[crazylife]

I don't know if any one else has noticed but when i talk to professionals if my symptoms don't fit in any dx then they tend to ignore it and push it to one side and sometimes say things like are you sure? and it doesn't make sense so anyway ...
Hate it. Any one else?

Whenever i pushed for a diagnosis my friggin docs were like, what does it matter, 'we treat people not symptoms' or crap like; 'we don't like to label' blah blah blah Ive always thought that if you don't know whats wrong then how are you supposed to get the right treatment? I have BPD so i require a specific form of CBT. I wouldn't have known that without a diagnosis...so im all for people being told whats wrong with them, it helps them get a hold on the situation and stops them feeling freaky in my view.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by bb2023

Whenever i pushed for a diagnosis my friggin docs were like, what does it matter, 'we treat people not symptoms' or crap like; 'we don't like to label' blah blah blah Ive always thought that if you don't know whats wrong then how are you supposed to get the right treatment? I have BPD so i require a specific form of CBT. I wouldn't have known that without a diagnosis...so im all for people being told whats wrong with them, it helps them get a hold on the situation and stops them feeling freaky in my view.

meh... it ain't exact science... and I think the dehumanizing process when one becomes a set of symptoms can hurt much more than not knowing diagnosis, especially for those of us who are not really book example of the label.

What is wrong you? Will some scientific label help you to stop acting certain way... or rather know that in some situation, you act like this, because of this (sadly DSM.... does not really tell why. They list what it is and how it looks... with little explanation given).

Our whys are complex and those should be focused on rather than the label.

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

meh... it ain't exact science... and I think the dehumanizing process when one becomes a set of symptoms can hurt much more than not knowing diagnosis, especially for those of us who are not really book example of the label.

What is wrong you? Will some scientific label help you to stop acting certain way... or rather know that in some situation, you act like this, because of this (sadly DSM.... does not really tell why. They list what it is and how it looks... with little explanation given).

Our whys are complex and those should be focused on rather than the label.

Sorry but this is my opinion and im sticking by it

In my experience i found it more dehumanizing doctors telling me they didn't know what to do because they weren't sure what was wrong. I felt like a freak. Being called this that or the other doesn't help you feel better no...but the simple fact of the matter was that i require specific treatment and i wouldn't have known that without a diagnosis. What i think is important is having a doctor whose willing to question whether the way you acted was simply as a result of you deciding to behave a certain way or whether you weren't really in control of your actions due to symptoms of your illness.

[Callmebj]

As bb2023 said, they don't want to use labels. They are afraid that a transitory emotions are just that and don't want the patient to identify with a name such as paranoid, depressed, anxious. I guess they figure if you take on this identity, you've lost yourself to it, like forever....and let's face it, it's not all of who we are, really a small part...many aspects of who you are is definitely outside the realm of depressed, anxious, ect. For instance, I have depression and anxiety; but I also have a good intelligence, ambitions, goals and accomplishments....why should I identify with depression anxiety as to who I am. They are trying to help you get out of a temporary
bad place you have in life at that moment. hugs, bj

[gma45]

Yes, Yes, I have noticed this. I feel leaving it up to the doctors and I would really be a mess! They have put all kinds a labels on me you name it I have had that diagnosis one time or another from different doctors. I don't need a diagnosis. I just want something to help me with my symptoms that have become unmanageable on my own. I agree with HV I don't always fit into their book example, which sometimes is all they know.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by bb2023

Sorry but this is my opinion and im sticking by it

In my experience i found it more dehumanizing doctors telling me they didn't know what to do because they weren't sure what was wrong. I felt like a freak. Being called this that or the other doesn't help you feel better no...but the simple fact of the matter was that i require specific treatment and i wouldn't have known that without a diagnosis. What i think is important is having a doctor whose willing to question whether the way you acted was simply as a result of you deciding to behave a certain way or whether you weren't really in control of your actions due to symptoms of your illness.

See, I don't believe illness causes any behavior. I chose to behave so and so, because I feel certain way. Or because of my previous experiences in my life. Doesn't mean it's always rational, I don't the this illness (I don't even like that term when it comes to our psyche) is some sort of devil possesion.
I mean, even if you asked few people who shop when manic (raises hand), would they really answer "illness made me do it?". Unless they were fed this line, probably not. Same with hypersexuality or whatever. Same symptom, different motivation.

And even if you subscribe to "illness made me do it", then... what? Where does one go from there? Does it really matter when you wanna stop repeating the same mistakes?

[snowgoose]

My experience has been sorta the opposite Crazylife. I don't see pros often but on those rare occassions it seems if I bring up a symptom outside the 'definition' of one dx it just means I get to go home with another dx. I almost think I am part of a game they play. Maybe at the end of the day they all get together and compare how many dx labels they showered in their wake that day. I am tainted.

I think the issue of 'labeling' is a tricky one. When things got really bad for me I think I embraced the first label with all of my heart and soul. An explanation! Finally there is some sense in this madness! It has a name. It is called....... "oh wait a minute.... now it sounds like this too.... and this.... and that....." In no time at all I had accumulated quite an impressive list of 'explanations'. I was stamped and labeled by the professionals. Now what? Good question. Lets see what we can try here......

I find it better for me to relate to the words that describe what is happening.... anxiety, depression, rage, mania, obsessive, compulsive etc etc. Those I can stand up and face because they are intimately relateable. I know exactly what I am facing. Nothing vague. The big picture labels (BP etc) don't mean much when I am in the middle of a panic attack.

I have been up down, in out, anyway the wind blows, anyway the wind blows.... (anyone remember Doris Day)...... focusing on the dx labels as though they were going to spit out the magic answers. I am having better success focusing on the symptom labels because I feel like they are something real and tangible. Something specific enough to make sense and lead me to a sensible response.