Do labels for your mental illness make you worse?

Overcome?? do you mean totally gotten over it? No, I have been dealing with my diagnosis for 30+ years. For me, knowing that it is truly recognizable and treatable, has been a help. It took time to find the right medication, which after therapy, has enabled me to live a full, satisfying life. Is everything great all the time? No, but its not for anyone else either. There is always going to be situations, people and whatever that are harder for you. There are always going to be people who don't understand you. YOU are the one who is going to have to come to terms with that, remember, you can't change others. Even if they treat you less well than they do others because of your diagnosis you have to be the one to go on and ignore the problems.

I honestly don't think that they labels make me worse, it is the disorder that does that all on it's own. I am bipolar and adhd by the way. The only thing that the diagnosis did for me was to answer all the questions of why I was acting this way! Now I know why I do some of the weird things that I do, and I have learned a few tricks to deal with them. I also started taking medication for my bipolar and migraines after I was diagnosed, but if I didn't have to take them, I would be much happier. I realize that my life has changed with them, and for the better, I just wish that I was not committed to a life of pill popping everyday to keep myself stable. Unfortunately for me, I am a rapid cycler with severe mood swings along with manic episodes, so I really don't have a choice if I want to be normal. I honestly would suggest to you that you sit down and talk to your doctor about all of your options that are available to you, physically, mentally, and yes, maybe even some medication, and then maybe get in to see a counselor of some sort. You don't necessarily have to see a psychologist to get help, sometimes it helps to just have someone there to keep you on track with your goals, and to listen. Hope you find the help that you are looking for!

i suffer from depression and also have pi polar disorder, but hey we cant all be perfect. Im at the top of my bi polar cycle at the moment and i want to know why we concentrate on the negative without ever mentioning the creative, positive elements of the disorder?

Sounds like you have a fist full of struggles to deal with. But you know, a diagnosis is just a word or phrase to describe your symptoms and point in a possible treatment direction. I am a retired mental-health professional and the diagnosis is not a definition of who you are but a description of what you experience. There is good treatment available and I hope that you have access to it. You also need a good support group with people who are succeeding at coping with their illness. You also need the support and encouragement of family and friends to stick to your treatment plan even when it feels pretty hopeless. Don't give up. And don't look to your diagnosis to define you. You decide who you want to be - and become it!

I do not think that telling you what is wrong with you makes you any worse. I have been diagnosed with many things, including depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar. I do not think that I am any worse because of the diagnosis. It just helps me to understand why I go through some of the things I am going through. I am on medication and have been for quite a while. I am not sure exactly what you mean by trying to fix yourself, but if you are having problems, it might not be a bad idea to talk to your doctor about it.

I myself was diagnosed with just about every disorder mental disorder their is when I was younger, now I basically just go with I have Depression with Anxiety and obsessive qualities. But when it really comes down to it what ever they call or name it, I feel the way I feel. I found it hard when I was younger with all the different labels as it's like you are then put into a certain group and treated as such, rather than as an individual who is dealing with their own individual problems. I too clung to a diagnosis as it made feel like ' if I knew what it was it was more real or gave me hope they would be able to help more.' But now I know that I know whatever they call it or label it, I just go with how I feel and realized it doesn't matter what label they give me, I am still me. I have been on medication now for nearly 15years, not very much to what I started on, but I am happy to say it helps. I also see my psychiatrist monthly for a while it was weekly, and I find talking and learning different ways to deal with things helps also. I am happily married now for 6 years and have a four year old son, the medication and therapy for me has helped a great deal in letting me live my life, even though I of course have my ups and downs I am able to control and deal with things that otherwise I don't think I would have. I wish you all the best and just want to say, no matter what labels anyone gives you, it does not change the person you are or feel. They are labeling your symptoms not you as a person. Goodluck.

Yes, medication CAN help. These are actual medical disorders, and while they haven't found any "cures" they have found many things which can help you live your life to it's fullest. Don't let labels slow you down, it's what's inside that counts!! Go back to your doctors and DEMAND more help. Someone is letting you down by allowing (or expecting) you to think you can "fix yourself." Can someone with a broken arm pole vault? Can someone with broken legs run a marathon? Yes, but not without some time and definitely not without medical intervention! Please get help now!!! Life is too short to live it in misery.

Ciao from BRELUSTE dk This is for all of you that have the criminal false labels & diagnosis from "surreals doctors"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ALL OF YOU BEFORE EVERYTHING VISIT THAT SIZE AND STOP GIVE PSICHIATRIST & C. POWER! www.cchr.org You ARE YOURSELF! NO LABELS NO OTHERS WRONGS INDICATIONS! YOU ARE SIMPLY YOURSELF...CLEAR? Ciao from BRELUSTE dk

i feel i get refreshed after having my chocolates. And best remedy is Meditation, try breathing exercise, it will help you balance and handle depression.