Diagnosing Mental Illness
Diagnosing a mental illness is a serious business with serious consequences.
The question that a psychiatrist must face is the consideration whether a patient is suffering from an acute, and therefore often temporary state of upset of mind and emotions that could be considered a 'normal' life experience or whether it is a more serious issue.
Can a psychologist help to relieve the patient through the gentle art of education in self analysis or is it a matter offering a greater challenge to any therapist.
At what point does a despondent or unhappy person require diagnosis and medical drug doses? We would all hope that professionals to whom we turn will first offer a natural and simple solution rather than treatment that diminishes our independence, as occurs under chemical drugs.
The common-sense alternative to psychiatric drug therapy we would anticipate as the application of the normal self disciplines, positive exchanges between friends or professional counsellors and a happy involvement in a creative life enterprise.
What psychiatrist has the vision to foretell just how long a patient's depression will last - or how severe a state it is - and if the sufferer has family and friends to give real psychological support? Without sensitive probing and enquiry, the real causes of anyone's unhappiness that can increase into a sense of hopelessness, are not likely to be easily revealed at first.
A psychiatrist fulfils his duty by first recommending such a patient suffering 'depression' for instance, attends counseling with a professional psychologist well trained to seek insight into causes and they will work in collaboration.
When considering the overall picture, we acknowledge that most of us would know that any disturbed or extreme state of our mind or emotions requires adjustment.
We would usually then seek a psychologist who can assist us in making the corrections we need to restore a balanced state of our psyche.
Only then should we allow that if all natural efforts fail, is may be necessary to consider it is valid to seek further help from a psychiatrist.
As drugs are becoming a serious issue with much controversy about the risks in administering mind changing psychiatric chemicals, any psychiatrist who delves deeper and who elects to use the subtle rather than the invasive chemical method is more likely to offer us real and lasting assistance.
However, we must always remember that our mind and consciousness is our very own.
We cannot avoid our responsibility in making whatever changes to our thoughts and feelings that are necessary in order to align ourselves with our ideal state.
No one can do this for us.
But our first positive step begins as we decide to concentrate upon building our physical health and fitness knowing that exercise is a wonderful tonic for creating a positive mood change and also for ensuring long term health and peace of mind.
The question that a psychiatrist must face is the consideration whether a patient is suffering from an acute, and therefore often temporary state of upset of mind and emotions that could be considered a 'normal' life experience or whether it is a more serious issue.
Can a psychologist help to relieve the patient through the gentle art of education in self analysis or is it a matter offering a greater challenge to any therapist.
At what point does a despondent or unhappy person require diagnosis and medical drug doses? We would all hope that professionals to whom we turn will first offer a natural and simple solution rather than treatment that diminishes our independence, as occurs under chemical drugs.
The common-sense alternative to psychiatric drug therapy we would anticipate as the application of the normal self disciplines, positive exchanges between friends or professional counsellors and a happy involvement in a creative life enterprise.
What psychiatrist has the vision to foretell just how long a patient's depression will last - or how severe a state it is - and if the sufferer has family and friends to give real psychological support? Without sensitive probing and enquiry, the real causes of anyone's unhappiness that can increase into a sense of hopelessness, are not likely to be easily revealed at first.
A psychiatrist fulfils his duty by first recommending such a patient suffering 'depression' for instance, attends counseling with a professional psychologist well trained to seek insight into causes and they will work in collaboration.
When considering the overall picture, we acknowledge that most of us would know that any disturbed or extreme state of our mind or emotions requires adjustment.
We would usually then seek a psychologist who can assist us in making the corrections we need to restore a balanced state of our psyche.
Only then should we allow that if all natural efforts fail, is may be necessary to consider it is valid to seek further help from a psychiatrist.
As drugs are becoming a serious issue with much controversy about the risks in administering mind changing psychiatric chemicals, any psychiatrist who delves deeper and who elects to use the subtle rather than the invasive chemical method is more likely to offer us real and lasting assistance.
However, we must always remember that our mind and consciousness is our very own.
We cannot avoid our responsibility in making whatever changes to our thoughts and feelings that are necessary in order to align ourselves with our ideal state.
No one can do this for us.
But our first positive step begins as we decide to concentrate upon building our physical health and fitness knowing that exercise is a wonderful tonic for creating a positive mood change and also for ensuring long term health and peace of mind.
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