Completely agree, and it is startling how few people are aware of it. I see it in relationship psychology and it gives me the ick. Social media is great at listing off a bunch of problems (for marketing sake) and labelling it as a ‘wounded man’ or ‘wounded inner child’ etc.
Dr Cassie Huckaby is great with the nocebo/placebo topic (in medical terms) and said “you don’t name animals unless you want to keep a relationship with them… so don’t name a symptom unless you want to keep it.”
For personality disorders, what you’re saying certainly applies.
For bipolar and schizophrenia, I don’t think I agree, since it can get you access to medications and also to more expensive therapies like social rhythm therapy.
For autism, I definitely don’t agree. Getting an adult autism diagnosis when you’re autistic is the most freeing thing. The opposite of pathologizing. Like achieving liftoff.
I think this is important to bear in mind for people who have a psychiatric disorder too.
If you have general anxiety disorder (for example) and you go through trauma your normal trauma responses should not be lumped in or dismissed as part of GAD.
I think descriptions can be placed in layers though, people who have normal relationships are meant to both not suffer from these events and talk things through with each other, then you can know people who suffer these things and their relationships break up, then people who don't have relationships who understand less than those that do go to see professionals with something they don't understand, the professionals then understand how much they do about those that don't, Psychiatrists don't seem to know much, but they are in a professional position, and a sociologically affordable one, Psychologists and Psychotherapists are in a learning position as well, but seem to know more due to both an approach and a volume of intelligence and knowledge(this is the perception of Psychologists from the public viewpoint, probably depends on what you hear, like £600.00 an hour). I was speaking to someone yesterday who works for MIND, the question of equitability crops up, communication skills seem required to a level of understanding what is said, with volume control, and the correct emotional quotient; because the general aspects of equitability means that someone doesn't find this outside professional hands, and if Dr.Taylor wishes to supply or have this supplied, then a client needs to find equitability outside of a professionals hands, this is another way of me writing to her about how therapy could work-we speak with each other until everything's fine with both of us, that's when you'll feel happy to part company.
Thank you! Your words are so reassuring - hard experiences can be processed and released, not stuck to us permanently with psychiatric labels. ❤
Thank you very much for the article, it is very important to bear in mind the power of diagnostic labels.
I used to think "I don't have time to be sick" and would only get sick during holidays.
And nowadays when something is working, a medication or treatment, I like to say "If it's placebo, it's still working. So I like it."
Often my doctors are taken back by that. But quickly join me in my rejoice. So I guess I am lucky if I read your substacks. ❤️🩹
I think your doctor is just confused by why youre bringing up placebos in a clinical setting where they didnt give you a placebo.
Completely agree, and it is startling how few people are aware of it. I see it in relationship psychology and it gives me the ick. Social media is great at listing off a bunch of problems (for marketing sake) and labelling it as a ‘wounded man’ or ‘wounded inner child’ etc.
Dr Cassie Huckaby is great with the nocebo/placebo topic (in medical terms) and said “you don’t name animals unless you want to keep a relationship with them… so don’t name a symptom unless you want to keep it.”
Thanks for writing this!
For personality disorders, what you’re saying certainly applies.
For bipolar and schizophrenia, I don’t think I agree, since it can get you access to medications and also to more expensive therapies like social rhythm therapy.
For autism, I definitely don’t agree. Getting an adult autism diagnosis when you’re autistic is the most freeing thing. The opposite of pathologizing. Like achieving liftoff.
I think this is important to bear in mind for people who have a psychiatric disorder too.
If you have general anxiety disorder (for example) and you go through trauma your normal trauma responses should not be lumped in or dismissed as part of GAD.
Fantastic post. Intelligent and insightful thank you.
Yes!
I think descriptions can be placed in layers though, people who have normal relationships are meant to both not suffer from these events and talk things through with each other, then you can know people who suffer these things and their relationships break up, then people who don't have relationships who understand less than those that do go to see professionals with something they don't understand, the professionals then understand how much they do about those that don't, Psychiatrists don't seem to know much, but they are in a professional position, and a sociologically affordable one, Psychologists and Psychotherapists are in a learning position as well, but seem to know more due to both an approach and a volume of intelligence and knowledge(this is the perception of Psychologists from the public viewpoint, probably depends on what you hear, like £600.00 an hour). I was speaking to someone yesterday who works for MIND, the question of equitability crops up, communication skills seem required to a level of understanding what is said, with volume control, and the correct emotional quotient; because the general aspects of equitability means that someone doesn't find this outside professional hands, and if Dr.Taylor wishes to supply or have this supplied, then a client needs to find equitability outside of a professionals hands, this is another way of me writing to her about how therapy could work-we speak with each other until everything's fine with both of us, that's when you'll feel happy to part company.