my family has found some sort of "support group" for families that deal with depression and bi-polar disorder. we are supposed to go together but i don't like that idea for the following two reasons:
1) i do not want to share my story with a bunch of people i don't know, and i want even less to hear their stories and problems...
2) ever since "The Incident" every doctor/counselor/therapist/social worker i have met has been fairly eager to diagnose me with an illness of my own. i guess the thinking there being that if my brother and sister suffer from depression, i do too.
life is hard, and i am often sad, quite a bit sadder than i know how to deal with at times, but i am not depressed (that i know of). i also do not suffer from an eating disorder (another accusation that has been raised recently). i don't like the negative attention i am getting and i don't appreciate being slapped with a label and a bottle of pills by doctors who don't know what's going on. you can be sad without suffering from clinical depression, and last time i checked you don't medicate people for grief. it's not a chemical imbalance... it's a fact of life that everyone will have to deal with sooner or later.
i wonder if depression is still depression, no matter how good the reason?
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6 comments:
AGH! I'm heated from reading your post! This is the downfall of diagnosing people with a mental illness...you have described it perfectly. You're right, just because your family member may struggle with something doesn't mean that you do as well. Stick to your gut Ciara, you DO know yourself better than any therapist or medical professional. All they are supposed to do is offer insight...you have the power to do with it as you please.
As far as diagnosing you with depression...it is considered unethical to diagnose an individual with depression within 6 months of a grief-inducing incident. I'll bring you my DSM-IV if you want to check it out for yourself to tell (I mean remind) your counselor. :P
Sorry this is so long...I guess you could say it's a point of interest. ;)
P.S. Maybe giving the group a chance wouldn't be so bad...you might find out something new about your family members. The group can't force you to particpate if you don't want. Again, it's an ethical guideline counselors need to abide by.
Lame man. Although, it comes down to you. You can either accept what they are saying or disregard it. If you don't agree with them, tell em to take a hike.
i want to talk to you in person when i get home, is that OK?
laura, i would like to talk to you more. i have a couple questions.
and terry, of course we can talk. when are you coming home?
Sure Ciara, you could call me or email me, whatever you prefer. 347-7466 or lauraanne15@yahoo.com
Your website has a useful information for beginners like me.
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