is for your life time and if it crops up there is a blight whether as person understands it or not. I find it astounding that a person with PTSD has to be then be marked for life with such a stained infamy.

 

[mamachick]

I am not suggesting that doctors throw it around as a buzz work. I just think that our society is somewhat ignorant or afraid of it. Friends are more inclined to talk about aunt Sue's cancer or uncle Joe 's diabetes. Less inclined to talk about grandma mental illness. Further, some believe that you can pull yourself up by the boot straps and get over that depression or even other mental illnesses. Also, a person with a chronic medical condition is more likely to suffer a mental illness such as anxiety or depression. It may be secondary but my point is that it should not matter whether it is psysiological or not. What is Altzheimers disease? My friends sister has Altzheimers and goes wondering off in her nightgown. Neighbors are sympathetic. The same neighbors petitioned against a group home for 4 mildly retarded people. They were afraid of their behavior. I just think we need more awareness and it should not be so stereotyped, which also prevents some from getting help.

 

[mamachick]

Pia and cactus jack you are both right. I hope to see some change in that in my lifetime

 

[Deleted member 487]

A very similar discussion came up between myself and several other physically impaired/disabled friends. And it bothers all of us. No matter the impairment or disability, we are under a microscope. The second we do anything unacceptable to the community as a whole is when they label us as a threat. What kind of threat? None really, they just want to remove any potential threats before problems arise. That may be acceptable to them, but it will never be acceptable to me. My grandfather fought that kind of garbage years ago- he served in the USN during WW2 fighting Hitler's bunch to keep their ideas of improving society from coming to America.

Now it's here. THAT bothers me. It bothers all of us.

 

[Cheshire]

I don't disagree with any of you regarding society's ignorance and the stereotyping that goes on at all. Actually, I totally agree, and i think it's horrendous, and it is a difficult thing to overcome once you've been diagnosed in such a way.

I really just disagree with:

The term mental illness is probably one of the most degrading, despicable vile and derogatory label that professionals and therapists bandy around

Simply because it's not the term coming from professionals etc that is intentionally derogatory or negative, it's society's perception of it that is what makes it degrading, despicable, etc. I think that there are obviously too many cases of misdiagnosis, of wrong treatments or ineffective treatments and things like that on behalf of the "professionals", but saying the term mental illness is evil is like saying the term AIDS is evil when someone has been diagnosed as having AIDS. It's not the term or the name, it's the perceptions that get attached to those things. That's all I was saying. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.