This is a look at
the words we use to describe ourselves. We're comfortable with some of
them; others are like fingernails on a chalkboard. And while most of us
say labels shouldn't be used at all, consider this. As you read below
the opinions of various people about these words, would it make a difference
to you whether it was the opinion of someone who lives with a disorder
or a psychiatrist or a bureaucrat?
Here's
a look at the language of mental illness/disease/disorders and how we
feel about it.
I am a…
Bipolar victim is the term used by the author of a new book on bipolar disorder who refers
to these victims' loved ones as "co-victims."
J.M.:
I hate this. We are not victims but rather courageous people living with
highly challenging illnesses.
K.W.: "That's not exactly encouraging."
 Consumer is the term used by both NAMI:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Department
of Health and Human Services: SAMHSA and other organizations.
K.W:
"To me, a consumer is someone who purchases something and what we
purchase are doctor visits, therapy sessions and medications. Yes, this
is where my money goes, but the term doesn't relate to who I am or how
I live."
C.F.: "Oh, please. What does that
term have to do with it?"
J.M.: "I hate this one the most. It doesn't do anything for my self
esteem or how others see me."
"The depressive" is discussed in a popular book about living with those who "suffer
from" a mood disorder. Loved ones are identified as "co-sufferers."
J.M.:
"No, I'm not my disorder."
K.W.: Sometimes living with my disorder
is a challenge; sometimes it's not. And my supportive significant does
not consider himself a "co-sufferer." Sounds like someone's
very resentful."
People with… (i.e. an anxiety disorder and Those with anxiety disorders) are among
the neutral, but effective phrases used by the Anxiety
Disorders Association of America.
A person diagnosed
with…
J.M.:
"This is good language for me if the person using it has any business
talking about it in the first place and isn't gossiping."
M.P.: "Being diagnosed puts the
onus on the physician - and it could be wrong."
Someone who has
a brain disease/mental illness.
J.M.:
"I prefer disorder; disease sounds like someone else could catch
it from me."
M.B.: "When people are identified
only in terms of disease, they begin to identify themselves that way.
Then they lose their sense of self-reliance, their sense of self."
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 Someone
with a behavioral disorder.
K.W.
I behave badly? That's my problem?
Someone
who has a brain/mental/psychiatric disorder
C.F.:
"This is acceptable. The term, to me, describes a chemical imbalance."
J.M.: "Psychiatric disorder: Fine
with me because everyone knows what it means. I prefer 'psychiatric diagnosis.'
Mental disorder is OK but not great; "mental" has stigmatizing
connotations but everyone knows what you mean"
M.P.: "I prefer brain disorder.
'Victim' is too self-defeating, 'mental illness' has too many negative
connotations and bipolar disorder is misunderstood. Mood disorder is not
too bad... We call ourselves 'beepers' [on a bipolar disorder chat site.]"
MB: "Every condition is associated
with the disorder, when there might be another cause. When the whole focus
is on what's wrong with a person, what has happened to that person isn't
considered."
Someone who suffers
from… see "Depressive" above.
Survivor is
the way the publisher of a web site covering bipolar disorder issues refers
to herself.
C.F:
"No - It's a journey. We're continuing."
M.P.: "In my opinion one doesn't
survive BP - you live with it."
Those who live
with… (i.e. mood and anxiety disorders) is the term Mood
uses on its logo and generally uses a version of that phrase on its pages.
J.M.:
"This much more recovery focused."
 Avoiding
labels: Depression
and Bipolar Alliance does an admirable job of crafting information
in a way that avoids the need to identify. When pressed, they use phrases
like: "What friends and family can do: Help people identify things
they enjoy." But, in any other context, it wouldn't work.
MB "I
don't like any of these labels. The disorder becomes primary. The rest
of the person goes missing.
K.W: "I
wish we didn't use labels, but there are contexts in which some kind of
identifying term must be used, for instance: A support group for…and
their friends and family members -(Is it a support group for single
stockbrokers?)'"
Comments were contributed by
C.F.,
support group coordinator; a person living with bipolar disorder
J.M., doctor, author, speaker and a
person living with bipolar disorder
K.W., a person living with bipolar disorder
MB, leader of an advocacy organization;
a person living with schizophrenia
M.P., a person living with a brain disorder.
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