How does it make you feel having someone tell you your mentally disabled?

Question

Hearing that really hurt me a month ago. When my doctors were deciding weather it be bipolar with psychotic features or schizophrenia affective disorder, they told me this. It made me feel lowest of the low, like i wouldnt get anywhere in life, and encouraged me to apply for disability.

Im not saying that anyone on disability is bad, but i dont feel like i need it. Im giogn to go to college when im ready and i am applying for jobs, and even have an interview Tuesday!

I was given a final diagnoses of Schizo affective disorder and I hope to become a physicist one day and prove my doctors wrong, and meet John Nash and discuss things.

Have you ever been told this by a doctor? how did it make you feel?

Answer 1

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy about 4 months ago. when i first heard i was just worried that people would find out and i would be thought of as different (i'm 15.) but the more i thought about it, it was a good thing, i'm not "just like everyone else" and if i ever decide to do anything where i'm in the public eye, i would be nice to be thought of as an inspiration.

Answer 2

i was told that i have bipolar 2 disorder, and it just confirmed what i already knew to be true, so it wasn't too bad. i'm planning on becoming a psychiatrist so i can better understand my disorder as well as help others with theirs.

Answer 3

I have never been told but if I was told that I wouldnt think low of myself, I would want to know ways I can improve myself without going on medication.  

It would be more helpful and you could tell us why they came to that conclusion.  No one lables you a schizo for no reason.  If it is really that sever dont think low of yourself if you are taking steps to help yourself.  It would be low if you didnt and ended up hurting someone

Answer 4

I think anytime you are given any type of diagnosis-at first it's shocking to say the least.

A friend of mine was severely disabled, but always referred to herself as differently-abled. She stated she could do just about anything anyone else could do, but did it differently. That has meant a lot to me over the years working with individuals.

If you are able to work and have insurance why go on disability. The good point of getting disability would be to have insurance for doctors and the correct medication.

You know that if you are diagnosed with a disability you are ofter eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation. They paid for my Masters Degree.

If you were put on meds take them and learn to be the best you can no matter what. I have a friend that is Schizophrenic and is a research doctor,nothing stops her once she was stable on her medication. Good Luck  

Answer 5

This is the trouble with our obsessive need for diagnosis and categorization.  There are a lot of people who feel this way.  The idea of a diagnosis is to give people relief so they can know what their symptoms mean but in reality it can be more disabling than the actual disorder.  Psychological disorders are real but they do not have to be a bad thing.  It simply means that you are different and will face some unique challenges but if you think about it everyone is different and faces unique challenges with or without a mental health diagnosis.  The best thing is to remember who you are as a person...we are not our disorders those are only a small aspect of who we are as people.  It sounds like you have the right attitude about it and as long as you continue to pursue your dreams you will prove them wrong.  

Answer 6

Well, I'm kind of used to it. I've been diagnosed with about 7 different mental illnesses. I am on disability. Without it, I would be pretty much screwed because it is hard for me to hold down a job. But I am going to college. I actually just started. I think when people hear that you've got a mental disability, they automatically assume you can't do anything. Well, it just drives me more to prove them wrong. I know what you're talking about because I'm in the same boat as you. Don't worry though. Just use that pain to turn into something good. Go after your dreams and show everyone that you can do things just as well or even better then people who don't have any mental disabilities. Good luck in life. And God Bless!