Do you ever feel that there is something wrong with you? Are you open to change or do you accept the way you are? Many people find out later in life that they have been living with a health problem that they did not know about, whether it be minor or serious. It happened to me. I did not realize that it was not normal to have a sound ringing in my ears when it was quiet. If I did not ask other people, then I guess I would still feel that it is normal. As far as I know, I have always had the sound and normally I do not even notice it.
This could be the same for undiagnosed mental illness in many people. Some people think that they are quite normal until they have been diagnosed. So, it makes me wonder whether the diagnosis has helped them or not.
My personal belief, which has been influenced significantly through my university training as well as my extensive reading in therapy techniques, such as solution focuses therapy and narrative therapy, is like this. We should always treat every person suffering from a mental illness condition as an individual. For example, in the case of somebody suffering from anxiety, there would be no two people experiencing this in the same way. Therefore, why should we be diagnosing people as being sufferers, or anxiety sufferers, sufferers of depression, etc?
Diagnosing is important for many reasons. It can help doctors treat you by standardizing billing and treatment, which helps you claim the costs from private health care and government health care. It also helps professionals to research new treatments for mental health condition sufferers and gives professionals an overview of the conditions.
On the other hand, it can oversimplify the condition and the behaviour of people suffering it. Although the world has come far in the understanding of mental health, people being diagnosed with a mental health condition can still be stigmatised. There is also a chance that you could be diagnosed incorrectly.
I do feel that if you are experiencing stress or serious mental health problems to seek advice from a mental health professional. If you are diagnosed with a disorder, it does not mean that you should be put in a box with the rest of those suffering from that condition. Speak to a professional that treats you as an individual and gets to know your strengths and weaknesses. You can learn to live with the condition and may even reduce or eliminate the symptoms, depending on the impact it has on you.
A counsellor like myself, will treat you as an individual. I will not diagnose you, but help you through your problems with therapy. Feel free to contact me for a free first session.
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