On what you call yourself: getting past diagnostic labels
Posted Sep 21 2011 6:34pm
I have listened and taken part in the the debate about the proper terms to be used in describing mental illness. I have heard some people talk about being bipolar and I hated that. I have heard people talk about “having” depression or bipolar and even though that was more politically correct I hated that. I have heard people talk about having bipolar issues or “challenges resembling bipolar” and I even hated that. The thing was I really didnt understand what it was exactly and today it all clicked and made sense to me.
All of it is a way of saying what is most important about me is whats wrong. The terms all vary according to how stigmatizing they are, but in one sense, it is stigmatizing to believe the most important thing about me is what I struggle with. I liked what I heard them say at Celebrate Recovery. My name is ____. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle with issues of _____. I really like the idea of identifying myself by what is important to me or what my strengths are. I have been in too many contexts where people introduce themselves by sharing their diagnosis and something about that feels so very wrong.
So……. My name is Larry Drain. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I am husband to Linda and father to Jamie, Kyle and Corey. I hope to be part of in some way the mental health system becoming a more human and humane place. And I struggle with issues of depression and anxiety.
I have listened and taken part in the the debate about the proper terms to be used in describing mental illness. I have heard some people talk about being bipolar and I hated that. I have heard people talk about “having” depression or bipolar and even though that was more politically correct I hated that. I have heard people talk about having bipolar issues or “challenges resembling bipolar” and I even hated that. The thing was I really didnt understand what it was exactly and today it all clicked and made sense to me.
All of it is a way of saying what is most important about me is whats wrong. The terms all vary according to how stigmatizing they are, but in one sense, it is stigmatizing to believe the most important thing about me is what I struggle with. I liked what I heard them say at Celebrate Recovery. My name is ____. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle with issues of _____. I really like the idea of identifying myself by what is important to me or what my strengths are. I have been in too many contexts where people introduce themselves by sharing their diagnosis and something about that feels so very wrong.
So……. My name is Larry Drain. I am a believer in Jesus Christ. I am husband to Linda and father to Jamie, Kyle and Corey. I hope to be part of in some way the mental health system becoming a more human and humane place. And I struggle with issues of depression and anxiety.
Glad to meet you.