The Good and Bad of Diagnosis: Are you just a label?

Being diagnosed with a mental disorder can be helpful in a life-changing way. It can also be extremely detrimental to your well-being and sense of self.

When a person is diagnosed with an unfortunate disorder, a new energy forms that feels sympathetically condescending.

Telling loved ones or strangers about your disorder can put that label in the front of their minds when they are with you. Let's say you are diagnosed with Asperger's or Bipolar. Every time you get angry at someone it is no longer validated as a regular, healthy human emotion. It is now part of your "disease" and is often overlooked. Normal behavior can be judged as diseased behavior.

For example, when a new couple falls in love, a strange habit might be considered cute. It might make that person love their partner even more. It's endearing because they're in love. Now, let's say the person with the strange habit cheats on their partner. Suddenly, the habit appears disgusting because this person is generally disgusted with their partner. The habit is the same. It's always been the same but the perception has changed. This goes for discovering mental disorders as well. Feeling grumpy from having a bad day at work isn't just that anymore. It becomes an "episode". "That's just the depression talking. I bet his day was fine."

What's worse, the label can also create a new attitude of the self in your own mind. It can give someone an excuse to act inappropriately or it can make them judge their self in harmful ways. It can feel isolating. Based on common propaganda, if you are diagnosed with Schizophrenia you might believe you're "crazy". If you are diagnosed with Borderline you might believe you're emotionally unstable. If you're diagnosed with Autism or Aspbergers you might believe you are antisocial. If you are diagnosed with ADHD you might believe you're annoying or too much for people.

The reality of it is, these disorders don't define a human being. It's possible to have them and still live an incredible and fulfilling life. It's the coping mechanisms that set you free from the label. I truly believe that a person should be judged by their actions. Not by the color of their skin. Not by their monetary status. Not by their mental disabilities. Of course, this all depends on each individual's set of values but what I value in a person is their integrity, courage, authenticity, ability to laugh at oneself, resilience and most of all kindness and compassion.

Being a healthy person is not about how the disease affects you. It's about how you react to it and the steps you take to solve your problems. Truth can be found if you judge a person by their willingness to heal, not by the ailments that took place beyond their control.

These disorders are not incurable. When I say that, I don't mean they go away. The disorder may always be a part of the wiring in your brain but it won't always define who you are. There are countless forms of therapy for each problem.

Diagnosis can be a good thing. A favorite movie of mine, "A Beautiful Mind" illustrates this idea, well, beautifully. A man moves through his life communicating with imaginary people. He believes he is in the secret service working for the government. This stirs up great danger for himself and his family. Finally, when he's diagnosed with Schizophrenia he is given proper medication. The issue with his pills, however, is that he can't satisfy his wife in bed anymore and becomes depressed. So, he goes off of his medication and starts having strong hallucinations again. His disease can't be cured. The imaginary figures would always be there. But his wife encourages him to ignore them. He doesn't talk to them. He doesn't make eye contact. Even when they're shouting at him he carries on with his life because he knows they're not real. Soon enough, they quiet down and they simply sit there, watching him. He learns to live with his illness in a peaceful way.

The funny thing about having a disorder is that it's simply a list of traits you have in common with a group of other people. A woman that has quick mood swings, takes action according to fear of abandonment or explosive anger is diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder. However, a man that has many affairs, yells at his wife and children, borrows money without paying it back and tells women he loves them to get into their pants is just considered an asshole. No diagnosis.

We as humans ALL have negative traits. Every single one of us could use some therapy to work out our demons. I believe anything is possible given the time, effort and good ole' tender loving care.

It's a wonderful feeling to realize that if every single person had grown up with your body under your circumstances, they would be exactly the same. We're all one soul after all. One soul with different paths and different vessels to live in.

The most important point I want to make for those who struggle with a mental illness is that there is nothing wrong with you. There might be something wrong with your actions, but the beauty of that is that you can change your actions. You can learn to cope with your problematic tendencies like you can learn to play an instrument. Soon enough you will see the results. You'll be an expert at dealing with your symptoms. It just takes practice.

I believe anyone, and I mean ANYONE with any "disorder" can heal. Some of the most creative and interesting people I know and throughout history started with an unfortunate diagnosis, but they blossom into something truly magnificent.

As I always say, laughter cures any pain. If you can laugh at yourself, you're accepting yourself. And that means you're already on your way to peace. :)

❤️

To add, I want to share with you a book that a dear friend of mine, Karen Schiltz wrote. She works as a brilliant neuropsychologist in Los Angeles. The book is titled, "Beyond the Label" and you can purchase it in the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Label-Unlocking-Educational-Potential/dp/0199747059

Thanks for stopping by! Peace ✌🏻