Diagnosis, Treatment and Labels - Support & Stigmatisation

Diagnosis, Treatment and Labels

Support & Stigmatisation

It is interesting to note how often people make observations like,

“At last, I know what the problem is.” or

“Since the doctor/specialist (medical or psychology based) has determined the diagnosis and provided treatment, I am feeling so much better.”

We also hear people make statements like,

“I wish that I knew what the problem was, so that I could deal with it and get the appropriate treatment.”

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While people can certainly be “trapped in their diagnosed disorder”, that can also be the case when a disorder is un-diagnosed. With a diagnosis, we can normally choose who we let know about the diagnosis, unless the diagnosis means that other people are required to be informed for legal reasons – driver's licence, employer (in certain circumstances & occupations), etc.

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Often a diagnosis and proper treatment can lead to a significant improvement in quality of life, personally, socially and occupationally. People who live with a disorder that exists, but is not yet diagnosed and treated, I believe, can often be far more subject to stigma, than those who have a diagnosis that allows for treatment. There is often, as a result of diagnosis and treatment, a consequent reduction in the impact of symptoms, apparent and otherwise, on their personal, family, social and occupational lives. A diagnosis can also allow for appropriate accommodation and, or allowance to be provided, for a person who otherwise meets most criteria, particularly for employment. Even the opportunities for travel can often be enhanced with a diagnosis and suitable medication.

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We are, in life, labelled according to various conventions, over many of which, we have little or no control. Our gender, ethnicity, colour (including hair, eye, skin), and so on.

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We can perceive, and choose whether to view a “label” as stigmatising or defining. If no one else needs to know of the label, then the classification is our own, for our use and that of the people providing us with treatment and or therapy. If other people need to know about a diagnosis or “mental health label”, in some circumstances, even that can be advantageous. For example, if we are able to inform family, social, or work contacts, about how to deal with a problem associated with a mental or physical illness, we may be able to provide ourselves with a more protective environment, outside and around ourselves. In many cases, people would feel honoured and privileged to have been included, to that degree, in our personal care and space.

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There are positive ways that we can view and project a diagnosis, both internally and externally. Unfortunately, I believe, that some of the stigma associated with mental illness can be self imposed. There is still, and unfortunately, always will be stigmatisation, as a result of contrast and comparison, between different groups of people in society. It is a condition of humanity, since we are not perfect beings. However, developments in the medical/psychological treatments, and community information and social awareness programs, has meant that there have also been considerable improvements in attitudes among people in the broader community. These developments have included attitudes about involvement of people from diverse and varied backgrounds, including those dealing with medical and psychological issues, in personal, social and occupational activities. However, we have to see it to believe it. By constantly highlighting the imperfections in a system, we can correspondingly perpetuate those imperfections. We can become hyper-critical and may, subsequently, reverse existing positive trends. I believe that this principle applies to the acceptance of people in circumstances, who have addressed and are addressing mental health issues in their lives. I am certainly not advocating a reduction in attention and review of these issues. However, that attention and review has to be measured, proportional and appropriate.

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I am also endeavouring to raise awareness of the progress that has been made in the last 50 years, (less than the duration of my own lifetime) since the days of institutionalised “treatment”, as recently as the 1970's-80's. There will always be opportunities for improvement, and we should not slacken our search for improved analysis, diagnosis and treatments. Those methods of diagnosis and treatment have come a long way since the first half, and 20-30 years into the second half, of the 20th Century. During that timea.) “straight jackets”, isolation and asylums were common aspects of “treatment”.

Information about the range of treatments, that have previously been used, is readily accessible with a WEB search such as:

"History of Mental Health Treatment" or "History of Treatment of Mental Health Disorders"

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Many of the treatments, for which a diagnosis is required, have enabled people to continue, or enter work positions, that would otherwise have been considered unsuitable. And, that freedom can also include travel, that may not have been possible, for many people, before diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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With Best Wishes

@HenryX

a.) https://online.csp.edu/blog/psychology/history-of-mental-illness-treatment/