Posted by alexandra_k on January 1, 2005, at 18:29:14
In reply to Stigma, posted by hotagent339 on January 1, 2005, at 15:35:54
Hey there. I don't think anyone likes the stigma of being labelled 'mentally ill'. Medications are used (typically) to alleviate particular symptoms, rather than being specific to particular disorders. The same symptom can occur across a variety of diagnoses (and indeed, in members of the 'normal' population) so the inference from a particular type of medication to a particular type of disorder is unwarranted. (Barring the medications which you need a certain diagnosis to be prescribed).
With respect to whether you are 'mentally ill' or not then I guess you would need to look at your social and occupational functioning. You say that you function pretty well, so then there wouldn't be grounds to diagnose you with a 'mental disorder'. That being said, sometimes people are caught at low points in their life and once you have been given a diagnosis it can be a real b*gg*r to try and get rid of it. I am pretty highly functioning, yet I consider myself to have a mental disorder.
Part of the journey is lifting the stigma that we put on ourselves.
Happy new year to you too :-)
poster:alexandra_k
thread:436389
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041228/msgs/436481.html