Diagnosis VS Symptoms
Okay, a few of you have been calling for me to post my own comments not just in reference to posted articles. You get what you ask for (hence the category title)…
There is a failing in the mental health provider community that in my opinion does more disservice to the clients than most anything else. This error comes when good doctors and therapists start treating the diagnosis. I have come across this way too many times. They forget that the diagnosis is ONLY A LABEL FOR A GROUP OF SYMPTOMS. When a provider focuses predominantly on the diagnosis – the patient may as well no longer be in the room. I have sat in a room with several people all of whom had the same diagnosis, all of whom were suffering, and each experienced different predominant symptoms of distress. Distress is personal. Diagnosis is a helpful tool in mental health – but lives are improved by addressing the causes of distress – the symptoms…and guess what?…”bedside manner” isn’t just about courtesy – your client often knows more than you do about their discomfort – if you listen to the person, together you can be successful.
just my nickel.