This has come up a bit here and there, with different viewpoints and perspectives....
There was the thread about 'the importance of not being your diagnosis' and such.
When reading through some posts we've found people not only saying 'could this be...[insert diagnosis here] but also some saying '....this is what is going on for me, what should i do?' (which is a great post, seeking support) but other people responding with '...it could be this, this or this' i don't think that is helpful.
A lot of us know from experience, first or second hand, that when you are unwell people can want so badly to know what is going on with them, that they can try and fit themselves into a diagnostic criteria for reassurance/validation or another reason.
We were thinking that it might be more helpful if we could stop (encourage members not to use them, or have mods edit posts that include) the 'i think it's this' ... 'or it could be this' and replace it with things like 'It would be a good idea to talk with your Dr/a professional, cause this could be something serious' prompting RYLers to talk more about how they are feeling, what is going on for them/how it affects them, rather than labeling or suggesting a label.
Of course not a generic thing for every thread-started, that is ridiculous everyone's experiences are different, but avoiding putting possible diagnosis out there?
We realize this comes up a lot and probably will continue, given the amount of new members, but we think it's important for current and new members to be told and reminded.
We're not attacking anyone at all, we are just weary of a lot of people wanting a diagnosis, and looking in the wrong places.
We also understand that this would be a hard job for mods, but wanted to put it out there 'cause it was concerning us.
Morrigan,
It is true that what we suggested does happen more than not, but we have come across a post or two in the past few days where this wasn't the case. It's those posts that we are are concerned about.
lostboys
you can also report individual posts if you feel the information is incorrect or being given by someone unqualified (obviously FAA can give out more accurate inforamtion due to their qualifications).
out of curiosity and nothing to do with the post, who is "we"?
Mand, South Wales, Full-time working, single mother to 2 scarily independent girls.
I AM A PROUD PLUMERIA SISTER
I get really annoyd with these type of threads, espcially because the op sometime doesnt listen when you tell them it important to get an official diagnosis. I pretty much get sick of saying the same thing over and over
"Its not how long a star shines, what is remembered is the brightness of the light"
Hey, thanks for the responses.
We may start reporting posts, we think it can be really counterproductive when people get caught up in labels/diagnosis when perhaps that isn't in fact a problem.
MandiMoo, we have dissociative identity disorder. (previously named multiple personality disorder). We often talk about us in plural. Sorry if it was off putting.
not offputting, just interesting. there have been cases where two or more people use the same account - or claim to be 2 different people in an attempt to lie and fool everyone, i have no problem with someone who is upfront about what is going on and why. thanks for explaining.
but yus, report away. i often say in posts that it isn't a label that matters, it's how you feel, and how you are dealing with it.
mand x
Mand, South Wales, Full-time working, single mother to 2 scarily independent girls.
I AM A PROUD PLUMERIA SISTER
i say as long as everyone agrees no one but a dr can make a diagnosis, i don't see a problem with throwing around possibilities. but if someone is trying to make a diagnosis i would report it.
I honestly think a bigger problem is people self diagnosing, which I believe has resulted in people appearing "sicker" than they really are. Just because someone have a symptom, doesn't make it clinically significant enough to meet the diagnostic criteria for a certain disease/disorder/condition.
While it's good for people to be able to accept they have a problem, getting too focused on the diagnosis can make someone sicker because if they don't get the diagnosis they want, they may try to do something to get that diagnosis.
ie Someone believes they have BPD, but their counselor doesn't and won't diagnose it, so the person starts mimicking the symptoms or overplaying the symptoms.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
I honestly think a bigger problem is people self diagnosing, which I believe has resulted in people appearing "sicker" than they really are. Just because someone have a symptom, doesn't make it clinically significant enough to meet the diagnostic criteria for a certain disease/disorder/condition.
While it's good for people to be able to accept they have a problem, getting too focused on the diagnosis can make someone sicker because if they don't get the diagnosis they want, they may try to do something to get that diagnosis.
ie Someone believes they have BPD, but their counselor doesn't and won't diagnose it, so the person starts mimicking the symptoms or overplaying the symptoms.
Which is something we can't stop.
That's the same as the whole "DID" discussion. People lying/playing on that when it's a serious mental health problem.
We could stop it, but it would be seen as a draconian move. A rule stating that stating you have xxx disorder without it being diagnosed by a medical professional is the equivalent of lying. After that RYLs lying rule would take over.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
i dont know about these because i have posted one saying "possible bipolar" because the dr had mentioned i could have it but wasnt diagnosed at that point.
i am on two sides, i think everyone knows only a dr can diagnose but sometimes the op needs just a push to go to the drs and having support is better than having nothing x
Only a doctor/counselor can diagnose.
Therefore you can't self-diagnose mental illness.
Therefore anyone stating they have xxx disorder is automatically lying unless they were diagnosed by a doctor.
Like I said it's draconian, and it won't happen.
I agree that people saying 'I think you have xxx" is a problem, that is why the FAF has a rule against it. I however think that people self-diagnosing is even worse, and happen more often. We just don't see threads saying "I've just diagnosed myself with xxxx!"
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
Er..and how do you know they've not been diagnosed by a doctor?!
Most threads say if they've formally been diagnosed.
The rest of the threads say "Do you think i have this?" - which means they haven't seen a professional/won't see one/want a diagnosis from here - which is pointless, as none of us are professionals.
I've never seen a thread saying "I've just diagnosed myself with xxxx!" - i've seen threads saying "I think i have this" but that's it. People aren't stupid enough to diagnose themselves formally without seeing a professional. I've never in all my time here seen a thread like that.
And this was brought up ages ago RE: these types of threads. They annoy the hell out of me. But unless a rule / regulation is put into place not much else can be done.
Laura, I think that Aidey's point was that you don't see threads saying "I've diagnosed myself with x!", but that's not to say that it isn't happening, or that people aren't thinking that. Even threads saying "I think I have this" are very dangerous, especially as people start to live up to the behaviour expected of them. It's totally natural human behaviour to do so. But then, this stems back to the competitive aspect of the site, how people crave a label or something to certify their illness.
And she did also say that the draconian method won't happen, and tbh, is unrealistic.
Either way, you guys are singing from the same hymnbook, only different harmonies. Seems to be arguing for the same point, really - you've both established that it is a dangerous move, having people self-diagnose.
Either way, unless you get rid of the whole of the mental health board (which would be utterly ridiculous) - no one is going to beable to stop this.
I'm baffled that anyone would WANT a mental illness, i would give my limbs to be mentally "stable" - i actually think it's pretty f*cked up that anyone would want a "label" - this is why people with real mental illnesses such as BPD feel like they really aren't ill because it's being so widely self diagnosed/people are acting as if they have it.
What people don't seem to understand is that everyone has some aspect of a mental illness such as BPD - but it doesn't mean you HAVE it. I hear voices, usually my own, or someone elses, which is when i'm distressed/anxious - this does not mean i'm schitzophrenic.
And half the people who to self diagnose are nearly always in there teens. That's not to say teenagers don't suffer with MH Problems, but they never take into account what goes on in their own lives..exams, school stress, hormones.
I try to avoid such threads otherwise i end up snapping because it frustrates me and makes me feel like i'm not really ill when people are throwing around such diagnosises like BPD - i struggle enough to believe i am ill, i don't need people pretending they are. >.>
Oh no, I totally agree with you on that one, Laura.
I think the thing is, having a diagnosis gives validation to your illness. It's sort-of like, if you are really, really tired, having a diagnosis of anaemia is reassuring as it means that you are actually struggling with something real. In the same way, if you feel very low, very tired, and you can't be bothered with talking to people or seeing people, having a diagnosis of depression is a lot more reassuring than being some moody teenager. Does that sort-of make sense?
And I think your second point is so very true - and I think the issue arises, particularly in teenagers (where there's hormones and all sorts flying through the body), where people have a few symptoms, do some research, find a diagnosis that fits a few of their symptoms, and find themselves falling into a mental health trap - where they'd have been a lot better had they not read the criteria, and subconciously conformed to the behaviour.
Either way, you're preaching to the converted here :)
[quote=Dreaming.;1634984]And I think your second point is so very true - and I think the issue arises, particularly in teenagers (where there's hormones and all sorts flying through the body), where people have a few symptoms, do some research, find a diagnosis that fits a few of their symptoms, and find themselves falling into a mental health trap - where they'd have been a lot better had they not read the criteria, and subconciously conformed to the behaviour. [quote]
^Completely agree ^
Sorry, these posts really irritate me, especially when it looks as though the OP has cut and paste from a wiki definition or something similar but just altered it slightly. It seems as though a fair few of the younger and newer members do this and it always appears to be psychosis like symptoms. I really wish they wouldn't do it because they make me and others feel incredibly uncomfortable. How much would I give not to hear voices or have depression or bpd? I feel as though my own problems are being belittled because I don't have some kind of psychotic illness. I don't understand the seeming need to self-diagnose or seek attention in such a manner.
"Everything is possible through Christ, who gives me strength". Phillipians 4:13
Oh no, I totally agree with you on that one, Laura.
I think the thing is, having a diagnosis gives validation to your illness. It's sort-of like, if you are really, really tired, having a diagnosis of anaemia is reassuring as it means that you are actually struggling with something real. In the same way, if you feel very low, very tired, and you can't be bothered with talking to people or seeing people, having a diagnosis of depression is a lot more reassuring than being some moody teenager. Does that sort-of make sense?
i think this too, although i have a diagnosis (psychosis NOS), If i didnt but still had exactly the same problems/voices/thoughts etc, i would think there was nothing wrong with me xxx
There are also "sub-clinical" symptoms which people may take as clinically significant enough to "count" towards a diagnosis.
ie. Someone who feels depressed after failing a maths exam looks up the symptoms of major depressive disorder and thinks "Oh, i'm depressed and don't want to get out of bed, I must have MDD" even though what they are experiencing is normal, and considered "sub clinical".
Sub Clinical for those of you confused by the term describes symptoms that basically are not bad enough to be used to make a diagnosis. For example, 2 headaches in 6 months isn't indicative of migraines. Feeling slightly nervous when you start a new school doesn't mean you have social anxiety disorder, etc.
Well it breaks my heart to see you this way,
The beauty in life, where's it gone?
And somebody told me you were doing okay,
Somehow I guess they were wrong.
