The following of several observations relative to psychiatric diagnoses are significant to me, as they contain observed guidelines that influence treatment under certain circumstances. Although I don’t consider myself to be a master of the art of diagnosis, I feel that my views are well thought out.
Claiming a stake into a proper diagnosis (of psychiatric illnesses is a negotiable process between a physician and client. That has been true for a lot of people/clients that I have met over the years. When I read an article entitled "MEN AND DEPRESSION," published by NEWSWEEK in May of 2007, I felt a response would be a good idea. Having learned that it is essential to wade through the clinical application, and try to apply instinctual awareness of one's situation, the ultimate authority on the ins and outs of personal trials is the person dealing with them. In trying to bottle one's own experience, it seems like capturing a sneeze. One hopes that they get more than a whiff in time. A psychiatrist provides options to guide a client. (To be inclusive, I would also like to note that supplements can help with anxiety and depression. "A Mind of Your Own," by Kelly Brogan, MD, is worth a read.)
In the Midwest this may be called a testimonial; in New York, an editorial; in San Francisco, the beginning of a column. No matter what, it is meant to be read with an open mind because, after all, it is about the brain. It is a culmination of some years of firsthand experience with the added good luck of meeting extraordinary people. Additionally, I am speaking for some of those people, especially for those whom are unable to do so themselves. This is also important. Suffering from bipolar illness (Type III) has been a long road.
I had a life before experiencing an illness; one that evolved into fun with friends and full-time work, then with an abrupt deceleration, I fell into a deep depression. It was something that there was no power to claim over, which is, apparently, a familiar feeling in this situation.
Being put into an indiscernible orbit -- finding it difficult to move -- there was a notion of what emotion to exert and when to exert it. It would eventually become a whole new way of living. Gathering up internal forces, which felt like a kind of mumbo-jumbo and finding a friendly port became essential. In the mix there seemed to be another complex group of emotions, that could not be identifiable, waving for attention. Hitting front and center, no matter what the thought, it could swell up while taking a stroll down a street or looking at gardens; it was as if a truck had struck me. The only employable tactic I could think of was to wait it out until whatever was happening could find a way to subside. Proper medical attention also steadied the course with an added benefit of seeing a good doctor and talking to an array of friends.
Eventually, I began finding people with whom to associate, and noticing that with every association, there was another lesson to learn. Gleaning successes, we would pay attention to, as well -- anything to steady the ship. Already paying the price for a life unraveling, an additional burden would eventually surface, facing the reality of losing people that could no longer endure the struggle.
Now, speaking on their behalf - we were always in agreement that sharing experiences was beneficial - there were lessons to be learned, as seen repeatedly in this document. Every single day, we knew that time would start over again and we grabbed any twig with which to build a nest. Collectively, we hit the trail as each day began on paths that seemed to lead in any direction.
It is essential to note that although most of the clients were not in the profession of medicine, we were situated front and center for many years discussing with each other the goings on of our inner world. It was the one method of personal inquiry that was gratifying - an openness between us was always beneficial.
It is also good to keep in mind that some people, before my acquaintance with them, had been deemed to have received stellar psychiatric attention, which did not always translate into the best possible treatment. That was more difficult to come by. Finding the right combination of therapy and, possibly, medication was considered fine art and sometimes elusive. In total agreement with Christopher Reeves, the two mysteries left to solve concerning medicine were the spine and the brain. It is not a coincidence that both these areas involve the field of neurology. I was off medication three distinct periods during my mental health struggles, only to find that to be on some, in my case, was helpful. It is an individual decision, one that is not made lightly.