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Something that has actually helped me in a way, is how my therapist has described it. Since starting to see him, about 4 years ago, I've had two long, full-blown manic episodes [some smaller ones, but mostly as a reaction to medication changes, taking prednisone once, anything else mood-wise has really been situational or nasty anxiety]. When I was in those two episodes, he referred to it as being 'sick,' as in 'you're sick right now.'
I find this helpful, because it indicates to me that I am 'sick' when in the throes of an episode, but otherwise am not 'sick.' I am not sick all the time. I'm not sick from just have the diagnosis, not 'a sick/ill person.' Rather, there are times when 'I become ill.'
Maybe it's helpful to me, because the phrase mimics how non-psychiatric illnesses are referred to, though this is the first time that's occurred to me. But I think it's mostly helpful because it's limited to episodes, instead of all the time, as a person.
Does anyone else feel that this would be a helpful way of labeling/describing it?
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