[blackwhitered]

Sooo I found a super-tumblry series of images on Tumblr and wanted to see what everyone thought.









The only one I outright disagree with is "depressed". Because the actual disorder is major depressive disorder, but anyone can have depressed moods that don't qualify as dysthymic or major depressive episodes. I don't think people with major depression have a monopoly on the word depressed, and I've struggled with it myself.
From Wikipedia:

Depressed mood is not always a psychiatric disorder. It may also be a normal reaction to certain life events, a symptom of some medical conditions, or a side effect of some drugs or medical treatments.

[-jimi-]

I actually like having Asperger's and I'm not isolated. I have human friends and animal friends and I also need a lot of own time.

Asperger's affects every aspect of my life so if it is a disease I am diseased from birth to death. If it is a disease, it is a DISEASE BEING ME!

If you take Asperger's away you will NOT find the true me.

[Alone & confused]

We need to put these on t-shirts!

[blackwhitered]

Originally Posted by jimi...

I actually like having Asperger's and I'm not isolated. I have human friends and animal friends and I also need a lot of own time.

Asperger's affects every aspect of my life so if it is a disease I am diseased from birth to death. If it is a disease, it is a DISEASE BEING ME!

If you take Asperger's away you will NOT find the true me.

I totally agree. I don't have an autism spectrum disorder, but I have friends who do.

Some might disagree, especially those on the lower-functioning end of the spectrum. I have heard that described as being trapped in one's body. But the issue there seems to be sensory processing issues more than isolation.

Originally Posted by Alone & confused

We need to put these on t-shirts!

I agree as far as the ones that I connect with (anorexia and panic attacks)!
I wish they had done one for psychosis/schizophrenia.
Something like "This is confusion [best way I can sum up the experience]. Stop using psychosis/schizophrenia as an insult. I have a disorder, not a description."

[leomama]

What about one for borderline or narcissism or ptsd?

[blackwhitered]

Originally Posted by leomama

What about one for borderline or narcissism or ptsd?

Hmm, I don't think "borderline" is misused that often, though. Most ignorant people mislabel it as "bipolar" or "psychotic" or just "crazy". Narcissism is again like depression, where it CAN be used as an adjective that doesn't refer to a pathological disorder.

I think "PTSD" might work, because people use it as an exaggeration. Another good one would be "psychopath" or "sociopath", though people with the disorder probably don't care about its misuse anyway...

Oh, and "retarded". Can't tell you how many times I've heard that.

"Maniac" or "manic" would be good, too, even though that falls under "bipolar".

I have a problem with"disease" vs "disorder". There is debate about this with people who say they can be used interchangeably and I honestly haven't thought this through. These are just initial thoughts. Disease says biological problem to me. Like a virus. Disorder says there is something "out of order". Disease suggest something external has entered your system. Disorder could suggest what you have is somehow in disarray. It doesn't necessarily say "wrong". It could just be "out of the norm.. To jimi's point i often wonder if the world is "disordered" and as a result, not accepting of people whose brains work differently. Calling it a disease makes that possibility harder to sell.

Borderline is considered "curable" with DBT which is really just behavior modification. I don't think meds are even a recommended course of action. There has to be a dual diagnosis. So could it be labeled a disease? The fact that somebody didn't get to learn how to cope doesn't make it a disease. It makes it a disorder, IMHO.

Insomnia... Is that really a disorder or a sign of something else? I honestly don't know enough about it. There are studies that long term behavior changes work as well as meds. The meds act quicker. It kind of implies that insomnia occurs when something else physical or emotional or maybe just learned behavior is happening. So is it more of a symptom... Maybe a side effect?

Agree on depression. Is situational depression really a disease? Your brain is disordered for a while but as the article points out this is just your brain reacting to the situation. That's what plasticity is about.

This is one opinion on the disease/disorder debated.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...rs-vs-diseases

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[Hellion]

Not sure the term disease really is inaccurate

Disease: a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

Though I understand when most people hear 'disease' they think of like a sickness or virus so the thought of mentally ill being 'diseased' can have negative connotations due to that. So with all that said I do prefer the term disorder as well, even though technically 'disorder' falls under 'disease'.

As for depression I wonder, should it be called depression?....I mean many people take it to just mean 'sad' so then they don't take the disorder seriously. I admit I do not have a better name for it at this point...I know one correct name is Major Depressive Disorder, though I have heard that referred to as Major Depression, Clinical Depression, Chronic Depression ect. I guess one thing to keep in mind is if someone says they are 'depressed' that does not necessarily mean they are suffering from a depressive disorder, but it can sometimes be hard to tell what is meant.

My take from my short google search is that the two words together are convoluted. They can be too easily interchanged. But I think this should become a debate. The article posted above has some really good points about how the DSM specifically uses the terms. Keep in mind it is written for an audience of doctors whose primary directive has been to prescribe a treatment, usually in a chemical form. I am not so sure a "disorder" always needs a treatment. I know not all disorders need a chemical treatment for certain. Maybe it is just me but a disease seems to imply it does need a "cure". I can't think of a disease outside of ME that one doesn't desire a cure for.

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[-jimi-]

Even for bad unwanted mental stuff, I don't know if I want to call it a disease, not because it is wrong. It just sounds like you can catch it. So I only have an emotional reason to dislike it.

Depression should be renamed. I think one reason people don't understand depression is that it has a common sounding name. I mean someone can feel a bit depressed and still not have the horrific illness that is depression.

But then again, I want to rename a lot of stuff, like schizophrenia (because it means split mind), psychopathy (not a formal diagnosis but still, it only means suffering of the mind), ADHD (only focusing on attention and hyperactivity when much more is included), conduct disorder (because it sounds like just a bratty kid) and of course borderline.

[Almeera]

I can't read some of the small text D:

I'm not opposed to educating people who use these words lightly, thought. Whenever I hear someone say "I'm so depressed I failed that class I literally want to kill myself right now!" I die a little on the inside...

[Fuzzybear]

[waggiedog]

. Umm, very interesting debate going on. I've read and re-read what everybody's said and STILL can't make up my mind. I agree there's a kind of picture that the word 'disease' brings forth, and another picture of what 'disorder' brings. I have BPD and every nasty little 'spin off' that comes with that (and that's a LOT). Apparently I was born with it and I'll die with it, according to three shrinks. However, what I am supposed to do, by way of CBT/DBT or S.T.E.P.P.S. is learn to live WITH it in a 'modified' fashion. If I should happen to learn to live with it, then at best I shouldn't die OF IT, but I will still die WITH IT! I'm informed that the only way I'll die OF IT is if I'm amongst the 10 to 15% who successfully commit suicide. Sorry, I know all this sounds complicated but that's how it's been explained to me by so called reliable sources, experts who one is supposed to trust to know what they are about. So personally, I call BPD a disorder, because it's my thinking that's severely disorded and not diseased. I don't believe there is a ''cure'' yet - far from it. I feel a disease can be cured, while with a disorder it takes a lot of on-going work to contain it in it's manageable form. I think that's about it, thanks for reading. HUGZZ. x

[googley]

I agree with the depression one. When most people who don't have major depression say they are "depressed" usually what they mean is they are sad. That major depressive disorder is shortened to "depression" does not make it not fit with these other categories. Depression is a specific set of symptoms that most people aren't experiencing when they are using it due to failing a tests for example. What they are feeling is frustration or sadness or anger etc.

[Hellion]

but isn't the term 'depressed' another form of sad in a sense, I just kind of assume that term existed before Major Depressive Disorder was recognized as a condition...don't know for sure. I suppose in my opinion if someone without the disorder says they are depressed it is quite likely they mean sad and certainly don't intend to offend....if they say they have depression though and don't then it can be an issue. People can feel depressed, most everyone does at some point but not everyone suffers Major Depression or other depression disorders.

[venusss]

Depressed is a reg term for bad feeling. People use it when they feel bad. Might be their bad. I doubt anybody says "I am depressed" with "let's be offensive" in mind. Rather they mean "I feel ****ing bad".

And I am one of the people who don't like the term disease or illness when it comes to troubles on the emotional specter.

And it may be cause English is not my native language, but I am not getting the "not a description" part. Aren't labels used to... uh.... describe a set of symptoms. And how is misusing a term "description"?

It's really about "I am" vs "I have". "I am" depersonalizes the person because it gives more importance to the disorder instead of the person.

I think "depressed" can be read in context more so then other illnesses. You are more then sad when somebody you really care about breaks up with you. I would call that depressed but not a disorder. You could say unipolar but that is too many syllables. Venushalley, was it you that shared the George Carlin video?

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[-jimi-]

I don't like unipolar since something polar always has two poles. So it violates logic. Otherwise good idea.

What about DROWNING? LOL

Depressed mood and/or sadness
Reactiveness, irritability
Overwhelmed, difficulty with memory and focus
Worthlessness, feeling of
No energy or physical agitation
Insomnia or hypersomnia
No interest in what used to matter
Going numb or extreme dysphoria

Just kidding... but still.

[possum220]

In my head a disease is something that you are exposed to, like a virus or a cold. It's something you catch. The conditions you listed including depression are not something you catch therefore cannot be described as a disease. Just my opinion.

[Gus1234U]

i tend to say: brain chemistry disorder, or dysfunction ... that's how i see brain things... generally~

thanks for this thread~
Gus

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Michanne

It's really about "I am" vs "I have". "I am" depersonalizes the person because it gives more importance to the disorder instead of the person.

I think "depressed" can be read in context more so then other illnesses. You are more then sad when somebody you really care about breaks up with you. I would call that depressed but not a disorder. You could say unipolar but that is too many syllables. Venushalley, was it you that shared the George Carlin video?

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yeah, I think I did.

As for depressed... imho one can feel depressed without being "ill". Sometimes one would have to be disordered not to be depressed after going through some things.

(hence why I think they should remove the "disorder" from PTSD. Yes, it's problem.... but why is it "disorder" to be affected by some things)

something about pictures with words on them about mental health... I don't like. Soul disorder issues don't fit on bumper sticker or twitter message. Doing that you are simplifying the issue.

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

yeah, I think I did.

As for depressed... imho one can feel depressed without being "ill". Sometimes one would have to be disordered not to be depressed after going through some things.

(hence why I think they should remove the "disorder" from PTSD. Yes, it's problem.... but why is it "disorder" to be affected by some things)

something about pictures with words on them about mental health... I don't like. Soul disorder issues don't fit on bumper sticker or twitter message. Doing that you are simplifying the issue.

They have to dumb them down to even get people to start thinking about it.

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[krisakira]

I agree a LOT with the panic attack one. First of all if you get a real panic attack chances are you'll think you're dying and go to a hospital. Second I'm tired of that being used do often. Oh I'm having a panic attack! Dude that is anxiety.

[-jimi-]

Of course people should not be reduced to their labels. But that goes for all of them, the subtle ones as well.. you are never just a child, or just a father or just a teacher. But there are times in your life when one of those really takes over, that is just life. And I agree, a diagnosis IS a description. But of the illness, not the person.

It gets iffy when it goes neuropsych, like Oh we need to see Jimi behind their ADD.... um... no, Jimi doesn't exist without it... sorry.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

yeah, I think I did.

As for depressed... imho one can feel depressed without being "ill". Sometimes one would have to be disordered not to be depressed after going through some things.

(hence why I think they should remove the "disorder" from PTSD. Yes, it's problem.... but why is it "disorder" to be affected by some things)

something about pictures with words on them about mental health... I don't like. Soul disorder issues don't fit on bumper sticker or twitter message. Doing that you are simplifying the issue.

PTSD is a disorder because it causes debilitating symptoms that suck and can drive people to suicide. Not sure I understand the question 'why is it a disorder to be affected by some things?' are there disorders that aren't affected by anything?