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When you say "self identify", do you mean you settled on this state without medical professionals diagnosing you? If so, why, and why not pursue a diagnosis? S
by ablation 10y ago
When you say "self identify", do you mean you settled on this state without medical professionals diagnosing you? If so, why, and why not pursue a diagnosis?
Serious questions and genuine interest, not trying to be an ass.
- vertex-four 10y agoA diagnosis is mostly useful if you want medical help. If you're self-managing reasonably well, there's no need to go to a doctor, even if you're showing symptoms - just like you might not go to a doctor with a physical injury you can look after yourself or with the help of friends.
- vinceguidry 10y agoA diagnosis can even be actively harmful. If I found myself with a developing case, I'd get one if I felt like I couldn't self manage and was running out of options, but mental illness is just something that neither the American social system nor medical system handles very well.
- proksoup 10y agoAgreed, a minor injury turning into a major sickness from visiting a hospital when it's not needed, is not necessarily an unwarranted paranoia, e.g. MRSA. And I have witnessed in my own life mental health professionals both helping situations and making them worse. For me, it's not as simple as "never seek help from professionals" or "always seek help from professionals".
- proksoup 10y agoI didn't mean to imply a particular position on the spectrum, was trying to be a clever tongue in cheek reference to the idea that the boundaries between "having" the condition or not are murky, not trying to share my personal life story, at least not this time :)
- ablation 10y agoHey, no worries. Replies all around were interesting, so thanks :)