[alpot]

I'm new to this country and I've noticed that quite a few mental states are classified as "disorders". Any deviation from the "normal" (which no one has yet defined) is being defined as a disorder. I don't want to belittle someone's genuine mental issues, but it seems like the categories are growing everyday in the DSM.

I'm particularly alarmed by the number of disorders that are in the realm of "unable to fit into society". There is an underlying assumption made by the public that certain behaviors are the norm and people who are not on that normal train are all weirdos or crazy. There is also significant overlap between the symptoms of all these disorders. Now I'm an introvert by choice, and it is only when I came here to the US, I realized.. gee.. I've a disorder!. The "Avoidant Personality Disorder".

I think people would feel better about themselves if they didn't carry around with them a label remininding them that they are different. A disease I can understand, but the DSM really needs to put some thought into micro-classification of every little nuance of deviation from the norm as a "disorder".

So would a cheerleader be said to have "Way too Upbeat and Irrational Joy disorder"? -

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by alpot

So would a cheerleader be said to have "Way too Upbeat and Irrational Joy disorder"? -

No because unless it significantly impairs/interferes with functioning its not a disorder.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Hellion

No because unless it significantly impairs/interferes with functioning its not a disorder.

Um, you know how GRATING AND ANNOYING that is around others around such person?

But I am Czech. If you don't look miserable/peed off all the time, you are considered weird. Try riding on subway with "American smile" (our term for fake scary smile ).

My favorite is "schizotypal disorder". Basically a shy weirdo. Don't these shrink ever let near Comicon. Or Harajuku.

[tinyrabbit]

It does seem like some things are excessively medicalised and pathologised within the DSM. My T thinks so too.

[SnakeCharmer]

You have to understand how American insurance coverage and medical records work. Doctors, psychologists and other therapists can't get paid by insurance companies if the patient doesn't have an approved diagnostic code. In the opinion of many, the DSM is mostly about providing diagnostic codes so insurance claims can be filed and medical records can conform to standard styles. This applies to all medical and other care in this country that's covered under insurance. No code, no insurance payment.

Many people who aren't suffering from a psychosis or major mental illness can benefit from therapy. DSM descriptions and codes means their insurance will cover a certain portion of their treatment. Some people take the DSM as gospel and interpret it in a fundamentalist way. It's The Word and every Word is true. I don't like that. To me, many disorders are descriptive of behaviors or states of being, sometimes transient, that could benefit from professional help if a person is finding it difficult to cope.

Of course, Fundamentalist DSMers will disagree with me. That's okay. Maybe in the next DSM there will be a diagnosis for their beliefs and behavior ... or a diagnosis for mine ... depending on the politics, social mores, lobbying by special interest groups and True Believers, and efforts by Big Pharma to influence the process.

[Sometimes psychotic]

I don't know a lot of patients actually want a label---I know for me I started hearing voices etc 3 years ago then I got better---they have no idea what I have or whether it will happen again. When things are classified there can be a sense of OK its goes this far but not farther and this is what I have to do if I want to change it.

I'm curious how you got your label because a lot of people who have avoidant personality disorder would never see a professional because well they are people and there is a tendency to avoid social interactions.