I just listened to this ABC news segment (not online, but here's a related piece) about a possible genetic link between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and they interviewed a mental health patient talking about the disorders she's been diagnosed with.
I've had depression, bipolar disorder one, manic depression, bipolar disorder two, schizoeffective, schizophrenic, borderline personality disorder.
Crikey! It must be bad enough suffering from one mental illness, but judging from all these responses, her doctors seem to be suffering from hypochondria on her behalf.
I wish my doctor suffered from hypochondria on my behalf. It's always, "Why'd you bring your torn ligament in here? There's nothing I can do about it." If she wrote out a script for psychopharmics, at least I'd know she cared.
ReplyDeleteThe doctors make up disorders to keep themselves busy (and paid).
ReplyDelete'Hmmm. Let me see. Now is it Bipolar Disorder 1, or Bipolar Disorder 2? I'm in two minds about that...'
ReplyDeleteI've had depression, bipolar disorder one, manic depression, bipolar disorder two, schizoeffective, schizophrenic, borderline personality disorder.
ReplyDeleteAnd OCD, apparently.
Once upon a time one could be bipolar along a nice neat spectrum of, you know, 'piss weak' all the way up to 'crazy as a cocaine addicted wild cat'.
ReplyDeleteNow there's a bipolar category for every man, woman and child on the planet.
As for all the other mental illnesses, the medical profession and the phama's have blurred the lines so that everyone can have a little bit of everything - don't want people feeling miffed about not having a sufficiently severe mental illness now, do we - it's much like going out for yum cha three times a day, or the local all you can eat roast & grill - you can stuff your face full of a little bit of every kind of madness.
Yep - and this woman is suffering from one of the classic conditions, bipolar or schizophrenia.
ReplyDeleteIf the doctors can't properly diagnose THAT, then what hope have they got in describing and/or diagnosing some of the stranger mental illnesses out there? None really (unless they're unethical doctors (which is more than possible)).
Unethical?
ReplyDeleteNah.
It's just so much better for business if everyone in the world can be diagnosed as being more or less mentally ill, and even better if they have multiple mental illnesses, each requiring a different medication.
Pity the poor buggers who genuinely need serious medical support.
I hate this crap. I'm on the path towards becoming a psychologist and I just hatehatehate this rush to overdiagnose. I concur with Ruby Isabella, but would like to add self-importance to her fine observations.
ReplyDeleteLastly, Caz noted
Pity the poor buggers who genuinely need serious medical support.
I couldn't agree more, m'dear. I couldn't agree more.
You're studying psychology now Rachy? Well, well, I didn't know that. Is that a new path for you, or am I just awfully behind the times?
ReplyDeleteI suppose it helps to explain Crap Joke Wednesday. :-)
Hey!! Thanks for the post. Bipolar personality disorder is a serious mental health issue. I know this as I have gonna through this horrible mental health disorder. To get of it, I started to take regular Counselling in Chelsea. It really help me a lot.
ReplyDelete