Thanks for this post. I couldn’t help but feel there is a some lack of compassion in how you’ve characterized people’s motives. I’m not discounting your observations, they certainly have some validity, but you seem to over-look how diagnoses fulfill other more basic, human needs and vulnerabilities. The need to feel hope, for instance – “finally someone with authority has named it”. Relief (often fleeting) that some one gets me & now I have some confidence I’ll get help, get the “right” treatment. Also – “I’m not alone” – I can connect with others with the same label, get more social support etc…
Don’t get me wrong, I believe the current diagnostic system can be deeply damaging, offering false hope, debilitating treatments and interfering with self understanding and healing.
Well done, Sera I agree with you that all this chatter about diagnosing 45 reveals more about them than DJT.
All the anti-stigma campaigns, posters on hosp walls of famous people (Lincoln) contradicts this effort to discredit thru diagnosis.
I go with “Gump on Trump”; malignant narcissism IS, as malignant narcissism DOES.
Unfortunately, being a river is not reimbursable and takes too long.
Great post, as usual, Ron. A couple observations;
Dan Siegal (the Developing Mind) discusses most mental difficulties being the result of 2 extremes – too chaotic or too rigid. Well worth the read
My second pt is you address stability from a intra-psychic POV. When most people consider instability, they may be thinking inter-personal (IMO) stability. Can loved ones, co-workers, neighbors handle someone acting intense, strangely, not sleeping, bizarre? Intra psychic instability can be tolerated and celebrated – interpersonal instability makes people call hospitals & police
What do you think?
Thanks for this post. I couldn’t help but feel there is a some lack of compassion in how you’ve characterized people’s motives. I’m not discounting your observations, they certainly have some validity, but you seem to over-look how diagnoses fulfill other more basic, human needs and vulnerabilities. The need to feel hope, for instance – “finally someone with authority has named it”. Relief (often fleeting) that some one gets me & now I have some confidence I’ll get help, get the “right” treatment. Also – “I’m not alone” – I can connect with others with the same label, get more social support etc…
Don’t get me wrong, I believe the current diagnostic system can be deeply damaging, offering false hope, debilitating treatments and interfering with self understanding and healing.
Well done, Sera I agree with you that all this chatter about diagnosing 45 reveals more about them than DJT.
All the anti-stigma campaigns, posters on hosp walls of famous people (Lincoln) contradicts this effort to discredit thru diagnosis.
I go with “Gump on Trump”; malignant narcissism IS, as malignant narcissism DOES.
Unfortunately, being a river is not reimbursable and takes too long.
Great post, as usual, Ron. A couple observations;
Dan Siegal (the Developing Mind) discusses most mental difficulties being the result of 2 extremes – too chaotic or too rigid. Well worth the read
My second pt is you address stability from a intra-psychic POV. When most people consider instability, they may be thinking inter-personal (IMO) stability. Can loved ones, co-workers, neighbors handle someone acting intense, strangely, not sleeping, bizarre? Intra psychic instability can be tolerated and celebrated – interpersonal instability makes people call hospitals & police
What do you think?