[WLFTW]

I don't know where this thread belongs so I'm putting it here...maybe it will get moved that's ok.

Just wanted to say that rather than say "I am bipolar," "he is bipolar," "she is schizophrenic," I'd rather say "I have been diagnosed with bipolar" or "I have bipolar," or "she has schizophrenia."

For me, this is equivalent to saying "I am heart disease," "he is diabetes," and "she is fractured leg."

This slight shift in word choices to me indicates defining one's self by their diagnosis rather than not.

Thoughts?


Winston

[Perna]

I've never really cared about a diagnoses other than for research about it, if it's what the doctor/therapist says I have. I treat all of my illnesses/diagnoses pretty much the same and either work on making myself more comfortable/in better health, or solving the problem completely (mending a broken leg, for example).

I think sometimes the words we use are just shortcuts, to say, "I have bipolar disorder" takes longer to get across than, "I'm bipolar". I'm all one so if my leg is fractured, I am, in fact, that fractured leg to an extent?

[perpetuallysad]

I think its a matter of semantics and personal interpretation. It doesn't bother me to say I am bipolar. Truthfully that is really how my brain works, back and forth from one extreme to the other. Some people prefer to (what appears to me) distance themselves from the diagnosis by saying they have been diagnosed with this or that. Its all a matter of what makes one comfortable, I guess. But either way is fine by me.

[pegasus]

Good question!

Some time ago I went for an interview to work in a mental health hospital. I was interviewed by a panel of three, one of the people interviewing was a service user/patient. There was a deep question about labels and I went on to say that I prefered the terms 'psychological distress' and 'psychotic experiences' rather than the label of schizophrenia. But the service user/patient jumped up and declared proudly, 'I am schizophrenic!'

I think it really depends on the individual on what term they prefer.

[NuckingFutz]

I have a chemical inbalance in my brain works for me. Grin

WLFTW

I also don't refer to myself as 'I am..xxx' (any of the things I have at one time or another been diagnosed with). I think this is partly because, many years ago, a good friend of mine was diagnosed with a particular thing. I knew her as who she was, a caring, capable woman who, like me, had things she struggled with. Over too short a time I watched her become identified with this new label. It was like she gave into it and became the diagnosis. She soon disappeared out of my life.
One of the things I have learned about myself is that my own sense of identity is very fragile. I have been what I was supposed to be for my whole life. Now I am trying to be just whoever I am, and that sometimes means someone who has things she struggles with...I don't need to use other people's shorthand...but I also don't have a problem with anyone else using what works for them

[WLFTW]

Like ripley, I don't have a problem with people who prefer to say "I am schizophrenic" over "I have schizophrenia". Not at all. I just have a different preference.

Since I have had so many diagnoses, I simply say I am dysfunctional.

[WLFTW]

I feel ya on that one.

[splitimage]

I have a T-shirt that says "mentally interesting". It works for me. I try not to get hung up on the diagnosis, but if asked I usually say I've been Dx'd with MDD and PTSD.

--splitimage

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Hey all,

WLFTW, I think you'll find that it is in the structure of the words. Schizophrenic is an adjective, so it merely points out that someone has schizophrenia (noun). It is just a shortened way of saying "He has schizophrenia".

I don't think there is intention there to stigmatise anyone. Though I do know I don't like being labelled, I am with you fully there. We are not the disease and the disease is not us. I really like Byz's approach "I'm dysfunctional"; I like that and with permission Byz, I'll use that next time I need an adjective....

Rhian

[WLFTW]

"I am bipolar" and "I am schizophrenic" are certainly grammatically correct phrases yet, for me, "I have bipolar" and "I have schizophrenia" just feel more accurate.

[serafim_etal]

I agree partially with the OP. I prefer to say "I have a dissociative disorder". If it's someone I am close to I may add "on the severe end of the spectrum". On the flip side, I also prefer to say " I am diabetic". Diabetes is an entirely life and life style changing diagnosis. I can't eat many foods most people can, I can't just go outside and go for a run without checking my sugar and possibly eating a snack, I can't go to bed without doing the same, I have to eat more frequently than "normal", this list could get very long! I feel that DID does not define me, however, to a large extent, diabetes does.

[WLFTW]

edit: oops I didn't see the recent post below me b4 I wrote this

I guess my main point was to not let one's self be defined by their illness... the word choice probably doesn't matter much in the end.

The way I think about it is that you'd say bipolar disorder just like you'd say diabetes.

Then "I am diabetes" would be like saying "I am bipolar disorder" or, more briefly, "I am bipolar."

So I have the personal preference of saying "I have bipolar" instead of "I am bipolar" but that's just me. I don't have anything against the "am" word choice per se.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Yea Serafim I agree with you, I also have insulin dependant diabetes so I am well aware of the importantance of diet. It's a most profound change creating disorder impacting ones life. And as you say it is most important to find a balance in order to have a semblence of a normal life.

And I agree that for ones mental health anyone with a disease or disorder needs to manage it in their own best possible way. WLFTW I understand your preference for not being labelled and for establishing and making clear your preference and the difference.

I think it's an important point you make for anyone with a disorder to seperate themselves from the disease or disorder they have. people need to know that they are not their disorder and that they can function better knowing that. I think you bring up an important point for others and it reminds them that they are a person who has something they have to live with, not a disorder with a personality,

Loving thoughts,

Rhian

[WLFTW]

Originally Posted by Rhiannonsmoon

I think it's an important point you make for anyone with a disorder to seperate themselves from the disease or disorder they have. people need to know that they are not their disorder and that they can function better knowing that. I think you bring up an important point for others and it reminds them that they are a person who has something they have to live with, not a disorder with a personality,

Well said...This is my point exactly.

It was actually one of my therapists who suggested your idea to me and also suggested a slight change in word choice.

It's not a matter of political correctness (not that anyone has suggested that it is); I feel it's just more accurate.

[serafim_etal]

I think there is also a difference between "I am diabetes", and "I am diabetic".

[WLFTW]

For sure.

[little*rhino]

it's way too easy to become a dx... to give into the "but i can't help it" syndrome... our entire mental health system seems geared to support that.

i was misdx'd for 12 yrs. Now i will never let anyone pathologize me that way again.

what i say is that i am here and i want to go there, or i say things don't work as well as i'd like so i am working on that.

when they invent a pill for that, someone let me know