To think labels do more harm then good

[Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy]

I have suffered with mh problems for my whole life and had diagnosis of anxiety and depression from being a child. I got diagnosed with bpd about 5 years ago and I honestly feel like it has done more harm then good. There is very little available treatment for it so no actual benefit for the diagnosis. All that has happened since diagnosis is that medical staff have treat me worse, social services have treat me worse and job opportunities have been more difficult to come by. I really regret being given this diagnosis and now understand why a lot of psychiatrists aren't willing to give it due to stigma surrounding it.
Yabu diagnosis only help people to get the best care.
Yanbu labels stigmatise people

But different but two of my children are dyslexic. I sought a diagnosis and 'label' for them to enable them to access extra help and time for exams etc. my foster son needs his 'labels' to access all the different hospital care and educational help he consistently needs. On the other hand if getting a label for my children didn't do anything for them except being able to say they have 'xyz' even though they did have xyz then I wouldn't bother.

Yabu my diagnosis has helped myself and others have a better understanding. Iv found drs and nurses have been amazing since my diagnosis

A diagnosis isn’t a label.

Will await posters to bring neurodiversity into it. Diagnosis handed out like sweets. Everyone wants to be special. No one is just a bit worried anymore, it’s always anxiety. Blah, blah, blah.

Bingo card ready.

I think a diagnosis is great when it's beneficial and the person receives treatment but I think its pretty pointless and actually damaging without

But is it a diagnosis that offers help and treatment

A diagnosis is a label when it is used against you rather then helping you and yes I agree they are given out to quickly without thought into how it will impact the person's future

Lol. What a surprise. These threads are tiring.

What are you talking about ??

It’s a diagnosis not a label. It’s a way of helping you and others understand what’s going on better.

Have you read Sexy But Psycho? You'll find some online articles by the author, (Dr Jessica...?) she is critical especially of BPD for some of the reasons you mention.

Thankyou il have a look. I don't think people understand how badly bpd is stigmatised

But nobody has helped me iv just been judged and treat badly because of it

The topic is too broad. I think you're right about BPD and other personality disorders but not all labels are harmful.

My DC are all Autistic, one also has ADHD and Anxiety. Two were diagnosed with delays in several developmental areas, not sure if that counts as a label. Those diagnosisis have been very important in allowing them to access early intervention supports like speech and physio and OTs and ongoing mental health support. I don't know any adults with ADHD or ASD who regret getting diagnosed. I know many who are seeking answers as adults and wished they'd known before now that they were ND, some of these have ongoing truama from what they went through because no one recognised their needs.

Mental health labels are often more problematic and a lot of people don't really understand things like anxiety. I find many people think you should be able to get over it, which I can't though I still get on with things and suffer internally. My anxious DC has had the occasional teacher whose very dismissive of this and the ILs and her Dad really don't have a clue. The stigma here is not on a level with personality disorders though, I know that's far worse. I don't even like writing that term, it seems a really unhelpful way or not them. I know some Autistic people prefer dropping the D in ASD and I don't feel comfortable with it. My DC aren't disordered they have a neurological difference.

unhelpful way or not them, should say, a unhelpful way to name them.

You’re both being and not being unreasonable.

I don’t think ’label’ in and of itself is so important, it’s more about understanding what has happened and how thisng/person/mind eneded up where it did.

I know you don’t like labels and I’m not pushing anything for, but I’ll still say these and please feel free to ignore:
But have you considered or talked with professionals about possibly having C-PTSD?
Currently it’s in fashion to diagnose women with bpd, but many of them actually are more in line what would be referred as C-PTSD.

Again, I don’t believe diagnose or name is the important part, but under the labels can be the backstory how things ended where it did (and perhaps then a way forward with professional - unless you just opt-out on pills of course).

The OP isn't saying the diagnosis is given out like sweets, she's saying it's given out without thought to the hugely negative impact it can have on individuals life due to the stigma around it. That's not the same and I don't know why people are trying to make this into an ND argument.

OP it's pretty shit that you can't get the help that your diagnosis warrants, are you on a long waiting list or is it just not available?

I wouldn't put the diagnosis on a job application if you think it has a negative effect as you don't have to. I can't imagine it's easy OP and I think there is a lot of stigma around it. Are there any support groups you could join online OP? For some support, help and advice?

Only if the diagnosis is wrong. People are going to be prejudice either way, a diagnosis gives you protection and understanding.

Without a label (I prefer the term diagnosis) my children wouldn't get the support they need to reach their potential 🤷‍♀️.
So I will take all the labels offered

My DD was diagnosed with BPD last year at the age of 30. She's now on mood-stabilising meds which are helping, and she's had counselling and psychotherapy. We've all found her diagnosis to be a massive relief - now we can understand (or at least try to) the reasons behind her behaviour, and find ways to gently counteract the negatives. In particular, my DD is now coming to terms with her mental health and is finding strength in the fact she has a recognised condition.

I'm sorry you don't appear to be getting any help, OP. I really hope things improve for you xx

The treatment for bpd is dbt and Its not available in my area so I'm not eligible I do have a cpn and a psychiatrist but that was a challenge in itself as a lot of mh professionals refuse to work with patients with bpd. Neither my cpn or psychiatrist have any special training in dealing with personality disorders

OK reading the comments iv realised a lot of people have actually got a lot of help from their diagnosis which is great so maybe I should of been more specific with stating bpd or personality disorders.

I think cptsd or even autism is highly likely as both are often misdiagnosed as bpd it just worries me if I bring it up they will just add further diagnosis on rather then take the bpd one off

I am diagnosed with a condition that there is no treatment for. Its still helpful.
I know what it is, that I am not going insane, that it generally won't get any worse, I don't need to do anything to keep it from progressing, I'm not going to die from it, I know that it doesn't run in families, that its not contagious, I know the other associated symptoms that I can watch out for, I know that it is unrealted to a seperate symptom I have which allowed me to go get help for that seperately.

Diagnosis is still important even if there is nothing that can be done it still helps to know why its happening. And I don't feel like I have to wear it as a label for anyone else- but its nice that when a part of the condition that is rubbish and is effe tng me badly- I can label it to myslef as part of the condition - not a personal flaw that I have to feel guilty about.

But do you get treated differently due to this condition because this is where my issues come from its the negativity that comes along with it mainly from professionals who are supposed to help you. I should of been more specific in my original post

I understand what you are saying, some labels are lifelong and make people view you in a totally different way to other human beings, it must feel like an uphill battle at times.