I AM my Brain!

"An MSN-PMHNP program prepares nurses to deliver a full spectrum of care to patients with psychiatric disorders, organic brain disorders, and substance abuse issues."

This is from a webpage advertising a university's program in nursing. Note the distinction between "psychiatric disorders" and "organic brain disorders"- as if psychiatric disorders are not from the brain but are personality flaws- they are inorganic and therefore not as viable and true as an organic brain disorder. Moreover, organic disorders are something we cannot control and psychiatric disorders are due to the lack of the ability to control one's environment!

This just irks me. As a friend who is a behavioral pharmacologist- he studies brain drugs- once told me "You ARE your brain!" I have never forgotten this. Indeed we are one with our brains. They control everything about is and make us who we are whether we know it or whether we like it. It is. We are. Our brains. It's simple. Without our brains we cease to exist. Those of us with bipolar disorder just have that extra "twist" to our neurons. That special something that 1% of the population have been blessed with. I AM my brain- in all its organic and chemical wonders!

Yes, we are not only our brains but our brains our us - and our entire nervous system which is one with our brains. We and it are the same thing! In fact, it is us, eh? The 1%. We know this more than anyone.

I, too, find it aggravating. Reminds me of how psychiatric and mental health clinics are called "behavioral health." As if mental illness is a choice.

I agree. My pdocs office group is called (city name) behavioral health

Yes. Sounds like training for dogs!

Mine is really weird. The elevators are marked Behavioral Health. I go to a huge hospital with psych on 2 floors. You check in on the 5th floor and depending who your pdoc is you stay there or go to the 6th floor. The 5th and 6 floors are labed psychiatry. It's like they think the use of behavioral health on the main floor makes it feel safer to go the the psych floors or preserves privary or something. I just would go with psychiatry and I don't care who sees me going there; I seriously doubt behavioral health is much of a disguise.

I couldn't agree more. That distinction is why our illnesses aren't taken seriously.

I wouldn't exactly say I'm blessed to have bipolar disorder, but if it makes people feel good to think so, then go for thinking that.

Thank you guys for your wise words and for saying what needed to be said. Indeed, mental illnesses are part of brains and therefore of personalities. It is a fine distinction that many often forget and i'll admit that i often don't think about that as well so i apologize for that as Hopefully i'll try to remember it more often. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to ALL of you, @Moose72, your Families, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!