justhope
08-22-07, 12:44 AM
I get a wonderful free newsletter from this site.
I know Andi has it posted somewhere.
I can't say how much info this site has provided.
Some of the examples I have altered, to make it more personal, so as to not infring on others rights, I have added my own, and left a blank for yours and it's highlighted by italics. It's what we all face in having a mental disorder or disease (which I don't like to say..or even admit sometimes) that will be with us, forever!
In light of some of the recent subject matter discussed here. And because I have personally dealt with this. I thought this articles and the one's attached to it would be so appropriate.
Enjoy.
If you don't want to troll through it all, you can do to the site yourself and read there. I will provide the link at the bottom.
Q. Why Cant I Accept My Diagnosis?
From Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse,
Your Guide to Bipolar Disorder.
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
A. Perhaps one explanation may be a physical condition known as anosognosia.
The Online Medical Dictionary of Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB defines anosognosia as the “ignorance of the presence of disease (2003). The term comes from Greek in which nosos is the word for disease and gnosis is the word for knowledge. A literal translation is “to not know a disease” (TAC). It is the medical term used to describe a person’s impaired awareness or lack of insight into a disorder with which the person has been diagnosed. In other words, the individual does not recognize or believe they have the illness.
This condition, believed to be caused by damage to the right side of the brain, affects as many as 40 percent of those with bipolar disorder. It is of serious concern because it is why many of these individuals are not medication compliant.
Vicki shares, “There is a term for not believing that you are sick, anosognosia.
It is a lot more than being in denial. This may be the reason that I'm not med compliant and really treatment resistant. I hear what they say but it all goes through a filter in my head, and comes out saying that they are wrong and I am right. As long as I can get away without taking meds then the better off I am. After all, I'm not really sick!”
I am adding two more articles, that go right along with it...
Denial – A Common Defense Mechanism
Denial is an unconscious defense mechanism used by those faced with a painful reality. It is an automatic reaction in an attempt to reduce anxiety by denying thoughts, feelings or facts that are consciously intolerable. It is common for those who are diagnosed with a life-long illness to go through periods of denial. Several of the About.com Health Guides discuss denial from the perspective of differing conditions. All of this information is relevant and helpful for those with bipolar disorder because, as we can each testify, denial is a common denominator in the cycles of mood swings.
The loss of your health can take you through the stages of grief.
In 1969, Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross proposed 5 stages of death and dying in her book On Death and Dying. Most of us are familiar with what is often called 'the five stages of grief', which are:
Denial
Anger
Depression
Bargaining
Acceptance
Since this book was published, Dr. Kubler-Ross's work has been applied to the many situations of change people experience in a lifetime, including onset of a chronic illness. There is no time limit set for each stage, as every person progresses towards acceptance of their illness at their own pace. Some people may experience more than one stage at a time, or in an alternate order. Critics argue that the steps are too rigid, and are not applicable to the grieving process, yet people all over the world have found comfort in her work.
The first stage in acceptance of a chronic illness like (Insert Your Diagnoses here, for me it's BipolarII / ADD ) is Denial. The patient may convince himself or herself that the lab reports were accidentally switched, or the doctor is wrong. With the often-sudden onset of (insert here, your symptoms) it can be easy to believe that symptoms are due to stress, and will go away eventually. Patients might even refuse to take medication or alter their diet, because that would mean that the chronic illness is real.
The second stage is Anger. Anger at the doctor who made the diagnosis, the illness itself, and even at the rest of the world for going on about its business as if nothing had changed. Spending too much time at this stage can leave a person resentful of healthy people and bitter. Friends and family may even shun a person who gets stuck in this stage.
Bargaining is the third stage. A person with (Insert Your Diagnoses here) may rationalize eating unhealthily or not taking medications. Thoughts like, "One day of missing my meds won't hurt," or "I'll schedule my appointment or visit to the pharmacy, when I'm not so busy" may be prevalent. Unfortunately, Bipolar/ADD (your diagnoses) doesn't go away for the weekend, and it doesn't care that a visit to the doctor or pharmacy is something most people would rather avoid.
The fourth stage, one that is familiar to anyone diagnosed with a chronic illness is Depression. Patients may feel sorry for themselves, and lose hope of ever achieving remission. It is important to recognize that medical help is necessary if depression becomes all consuming or results in suicidal thoughts. Adjusting to a chronic illness is a difficult and stressful time, and seeking out help to deal with it is the best way to ensure a more healthy life.
The fifth and final stage is one of Acceptance. Bipolar / ADD (add your diagnoses) is not going to go away, and becoming educated about the disease is the way to lead a healthier life.
Dr. Kubler-Ross's 5 stages provide a guideline in the lonely and perilous journey to accepting (actually IBS is what she wrote about) I just added, Bipolar/ADD as a part of life. That is not to say that a chronic illness should rule one's life, or that the search for a cause and cure should stop, but that regular doctors appointments and medication are going to be part of life. Ideally a very small part of a life that is filled with joy, love, and incredible experiences despite the illness.
This one is my absolute favorite. Well and for most of us here it also applies, since several of us, have the lovely co-morbid of ADD anyway!
I DO NOT Have ADD! (or Bipolar, or Depression or yada yada)
Understanding Denial
Where once ADHD was considered to be a children’s disorder, it is now known that it lasts throughout life. According to Sam Goldstein, in Update on Adult ADD, one third of children with ADD move into adulthood with relatively minor problems. Another one third continue to experience difficulties and the final one third have significant problems throughout adulthood. For those that continue to have problems, there seems to be a never ending string of failures. Throughout their lives, they may have been told “You can do it, if you would just try harder” or worse “You are lazy, stupid, etc.” After hearing the same remarks for many years, one tends to believe. It may be possible to hide failures, and to pretend they do not exist.
Sometimes, practice makes perfect and by the time an individual reaches adulthood, their fear of additional failure can cause them to deny or blame others for their difficulties.
A common type of denial is “There is nothing wrong with me, it is all ___’s fault.” It may be they received a bad grade because the teacher did not like them, they were passed up for a promotion because the boss did not like them. They may have been fired because the co-workers were causing problems and intimidating them, they punched someone because that person provoked them. Time after time, problems are transferred to another individual. Eventually, after years of practicing blaming others, an individual no longer takes responsibility for any actions.
Another type of denial is to simply stop trying. Fear of failure can cause an individual to no longer want to try. The possibility of failure is too much to bear. Excuses are used such as “I don’t want to,” “That just isn’t my style,” “I don’t believe in psychology,” or the person simply avoids situations that require effort or include something new. Fear of failure can be seen as being lazy, unmotivated or not caring. On the opposite end of this, there is the fear that, after an evaluation, they may not be ADD. This can present a whole new set of problems, with the individual having to face that maybe they really may be stupid or lazy.
Yet another possible reason for denial is the label that ADD presents. When an individual has tried throughout their lives to overcome symptoms of ADD and find ways to succeed, to give in to a diagnosis may feel as if they are giving in and everyone in their life will be “proved right.” With a diagnosis, they may feel that it will be proven that something is really wrong with them.
Finally, there are many myths surrounding ADD. Much negative publicity on ADD and the medication used has been aired on television for years. Very little information on the positives of ADD, the successes and the creativeness has made it to the general public. These issues may be well known by those that have studied, researched and read about ADD, but to the general public, there is still a stigma to being diagnosed with ADD. It is still considered a “mental disorder.” It is treated by the psychiatric profession for the most part and many times counseling or therapy is recommended. To admit that one is “mentally ill” can be extremely difficult.
No matter which type of denial may show up, all are driven by fear. Even it has been a life filled with failure and isolation, sometimes it can be easier to stay within the comfort zone of familiar territory than to strike out and try something new and risk yet another failure.
Ok so I have been there...done this and sometimes still do.
I remember all to clearly as describing finding out I had BP as receiving news I had some terminal disease. I actually went through all of the stages of grief. And just like when someone you love dies, if you don't get through them all and come out on the other side, you might never come out at all.
I am happy I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even happier to know this time, it's not an oncoming train!
Hope :)
Oh yea, here's that link.
www.bipolar.about.com (http://www.bipolar.about.com)
I know Andi has it posted somewhere.
I can't say how much info this site has provided.
Some of the examples I have altered, to make it more personal, so as to not infring on others rights, I have added my own, and left a blank for yours and it's highlighted by italics. It's what we all face in having a mental disorder or disease (which I don't like to say..or even admit sometimes) that will be with us, forever!
In light of some of the recent subject matter discussed here. And because I have personally dealt with this. I thought this articles and the one's attached to it would be so appropriate.
Enjoy.
If you don't want to troll through it all, you can do to the site yourself and read there. I will provide the link at the bottom.
Q. Why Cant I Accept My Diagnosis?
From Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse,
Your Guide to Bipolar Disorder.
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
A. Perhaps one explanation may be a physical condition known as anosognosia.
The Online Medical Dictionary of Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB defines anosognosia as the “ignorance of the presence of disease (2003). The term comes from Greek in which nosos is the word for disease and gnosis is the word for knowledge. A literal translation is “to not know a disease” (TAC). It is the medical term used to describe a person’s impaired awareness or lack of insight into a disorder with which the person has been diagnosed. In other words, the individual does not recognize or believe they have the illness.
This condition, believed to be caused by damage to the right side of the brain, affects as many as 40 percent of those with bipolar disorder. It is of serious concern because it is why many of these individuals are not medication compliant.
Vicki shares, “There is a term for not believing that you are sick, anosognosia.
It is a lot more than being in denial. This may be the reason that I'm not med compliant and really treatment resistant. I hear what they say but it all goes through a filter in my head, and comes out saying that they are wrong and I am right. As long as I can get away without taking meds then the better off I am. After all, I'm not really sick!”
I am adding two more articles, that go right along with it...
Denial – A Common Defense Mechanism
Denial is an unconscious defense mechanism used by those faced with a painful reality. It is an automatic reaction in an attempt to reduce anxiety by denying thoughts, feelings or facts that are consciously intolerable. It is common for those who are diagnosed with a life-long illness to go through periods of denial. Several of the About.com Health Guides discuss denial from the perspective of differing conditions. All of this information is relevant and helpful for those with bipolar disorder because, as we can each testify, denial is a common denominator in the cycles of mood swings.
The loss of your health can take you through the stages of grief.
In 1969, Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross proposed 5 stages of death and dying in her book On Death and Dying. Most of us are familiar with what is often called 'the five stages of grief', which are:
Denial
Anger
Depression
Bargaining
Acceptance
Since this book was published, Dr. Kubler-Ross's work has been applied to the many situations of change people experience in a lifetime, including onset of a chronic illness. There is no time limit set for each stage, as every person progresses towards acceptance of their illness at their own pace. Some people may experience more than one stage at a time, or in an alternate order. Critics argue that the steps are too rigid, and are not applicable to the grieving process, yet people all over the world have found comfort in her work.
The first stage in acceptance of a chronic illness like (Insert Your Diagnoses here, for me it's BipolarII / ADD ) is Denial. The patient may convince himself or herself that the lab reports were accidentally switched, or the doctor is wrong. With the often-sudden onset of (insert here, your symptoms) it can be easy to believe that symptoms are due to stress, and will go away eventually. Patients might even refuse to take medication or alter their diet, because that would mean that the chronic illness is real.
The second stage is Anger. Anger at the doctor who made the diagnosis, the illness itself, and even at the rest of the world for going on about its business as if nothing had changed. Spending too much time at this stage can leave a person resentful of healthy people and bitter. Friends and family may even shun a person who gets stuck in this stage.
Bargaining is the third stage. A person with (Insert Your Diagnoses here) may rationalize eating unhealthily or not taking medications. Thoughts like, "One day of missing my meds won't hurt," or "I'll schedule my appointment or visit to the pharmacy, when I'm not so busy" may be prevalent. Unfortunately, Bipolar/ADD (your diagnoses) doesn't go away for the weekend, and it doesn't care that a visit to the doctor or pharmacy is something most people would rather avoid.
The fourth stage, one that is familiar to anyone diagnosed with a chronic illness is Depression. Patients may feel sorry for themselves, and lose hope of ever achieving remission. It is important to recognize that medical help is necessary if depression becomes all consuming or results in suicidal thoughts. Adjusting to a chronic illness is a difficult and stressful time, and seeking out help to deal with it is the best way to ensure a more healthy life.
The fifth and final stage is one of Acceptance. Bipolar / ADD (add your diagnoses) is not going to go away, and becoming educated about the disease is the way to lead a healthier life.
Dr. Kubler-Ross's 5 stages provide a guideline in the lonely and perilous journey to accepting (actually IBS is what she wrote about) I just added, Bipolar/ADD as a part of life. That is not to say that a chronic illness should rule one's life, or that the search for a cause and cure should stop, but that regular doctors appointments and medication are going to be part of life. Ideally a very small part of a life that is filled with joy, love, and incredible experiences despite the illness.
This one is my absolute favorite. Well and for most of us here it also applies, since several of us, have the lovely co-morbid of ADD anyway!
I DO NOT Have ADD! (or Bipolar, or Depression or yada yada)
Understanding Denial
Where once ADHD was considered to be a children’s disorder, it is now known that it lasts throughout life. According to Sam Goldstein, in Update on Adult ADD, one third of children with ADD move into adulthood with relatively minor problems. Another one third continue to experience difficulties and the final one third have significant problems throughout adulthood. For those that continue to have problems, there seems to be a never ending string of failures. Throughout their lives, they may have been told “You can do it, if you would just try harder” or worse “You are lazy, stupid, etc.” After hearing the same remarks for many years, one tends to believe. It may be possible to hide failures, and to pretend they do not exist.
Sometimes, practice makes perfect and by the time an individual reaches adulthood, their fear of additional failure can cause them to deny or blame others for their difficulties.
A common type of denial is “There is nothing wrong with me, it is all ___’s fault.” It may be they received a bad grade because the teacher did not like them, they were passed up for a promotion because the boss did not like them. They may have been fired because the co-workers were causing problems and intimidating them, they punched someone because that person provoked them. Time after time, problems are transferred to another individual. Eventually, after years of practicing blaming others, an individual no longer takes responsibility for any actions.
Another type of denial is to simply stop trying. Fear of failure can cause an individual to no longer want to try. The possibility of failure is too much to bear. Excuses are used such as “I don’t want to,” “That just isn’t my style,” “I don’t believe in psychology,” or the person simply avoids situations that require effort or include something new. Fear of failure can be seen as being lazy, unmotivated or not caring. On the opposite end of this, there is the fear that, after an evaluation, they may not be ADD. This can present a whole new set of problems, with the individual having to face that maybe they really may be stupid or lazy.
Yet another possible reason for denial is the label that ADD presents. When an individual has tried throughout their lives to overcome symptoms of ADD and find ways to succeed, to give in to a diagnosis may feel as if they are giving in and everyone in their life will be “proved right.” With a diagnosis, they may feel that it will be proven that something is really wrong with them.
Finally, there are many myths surrounding ADD. Much negative publicity on ADD and the medication used has been aired on television for years. Very little information on the positives of ADD, the successes and the creativeness has made it to the general public. These issues may be well known by those that have studied, researched and read about ADD, but to the general public, there is still a stigma to being diagnosed with ADD. It is still considered a “mental disorder.” It is treated by the psychiatric profession for the most part and many times counseling or therapy is recommended. To admit that one is “mentally ill” can be extremely difficult.
No matter which type of denial may show up, all are driven by fear. Even it has been a life filled with failure and isolation, sometimes it can be easier to stay within the comfort zone of familiar territory than to strike out and try something new and risk yet another failure.
Ok so I have been there...done this and sometimes still do.
I remember all to clearly as describing finding out I had BP as receiving news I had some terminal disease. I actually went through all of the stages of grief. And just like when someone you love dies, if you don't get through them all and come out on the other side, you might never come out at all.
I am happy I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even happier to know this time, it's not an oncoming train!
Hope :)
Oh yea, here's that link.
www.bipolar.about.com (http://www.bipolar.about.com)