When your told you have mental issues, should you just agree?

[alice0]

You shouldn't always just believe someone. Doctor's, therapists, and other "professionals" are just people. Some people are diagnosis happy and want use DSMV and claim that everything is a disorder. ADD and ADHD is WAY over-diagnosed. A lot of parents know this, so they are purposely going ad getting their children diagnosed just by saying that their child has a lot of energy... then the parents are selling the pills and getting disability on their kid. It's nuts.


Then, the kids that did take those their whole life grow up, realize they don't need them, and just sell them and use them when they need to study. They get an easy A so I guess it paid off in that sense, but it's not fair to anyone really. And no one knows the long term risks of those meds yet.

 

[alice0]

I actually get really pissed at people who can just use adderall and it was so easy for them to get. I've never used it and I definitely have problems concentrating. I feel like some of us have to work twice as hard because so many people can just use drugs now to get ahead. -_-

 

[hades_leae]

I actually get really pissed at people who can just use adderall and it was so easy for them to get. I've never used it and I definitely have problems concentrating. I feel like some of us have to work twice as hard because so many people can just use drugs now to get ahead. -_-

I respect your insight, I feel the same way. That was what they told me it was for, it was supposed to help me concentrate. There is nothing that can go in your brain and help you concentrate, but there are things that mess with your body in a way that is described as helpful because of what you can do when you're in a particular mental state.


I remember the first time I took those pills. I told my mom after school that I saw everything in the class for the first time. IT slowed me down. I know of a parent that gets checks for their kids for this reason. I just don't like that you can use your kid to get checks from the government. Definition of a lazy parent to a certain degree.

 

[alice0]

I actually get really pissed at people who can just use adderall and it was so easy for them to get. I've never used it and I definitely have problems concentrating. I feel like some of us have to work twice as hard because so many people can just use drugs now to get ahead. -_-

Yeah I totally agree. It's messed up. Some people legit need them. But they are way more abused than un-abused medications.

 

[Panic57]

No, you shouldn't just agree. My second grade teach told my mom she thought I was mentally retarded because I couldn't read. She didn't understand how horrible Californian public schools were. The teacher's aid though realized that I was smart but just hadn't learned how to read from my last school. So she worked with me to learn how to read. So never just accept people's opinions of you, they could be biased or lazy thoughts. Go out and get a second or third opinion before you decide whether you accept it. Don't forget to consider whether it's you or your situation. Like hades_leae said, a lot of kids are getting diagonsed with ADD and ADHD for being kids. But if you know you have a problem, you should still get a second opinion to verify it.

 

[MVLaHearse]

I think it's important to do your own research within reason meaning don't get on WebMD or other medical sites and start picking out every tiny little thing you notice that you do or feel. That seems to cause more anxiety and depression. Getting to know what they mean by their diagnosis and being objective about the information you get will make you a little more confident to ask for more options. If you can get a second opinion. They diagnosed me incorrectly when I was a teenager and shoved a cocktail on me which made everything worse. I knew something was wrong when I was re-diagnosed and it was more of an environmental issue that genetic chemical one. It always bothered me because people hear "bipolar" or "clinical depression" and instantly their minds picture something much worse or don't see it as anything serious and you can just "get over it." I'm cautious about any kind of psych diagnosis that ends up with a prescription and a trip to the pharmacy. My son's doctor diagnosed him with ADD and prescribed Adderal when he was just 4 years old. The medicine made him feel bad all the time and he said he felt like he was in a nightmare. He only took a couple of doses and I called his doctor and told them there's no way I'm giving him any more of those pills. He felt better after that and we still deal with some issues with him but giving him things to do and helping him feel productive seems to help.I always think twice when a doctor says it's necessary to take meds when I'm sad or stressed out. It seems like a cop out brought to you by Big Pharma.

 

[Roscas]

It depends. I deeply trust my therapist but this never stopped me from having a second or even a third opinion: even professional can be wrong and it's completely normal. If the "evaluation" comes from a random school test, well, you have more than enough reason to ask for another opinion and you should see another therapist or doctor.
This is especially true for teens, since the words "mental issue" are used loosely for teens, so don't trust too much a single therapist. Keep in mind that at the same time you should not underestimate your health, so maybe a second opinion would be great.

I agree Robilas with everything you said. I was about to say the same thing....it is always better to get a second opinion but do not be a cynic when it comes to professionals. After all, they did spent most of their thinking years to studying their craft and practicing their skills. Follow your instincts as well. A friend of mine went through not more than 2 therapists before she finally found someone (1) she is comfortable with, (2) patiently answering all her questions especially about medication (3) instinctively she can trust (4) she genuinely feel sincere in helping her. Her journey was a trial and error process but it paid off for her. But be careful that the trial and error way will not be costly and hurtful for you.

 

[Roscas]

I have a question for everyone. My daughter is vacationing with us right now and brought a friend who is taking medication for her depression fits. Part of the reason for my daughter's visit is to help manage/take care of her friend for 1 week until the medication fully takes effect - to calm and normalize her. As of now, her friend is agitated and tries to go out (even tried through the window). This was per friend's doctor's advice which was relayed to my daughter. My daughter and her friend have the same doctor. Her friend seems to be in a world of her own at the moment. So my question is.... how do I relate with my daughter's friend without exacerbating the situation? My daughter is in the extension house and she keeps the doors and windows closed while they are staying there. My daughter volunteered to look after her friend for the whole week. Won't this affect my daughter who is bi-polar and is taking regular medication that works well for her? What do I do to help my daughter and her friend?

 

[Surrender]

Regardless if you are diagnosed or pigeon holed by someone - you yourself can choose what to believe about yourself. You can choose to agree with the label or reject it, and show who you really are. I think this is especially the case with mental disorders, because they are in the mind. So your thoughts can help change the mind, and change your behavior. There is of course a chemical component to everything - but your mind is very powerful, and your thoughts/beliefs can lead you further down the path to some diagnosis, or away from it. Medication can also help.

 

[HappyKoi]

First of all, they don't know you as well as you know yourself; no one does, really. So in cases like this, it can't hurt to get another opinion. People also grow and change, and sometimes a mental illness can change as you grow and as your brain matures or you learn different coping skills. That being said, it certainly can't hurt to get checked out by another person, and as an adult, you have the right to disagree with the diagnosis you are given.


As far as the second part of your post, I do have to respectfully disagree. As someone who has worked with children in public schools with mental illnesses, I would say that there are certainly children who do need medication so that they can have healthy lives. There is a stigma around having to take medication for a mental illness, which is sad. If someone has a physical illness and they need medication, they certainly aren't shamed or told that they are weak. I will agree that over-diagnosing does happen, and there are benefits and disadvantages to being given a "label". I'm sorry that your experience was so negative, and I'm sure you certainly aren't alone in that.

 

[sorrowscall]

A teacher is not a medical professional. A second and even a third opinion should be consulted before medication is considered; Especially in the case of children. Don't ignore the issue at hand, but do make sure to address it in a way that is not detrimental.

 

[fuzyon]

Well, I think professionals know better than anyone and as long as the one diagnosing you comes from a reputable clinic it's better to listen to that person. Sure, deep down you know if you have problems or not but you shouldn't focus on that diagnosis too much, you can improve yourself as a person and beat whatever mental health issue you have. You're stronger than you think, always remember that!

 

[17emilyhalko]

I think that professionals are very helpful and are helpful only if you need the confirmation that you have a mental problem. In all honesty, doctors are not completely accurate when they diagnose you with specific disorders. For example, doctors diagnosed me with depression and tried giving me depression meds, but the meds made me SIGNIFICANTLY worse. We later found out that I had bipolar disorder, and giving some people who have bipolar the wrong kind of meds can definitely be disastrous sometimes... I felt worse than when I began; I couldn't sleep, would constantly cry, had bloodshot eyes, and my mind would race and not stop. I was on the depression meds for a week, and that was absolutely the worst week I've ever had. Therefore, I'm skeptical at some of the diagnoses that doctors make, because they're definitely not 100% accurate. Besides, I think that we know our bodies better than anyone else. I think that the answer to all of our problems is really with trial and error, and I think that sometimes doctors can be misleading, even if they have good intentions.

 

[Jasmin Cottontail]

My dad experienced the same thing but a bit different. He had kidney stones and the first doctor told him that he should take a particular medicine to make the kidney stones smaller and so he did. However, instead of making them smaller, they became bigger so that was the time when my mom and dad decided seek another doctor. The second doctor told him that he only need to go under a laser scanner which is a bit costly but it will definitely clear out all the kidney stones. And so that's what they did. Up till now my dad is healthy and the kidney stones never developed.


It's actually recommended to have a second and third opinion for that matter. Even though doctors have expertise in their field, there are times that a doctor can make a mistake as well. So in most cases, it is really necessary to get second and third opinion just in case the first doctor made a mistake.

 

[JennyorAlice]

Well, I think it depends.  I think it is okay for you to do some research on your own and find out the actual symptoms.  If you think you may have certain symptoms for something, then I would ask questions.  You may even think of some questions to ask while you are doing your own research.  I would write those down so that you'll be able to ask them later.  But I also don't see anything wrong with getting a second opinion either. 

 

[Natasha0717]

When a medical professional tells me that I suffer from severe anxiety and that I need to get it under control because it's actually causing me harm, I do believe them and take them seriously.  My family tends to be the same way.  They know I worry way too much (about everything), so sometimes I find it difficult to get them to even take me seriously at times when I'm concerned about something.


Here's an example.  Right now, one of my cats just isn't acting like himself.  He seems to be stuffed up in his nose, yet he has no eye or nasal discharge, and once a night he goes into this little coughing fit where it seems like he's trying to expel a hairball, but nothing really comes out.  To me, it looks exactly like an asthma attack.  (I've Googled and YouTubed it many times, and that's how these coughing fits look, like the cats I see in the videos.)


But because my family knows how I am, they keep telling me things like, "Quit studying him so much, he'll be fine." etc. etc.  Tonight, he looks no better.  He's just sitting by himself instead of playing with his brothers and sisters as he usually would.  So tonight I asked my Mom what I should do, and now she's telling me that if it was her cat, she would take him to the vet.  But WHY didn't anyone say this when it first started a week ago?  Here's why, because they always think I'm being over-dramatic and needlessly worrying about things that aren't such a big deal.  (I constantly worry about my cats.)  So now I will most likely be taking him in if he doesn't do any better over the weekend.


My point is this, not everybody can always be right, about you, or about anything or anybody.  When I see my doctor and he tells me I'm not acting right or I seem extra-nervous, he's usually right.  Because he has the training to make that decision and observation, and he knows me and my anxiety issues.  But my family, even though they love me and I love them, and they do know me very well, sometimes I do NOT believe them when they say I'm "making a big deal about something over nothing."  Sometimes, I'm right, not them.  I get quite angry when something is actually wrong, I pick up on it right away, and all along they were telling me that it's "no big deal" and I "need to settle down and not jump to conclusions."


I hope my cat will be okay - this time, I actually hope that I'm wrong and everyone else is right.  :unsure:   Maybe I am studying his behavior too much, but he certainly isn't acting like himself.  That part -- I know I'm right about.  But that's all I know for sure at this point.

 

[janemariesayed]

It is a shame that people are just given medication to get over a mental illness. I believe that a mental illness is brought about by an emotional trauma, which can only be cured through talking therapy. Sure, any tablet will help a bit and give the patient the happy feeling, but only for a while. Medication could never get to the root of the problem, which is in the mind, not the body.


Why don't doctors recommend natural medicine, like St. Johns Wart, for example, or eating certain foods that raise the serotonin levels along with counseling. I definitely don't think that we should listen to teachers or anyone who may tell our parents we are mental in some way. Our parents can see that for themselves. But on the other hand, there are some parents who sadly don't care about their children and are the cause of the child's mental state of health.

 

[AngelaMc]

I always believe in a second opinion. Sometimes Doctors can be wrong also. I think more so today, than in the past kids are getting labeled with ADHD when in fact "they are being kids". I never remember this diagnosis being mentioned when I was growing up, unless it was spoken of silently.

 

[Concernedgal]

It is a shame that people are just given medication to get over a mental illness. I believe that a mental illness is brought about by an emotional trauma, which can only be cured through talking therapy. Sure, any tablet will help a bit and give the patient the happy feeling, but only for a while. Medication could never get to the root of the problem, which is in the mind, not the body.


Why don't doctors recommend natural medicine, like St. Johns Wart, for example, or eating certain foods that raise the serotonin levels along with counseling. I definitely don't think that we should listen to teachers or anyone who may tell our parents we are mental in some way. Our parents can see that for themselves. But on the other hand, there are some parents who sadly don't care about their children and are the cause of the child's mental state of health.

Theres no way a doctor would recommend natural medication then the pharmaceutical industry wouldn't make any money. They can't have that. I also hate how they prescribe a ssri like it's that jack of all trades. For example paxil my recent prescription. It's treats panic disorder, and depression. So you have to ask yourself. Do they k ow what's wrong with you really? Or are they just guessing and hoping for the best when they prescribe a multi condition medication?

 

[janemariesayed]

Sounds a bit like conspiracy theories, doesn't it? With the doctors being told what to say on the one hand, and pretending they know what to say on the other. I had a brilliant vet in Egypt. Vets can actually treat humans too. I used to go to him for all sorts of ailments and he would advise me. He was a great believer in natural remedies and used them as far as he could. He even had a bio-resonance therapy machine. I've seen this therapy machine cure a brain tumour on a dog before now. It is amazing therapy and all you need is charged spring water which you take rather like medicine. There is no touching the body or cutting into the body, but it cures everything. If you are ever sick so much, I fully recommend saving the pennies to get private treatment. Yet, this wonder machine is virtually unknown, and I have wondered why many times.