[MotownJohnny]

I cannot accept any kind of code after my name that allows them to lock me up, discriminate against me, or look down on me. How do you accept something so grave?

[~Christina]

I have numerous "labels" following me. I choose not to allow them to define me.

[ChipperMonkey]

I don't let my "letters" define me, either. I have PTSD....no sense fighting what is. If anything, it has PROTECTED me over the years as I am now eligible for assistance that I would not otherwise be able to get. If a few extra letters on my medical documents allows me to get help with my education, then so be it. Otherwise, I'd be floundering and wouldn't make it through.

Its all a matter of perspective. I see your posts and I notice that you're fighting SO hard against it all. Have you ever thought of practicing radical acceptance? Have you ever thought of NOT fighting? (Yes, that IS a valid tactic....I had a T tell me to stop fighting against everything so hard as it can be detrimental to my healing.)

Letters for diagnoses are just labels for insurance purposes. My labels do not define me at all. I happen to have DID and PTSD and ADD, no big deal if i dont let it be. My self concept is not determined by a few letters of the alphabet.

[lozza89]

I agree with the others. A label or diagnosis does not define you or the person you really are. It is just there to help you on your way to recovery and make sure the treatment and or assistance you are receiving is correct... I mean if someone had diabetes and needed to be on medication, you wouldnt give them therapy instead of the meds they needed would you?

Thinking of you

[MoxieDoxie]

Learn all about the diagnosis and try to be as little like it as possible and prove them all wrong.

Originally Posted by MotownJohnny

I cannot accept any kind of code after my name that allows them to lock me up, discriminate against me, or look down on me. How do you accept something so grave?

This may be one of the benefits of not ever being given a diagnosis by anyone. I suppose I have, in some files somewhere, the type of code you refer to. And I would guess I have a pretty good idea what conditions they would refer to. But since no one has ever told me what they are, I don't feel compelled to worry about them. Besides... hey... they're me! I've suffered for them, I've waged war with them, & I deserve them... sort of like the medals soldiers are awarded for things they've achieved...

[Loading]

That's why I'm trying to avoid a diagnosis

They can't tell you who you are. They can tell you what condition you have, but no amount of problems can make you worth less than anyone else. Anyone who discriminates against you is just showing their ignorance and lack of better judgement.

[A Red Panda]

No one can lock me up because of anything in my medical files, as there is no access to them outside of the medical staff. As I don't do anything illegal, there is no way to be locked up.

Medical staff are required to treat me respectfully as that is their job - if they didn't, and if they discriminated against me, I would file a complaint.

Other people do not discriminate against me, nor look down on me, because they are unaware of what I go through sometimes.

My diagnosis doesn't define me. It was simply an explanation of a part of my life that I knew had been f***ing with me for years. I didn't need to accept it because I already knew exactly what I experience.

[SmileHere]

I don't like my diagnosis either.

But it has made me explore this label (and people who fight against it or have overcome it, 'against all odds') I wouldn't research it as much otherwise.
I was also more prejudiced against (if slightly fascinated by) people with it, and now it has happened to me as well. Maybe I'm just learning to accept and love all people as they are - maybe it's just part of a bigger spiritual journey?

I still think maybe it was given to me wrongly (as I've had the symptoms for less than 6 months that it's required to have) and it has possibly been given wrongly to others too.

Panda, you're lucky that you have a 'lesser' diagnosis. I've been 'locked up' in a mental health hospital, and guess what? It was pretty nice and just like being on vacation, mostly. I met some fascinating people there, and generally had fun.

People who might discriminate and look down - well maybe there's something wrong with them? And let's just hope it doesn't happen to them too!!

[A Red Panda]

SmileHere: Please don't refer to someone else's diagnosis and experiences as "lesser". I didn't even state my diagnosis - bipolar 2 (and bipolar is up there with Borderline, Schizophrenia, and AsPD for having people think you're insane...).

I was referring to locked up as in I cannot be thrown in jail if I do nothing illegal, and there is no reason at all for others to know my diagnosis outside of medical staff. I have never gone inpatient, although I was hospitalized a few times after my first overdose. There have definitely been times in my life where I should have gone and checked myself in, but I didn't.

But even those times - "locked up" is something I, nor anyone else, deserves for simply having a disorder.

[Pikku Myy]

Took me almost 4 years to accept mine... once I did, I feel at piece Forget the labels and focus on how to make you happy. That is what I am focusing on.

[ifst5]

I think a diagnosis is a grave as you allow it to be.

For me the turning point came when i realized there were people with terminal illnesses who complained less and had a better outlook on life.

My condition is not terminal - it's hard but not impossible to overcome, so i might have to adjust to a different way of life, i might have to fight for treatment and understanding. It's not that it could be a lot worse - it's more that i could be dealing with it much better. At the end of the day i'm a speck of dust in the wind - the world will turn with or without me so that takes away the pressure to conform to a life i can't lead.

Besides my medical records are inaccessible to anyone who can lock me up - and even involuntary patients have rights and the option of advocacy etc. We don't lock people up in bear cages and bait them anymore. Anyone else who chooses to discriminate is exceptionally stupid - discrimination lawsuits can end up in million dollar payouts. Most don't risk it anymore, the more awareness being raised the more likely they are to be caught out.

My mental illness doesn't make me more or less of a person. I'm not a part of the great forsaken club - it's just something extra.

[jjishere]

Originally Posted by A Red Panda

No one can lock me up because of anything in my medical files, as there is no access to them outside of the medical staff. As I don't do anything illegal, there is no way to be locked up.

Medical staff are required to treat me respectfully as that is their job - if they didn't, and if they discriminated against me, I would file a complaint.

Other people do not discriminate against me, nor look down on me, because they are unaware of what I go through sometimes.

My diagnosis doesn't define me. It was simply an explanation of a part of my life that I knew had been f***ing with me for years. I didn't need to accept it because I already knew exactly what I experience.

I disagree with just one thing. There is a stigma and they do discriminate against people with mental illness. It is a known fact that people who are mentally ill, when they present with physical ailments, are just not taken as seriously.
They may be required but they don't always do what they are supposed to do.

[JadeAmethyst]

learn, grow, live, encourage, support...live some more....
love yourself, embrace it all....

[A Red Panda]

Originally Posted by jjishere

I disagree with just one thing. There is a stigma and they do discriminate against people with mental illness. It is a known fact that people who are mentally ill, when they present with physical ailments, are just not taken as seriously.
They may be required but they don't always do what they are supposed to do.

Maybe my post was unclear when I said that people don't discriminate against me because they are unaware of what I go through... they can't discriminate me because I don't disclose it! There's no need for me to disclose my diagnosis to people whom I don't already know and trust - it's my health! I don't share all my other health issues with random people, so my mental health isn't any different to me.

And yes, medical staff don't always do what they are supposed to -hence why I would report anything that was discriminatory or really disrespectful to me.

[brackenbeard]

I would suggest being medication compliant, sober, and working. the acceptance piece will come, but it's not always that easy to learn acceptance. I started learning about acceptance when I saw what going off meds did to me-and my battles with drinking-it became clear to me that I had a mental illness.

[MissFlower]

I was diagnosed with BD II about two years ago and im still in denial.

The fact that your whole life,mind and issues has now become a feared illness that people misunderstand and judge. I still cry about it i think that im supposed to be perfect and always oh so ready to help.

People tend to label things for us making it hard to live with yourself simply because they are scared and they dont have knowledge. Educate yourself as much as you can and never allow your illness to define you. You are not your illness you just have another challenge in life that the next person does not have.

Dont make it a death sentence for yourself. Accept yourself and move on. Try to make the best of what you have at your disposal. Good luck