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Pathologising

B

I'm just going to quote myself here from the Terminology thread:

" ... a lot of things I grew up believing were just a normal part of being human have names and are actually now labelled a 'condition' or 'disorder'.

I think I must now have about 20 conditions and disorders I wasn't aware of until recently.

It feels as though everything is being neatly put into boxes."

I read this article the other day

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-special-needs-racket-is-out-of-control/

(if a box comes up + it looks like you can't read the article, you can close the box down and read still).

I'm really undecided what I think about all this.

When I was younger I had 'anxiety' put on my medical records and I was very surprised as I thought everyone got anxious, although I'd been given meds to deal with it.

Anyway, I later heard about 'general anxiety disorder' and I still can't make my mind up about whether anxiety is just part of the human condition.

Do others have views on these thoughts?

Are too many things being pathologised and defined these days?

Parents

  • Worry is a normal part of being a human. But anxiety that takes over thoughts and affects your ability to function in life is not. If medication is needed then it's unlikely to be a normal level of worry.

    I really dislike the term label. Diagnoses shouldn't be thought of as labels. You wouldn't tell someone with asthma that they didn't need a label. They do - it keeps them alive. People with mental health and neurodivergent conditions deserve to have their needs met and reasonable adjustments made. This isn't about labelling people, or putting them in boxes. It allows support (yes I'm aware there is still a long way to go for effective support but that is a different discussion).

    I also strongly believe people are entitled to understand themselves and a diagnosis can help them with that. Calling it a label makes it sound negative and for me I think it adds to the stigma of neurodivergency and mental health conditions.

Reply

  • Worry is a normal part of being a human. But anxiety that takes over thoughts and affects your ability to function in life is not. If medication is needed then it's unlikely to be a normal level of worry.

    I really dislike the term label. Diagnoses shouldn't be thought of as labels. You wouldn't tell someone with asthma that they didn't need a label. They do - it keeps them alive. People with mental health and neurodivergent conditions deserve to have their needs met and reasonable adjustments made. This isn't about labelling people, or putting them in boxes. It allows support (yes I'm aware there is still a long way to go for effective support but that is a different discussion).

    I also strongly believe people are entitled to understand themselves and a diagnosis can help them with that. Calling it a label makes it sound negative and for me I think it adds to the stigma of neurodivergency and mental health conditions.

Children
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