Who Thinks The Language Of 'Mental' Illness Needs To Be Updated?

I'm not a psychologist, but that is essentially what I did here. I listened to all of the stories, tried my best to translate the language used for a match in the psychological field of study and then observed patterns over time. My goal wasn't to redefine psychology terms. I was just trying to gain insight so I could see myself getting sick and hopefully stop it before harming anyone. Once I saw it, I knew exactly what to do and how quickly to move because I knew what would happen if I didn't. I used the expertise of veterans to supplement my newbie level of experience.

I could not agree with you more though. I've told my pdoc and my therapist that if they truly want to understand they should get an account here and learn from the ground up.

Stigmas do not really bother me. I am more interested in choosing words that properly convey the physical and emotional dynamics involved. I know we are often demonized, but using accessible terms that every patient can understand, feel and know would go a long way in improving care. If they sound bad, so be it.

I so agree and think your approach is really smart. The one thing that I think we get the most out of peer support is the shared language that establishes we understand the experience someone is talking about. Providers use these terms that are aligned with the experience of what the patient has. So new patients cant accurately explain their symptoms and get misdiagnosed or wrong meds, because the language of the provider in assessing symptoms does not align with what patients experience.

Maybe we should use memes... It would go a long way. Infographics could be a good way to go as well. Just to get the conversation started.

I used to hate memes but they've really grown on me as a useful way to express a feeling. Lol

I wish there was a way to refer to it in a way that referenced the brain differences. They have done countless MRI's and studies that show BP brains are physically different than "normal ones".

I don’t get the client vs. patient terminology either. Do you think it’s due to malpractice CYA?

I'm not sure about that, but I do know that some people have fought hard to be called "clients" instead of "patients." I suppose to them the word patient implies that there's something wrong with their brain and they don't like that, or something to that effect. I don't know if that's why facilities started using the word or if there's some added reason. In any case, to me, being called a patient is only logical. Bipolar is a real physical condition of the brain, after all. I would reserve the word "client" for people who are in relationship therapy or other non-medical reasons.

I like this. More information is better than less.

aless.absolutely!!

i also think in terms of bipolar illness, that the term fails to convey the breadth of the experience: assuming another identity like Jesus, risk-taking, spending, racing thoughts, loss of contact with reality, major cognitive issues, loss of fear, terrible chronic sleep issues, activity frenzies, irritability, creativity frenzies, suicidality, substance issues, way early mortality, anxiety, vicious depression, issues w eating, on and on.

The terms "client" or "consumer" make me feel like its my choice to be hospitalized for my illness- especially my bipolar. Like I've checked into the mental hospital for 2 weeks because it seems to me to be a vacation!

I'd love to read these studies- and show them to my pdoc.

Part of the trend towards "consumer" is from the idea that it's not just patients who are consuming the information. Families, spouses, caregivers, friends, are all looked at as consumers of healthcare products.

I dont like it because I dont think healthcare should be a for profit enterprise where vaccines and meds are held hostage for high prices.

Personally, I detest the term "behavioral health". It makes us sound like we're behaving (badly, of course) on purpose.

Like we could control it all if we just cared enough.

I dont think we can minimize the impact of all the school shootings and other mass shootings. Just when people were learning more about mental illness and becoming more accepting of differences, shootings became commonplace. Thanks, NRA, LOL. I support Mark Kelley for Senate. He is the astronaut whose wife, Gabby Giffords was shot in Tucson. He stood by her and she is doing well, helping with his campaign. Vote everyone!!!
I like the aspect of inspired creative person. I know I wouldnt be able to write my children's literature without a little glow from hypomania. Wish they would do an enormous ad campaign about all the scientists, artists, writers, and performers who are bipolar, schizophrenic too. Wish NAMI would fund a campaign like that. They have almost no meetings in Phoenix, the 6th largest city in the US. Cmon now!
I would like to write ads like that. Picture seeing someone from the back, they speak, they turn around, you recognize them-- Bipolar and Fabulous!

I work in the mental health system and when I was a peer support specialist we were made to call our participants “consumers....”

I despise that! So I called them my peers now I work as direct support at a staffed residence. I call them residents.

That's really cool that you became a peer support specialist and now do the residential support. Brava!

Though bipolar would be on my list of not particularly bothersome, I'd kind of rather see it called manic-depressive again. I just think people would use it less frivolously ("like omg, I'm so bipolar!"). I do not like the idea of calling it "mood disorder" for the opposite reason-- I think that would be used even *more* frivolously, especially given that most people don't realize that mood and emotions are *not* the same thing. I think it'd be thrown around willy-nilly whenever someone displayed an emotion someone else did not like or agree with.

I do like the idea of "neurological disorder". More medical, less separated from the body.

"Consumers". Oh how I hate that one. Makes it sound like we're just out shopping, instead of seeeking help for problems. "Clients", that I can deal with. Feels more proactive than "patients", which is... ok I guess. Sounds like we have less personal agency somehow though.

"Behavioral health". Don't like that one either. Makes us sound naughty and like we're could just be behaving ourselves better if we just tried harder. Ugh.

But I also agree with Fluffy. Any terms are likely to just end up stigmatized. People are stupid that way.

I think that's a really good case for going back to "manic depressive." I absolutely hate when people use the word "bipolar" lightly, like it's some kind of cute personality quirk. I'm not sure why "manic depressive" fell into disuse, actually.

The terms "mood disorder" or "neurological disorder" wouldn't fit, in my opinion, because I interpret those more as categories of disorders rather than as bipolar specifically. That said, it would be nice to have some acknowledgement that bipolar is an actual brain condition, not just some nebulous thing that could go away if we just resolved the right trauma or pushed the right emotional button.

No term is a stigma is you have a lot of money.
You are eccentric. Which is a nobility title.

Cheers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone Though bipolar would be on my list of not particularly bothersome, I'd kind of rather see it called manic-depressive again. I just think people would use it less frivolously ("like omg, I'm so bipolar!"). I do not like the idea of calling it "mood disorder" for the opposite reason-- I think that would be used even *more* frivolously, especially given that most people don't realize that mood and emotions are *not* the same thing. I think it'd be thrown around willy-nilly whenever someone displayed an emotion someone else did not like or agree with. I do like the idea of "neurological disorder". More medical, less separated from the body. "Consumers". Oh how I hate that one. Makes it sound like we're just out shopping, instead of seeeking help for problems. "Clients", that I can deal with. Feels more proactive than "patients", which is... ok I guess. Sounds like we have less personal agency somehow though. "Behavioral health". Don't like that one either. Makes us sound naughty and like we're could just be behaving ourselves better if we just tried harder. Ugh. But I also agree with Fluffy. Any terms are likely to just end up stigmatized. People are stupid that way.

Totally unrelated but @Innerzone can you pm me about Mr Robot? I have been trying to figure it out.