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Originally Posted by growlycat
In therapy with Kashi today he mentioned that he found it odd that I see myself as mentally ill (odd is my word not his). He says that I identify as mentally ill when in his words "you are well put together, you just have anxiety like 25% of the population. " He said that once upon a time I may have been ill but I got better. If I have a cold and got better then got another cold would I identify as someone who always has a cold? He wants me to move towards a wellness mindset.
Do you think of yourself as mentally ill? Do you see your issues as being transitory ? I struggle with this idea but thoughts welcome.
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Great question! No, not at all. Was Kashi talking with my threapist recently?
I was just talking with my therapist about this last week, how my last therapist said positive things about me from time to time, which helped my sense of self improve and mature. I explained to him how this happened using an example of a conversation with a former psychiatrist/long-term therapist about my feelings about this. This was a few years ago-one of my feelings of insecurity was having a mental illness, feeling "ruined" etc. We may have been discussing feelings around dating or work, i don't remember.
In response to this, my psychiatrist said "Skies-you know, I have never even thought of you as someone who has a mental illness. Now after working with you for a couple of years, having learned a great deal about you, I still don't consider you as someone who is 'mentally ill'". It made me feel good because he was genuine and sincere, and I looked up to him; as a mentor and paternal figure. Such a small gesture made a difference for me-it changed my view of myself. It just never crossed my mind to think of myself like he did.
And I have/had panic disorder, dysthymia, MDD, ADHD, Bipolar II, PTSD, C-PTSD, DID, GAD...I had all of these and maybe a couple of more when this psychiatrist told me this. I have had numerous worries that i was getting schizophrenia.
But I don't think of it transitory either since I've never been hospitalized. The only way i'd consider myself to be mentally ill is if I couldn't function, like if I couldn't work, couldn't live independently, or needed a guardian.
Then again I wouldn't want to minimize these can be disabling or semi-disabling health conditions-so that leaves me in a place of conflict. I really think most of them should be classified as neurological diagnosis anyway. There, that would solve my conflict.
How do you struggle with this idea? I can think of possiblities but am interested in yours.