Yeah, I think my teacher does that to. I had commented in class about my history of a bad temper in school and he called it a disability. It rather shocked me. I just thought of it as a sign of my being different than everyone I know.
But, I guess it might be related to the dysthmic disorder theory from my college days. I mean irritability is a symptom of depression and I sure knocked that out of the park.
I guess I shouldn't have kept the dysthymic disorder theory from Dr Ackerly secret for all those years because now I am embarrased by the fact that my insurance knows about that and the current Dx Adjustment Disorder. (I seem to be able to worry about everything!) Oh, well. Atleast, I am not giving myself a headache.
Besides, I am starting to think that it doesn't matter. But, it bothers me that I can't stand up for the mentally ill because of this fear. I mean I have heard people make comments and I didn't say a word. One time I even laughed with them as they imitated a co-worker's flat voice when she had ADHD. My neice has that and I still didn't say anything. ARG! I hope I get the guts to stand up for the mentally ill.
As for whether or not I think of myself as mentally ill. No. I just have a history of dysthymic disorder and currently adjustment disorder. But, I have a form on the rights of the mentally ill from my T which insulted me on the my first session. Its them who term it mental illness. I did read recently that a third of the population will experience some form of mental illness in their life time. I think people just see it in others and not themselves.