I was getting to know a potential client the other day. I asked them what they wanted from mental health therapy. Their reply was a list of labels and diagnoses. I’m depressed, I’m angry, I’m disorganized, I’m bipolar. Sadly, this is common in my line of business. People view themselves as an illness, instead of who they are as people.
I can’t blame them really. This dynamic was created by the healthcare industry. We as providers can recognize and treat an illness. Diagnostic criteria creates a common language between us, and helps us measure acceptable treatment practices. Unfortunately, we in the healthcare profession have adopted the labels and missed the true journey of recovery in people’s lives. We have actually trained people to believe their illness is more important than the value they bring to this life.
How do we drop the labels and truly create recovery? What is recovery anyway? Mainstream healthcare defines recovery as the absence of illness or symptoms. After a lifetime of experiences as a client, and as a healer, I wonder if that definition is possible. Can we have an absence of symptoms from traumatic life experiences? Are we ever “symptom free” from life itself?
As people, we must take a different look at ourselves. Trauma and/or major illness changes the very fabric of our life. There are many methods to manage the effects of this, but we cannot undo the events that have occurred.
You may ask: Sooo, Teri. What do I do now?
Rediscover who you are, instead of comparing yourself to the past. Accept how you function in the world, and continue to grow in health. Surround yourself with people who love and accept you. Discover the gift you bring to this world and express it any way you can. View recovery as a lifelong process, not as an event. You don’t “arrive” at recovery.
View yourself as managing a health condition, and separate the illness from your identity and self worth. Having an illness, is very different from being an illness. Be aware how you view yourself, and stay connected with your desires, strengths and value. Refer to yourself in positive terms. Stay engaged with family, friends and community. Create things in your life that you enjoy, and are looking forward to doing.
For healthcare providers, truly see the person in front of you. They have valuable life experiences, strength and hope. As them what they believe is the right thing to do, or what they are willing to do in treatment. Encourage them to trust their judgment and observations. If the person isn’t following the treatment plan, that’s a cue to change, or further explain the treatment; not to blame the person receiving the services.
Finally, we as a society must continue the conversation around self-value. For too long, we have valued money, power, status, ego, and appearance. This shuts the majority of the population out of our community ideals of who is valuable. Thank goodness we have progressed to a place, where individuals are making a stand, demanding to be seen as unique and valued. Every living being, provides a unique link in the web of life. Stand up, and see the value that already exists within you.