Slap a label on me, why don't cha

"FRAGILE...Handle with Care!"
"Crazy person with psych issues"
"Bipolar"
"Insane"
"Anorexic"
"Emo/goth"
Or whatever else it may be.

Why can't I just be me, for me, because I want to be me, no matter what anyone else thinks about it...?
Other people and their judgements sometimes.

I'm sure I have labels on me too, I just don't desire to know what they are. I don't need anybody else tearing down my self esteem. My mother already does that for me.

What I do have peace with, is that they don't truly know my heart. Nobody can take that from me. Nobody. They can label me scientifically via symptoms and such, but my heart is immeasurable. That is what the medical profession and anyone persecuting people like us cannot ever touch the tip of the ice-berg on. They 'claim' to know me. How can they truly claim that when what's inside a persons heart cannot be measured? They don't seem to factor these things in. They make assumptions and conclusions, that's what they do. Conclusive assumptions sometimes. They have no idea really the whole picture.

This.

Play with the labels as if they do not bother you and eventually they will not. I use to tell my coworkers things like, "My therapist says my murderous rage is almost under control" When you are having a problem with your emotions, make yourself (and others) laugh: flap your arms and hop around saying, "Oh, no, emo! Emo!" or something. Exaggerate everything until it is funny. People do not necessarily laugh at/with us but enjoy the relief of being able to laugh because they know they have the same feelings/do the same things and are overwhelmed too at times, etc.

I am me but also:
'crazy person with psych issues'
'depressed'
'suffer from PTSD'
'anxious'
'autistic'
'a metalhead'
ect.

I guess the way I see it I can still be me even if I do fit into some categories and/or labels. Though many of them are subjective...I mean is society really 'sane' so therefore are people considered 'insane' actually insane.

Hi Stronger, you ARE YOU. No-one can take that away from you, if people aren't seeing that then you tell them!! That's if you want to of course!! And it's their loss if they're missing out on seeing/trying to get to know who you really are!!
There is so much more to you than "categories", being put in boxes!!. Unfortunately there are always going to be people who define you solely based on certain things but you know better, and what you choose to do with that is up to you.

Although, as you did put out the invite......... here's a few more labels for you!! :
Honest
Supportive
Understanding
Encouraging
Unique
And I'm sure others around here could/would offer you a lot more along those lines!!!

Alison

I can certainly understand a bit where you're coming from. People tend to view mental problems in a negative light, and they don't understand them as they would physical problems, because they can't see them. Often times I get thought of as a basket case, flakey, emotional, unreliable, lazy...

It's very easy for others to judge when they don't understand what goes through your head and how paralyzing mental disorders can be. They can't see it, so some people even go as far as thinking its made up, or you're faking just to get out of doing something. I'm sorry you are also having to experience this. But luckily this forum seems to have many caring and understanding people who don't think of you that way, and can understand what a struggle it is to just be yourself sometimes.

Sorry I don't have more to say than that. I know you're struggle, but you are you. People's perception of you can be difficult to digest, especially when it's negative. You are a wonderful, loving and special person. Your illness does not define you!

I hear you! I just went into the psych ward with a couple of diagnosis and left with much more.
Bipolar I
Ptsd
Major depressive disorder
ADD
Addiction
And they're on the fence with Borderline PD

I am choosing not to let this define me!

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I'm sure people would think I was "crazy" as well especially if I talked about what I was really thinking. You can just be you though. I often have full "realities" that I construct for myself and are exclusively real to me. Like for a long time I truly felt that I was from another dimension sent to rule the Earth. That was awesome, I truly felt like a God among men. However, that and other ideas I have had would seem utterly "insane" to most people but seemed normal to me at the time

i needed the label in order to get the meds i needed to help me get better. i guess the label in this case is usefull in itself. no one else can read your heart except yourself, you are a good person and shouldnt let a label define yourself, although sometimes i do feel like it does sometimes help but it comes in handy when im having a bad day because then i can tell myself i am disabled and the label helps me remember i do have a problem emotionally. then if im doing really bad i can and am allowed to take an extra med which does help.

Avlady, that's a great way to look at things. I went about 20 yrs with the wrong diagnosis and wrong meds. So, in that respect it was a blessing.

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I hate sterotypes

Weird of me, but some of those labels you hate are ones that I'd like to have.

"anorexic" -- I've been struggling with an eating disorder for years, but I am constantly doubting that my ED would qualify as anorexic.

"emo/goth" -- That would have been my preferred crowd when I was a teen, but the emo/goths at my school considered me to be too pathetic for them (and they were right.)

The major label glommed onto me would be "not good enough." I don't make friends easily. I didn't do well in school. I spent much of my life standing there stupidly and not knowing what was going on. If only I were smarter, or more successful, or more graceful, or more in tune with other people, then I'd be accepted.

There could be people looking at you thinking "I wish I could be as smart or as creative or as independent-thinking as she is."

People focus so much more on their own problems that they barely notice other people's problems. Their negative labels are more about what they want to believe about themselves; that their lives are more dependable and secure. They don't want to imagine that there would ever be a time when their minds or bodies betray them, but no one is completely immune to these scary things.

you are perfect just the way you are. And you are more than enough!

Sure you can slap a label on someone or something.

The diagnosis of a person, mentally speaking is one of diagnosis of a disorder. No matter where it came from i.e. Life Experiences, Chemical Imbalance, etc. It can be a problem for you and others in your life. The label is there to see it for something and of course your issue maybe the same label as others who have been labeled but the issues will vary greatly from person to person.

We all seek to be understood and loved. In the end if your heart is loving, caring and open and you live honestly and without deception you are on the right path and will always be a light to others who need to find that path. Then there are the issues we all have. We need to see these issues as ways we can improve ourselves if even for clarity or peace in our minds. Being a loving and caring person in a cold world is tough. It is made tougher when we have no one to share our concerns with. Friends are great but often they do not have knowledge of mental disorders or in dealing with an internal pain you have. You will know when you need a label and if it is right for you. You will need to search your heart for these answers and work with willing professionals someday if you decide you need the help. Until then living with love and honesty is all you can do.

I think labels can be both healthy and unhealthy to say the least. Good labels? Loving Mom, beautiful woman, caring man.... Unhealthy labels are unfortunate because it's not a label, it's a judgement. Don't let someone's judgement affect you, it's a perception they have chosen and are unwilling to be persuaded on. Unfortunately labels and judgement come far too easily for people when they are ignorant of the damage it CAN cause. No matter how strong you try to be and are, it will affect you in one way or another. The key, I find, is continual self-talk. Telling yourself you are better than a negative label, or a crass judgement. Mental illness seems to be the easiest for people to bag on. I've been called crazy, psycho, mental, head case, damaged, you name it. Am I? Maybe, sometimes, but that's not WHO I am. Screw them (sorry, language). Don't let it control you!

I understand what you mean. Sometimes, I think people just need to forget about labels, because they can only describe someone so well. Some plastic, bland label isn't "me." It's not who I am. I'm just me.

Exactly! Well put Tophat! I completely agree.

Yep, your average "normal" person sucks, and they know where they can shove their judgements.

No, the average person does not suck....many people are ignorant, but us vs. them is never a good mentality. Sure I have problems I have been mistreated by 'normal' people but they aren't all terrible people and they don't all suck. I refuse to lower myself to that level. SO I have had bad experiences with normal people if I judge them all as sucking then well I am just as bad as people who think people with PTSD, autism, depression and anxiety suck.