What's in a name?
A story of two diagnoses, and why the words we use matter when it comes to mental health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15173/cjae.v5i1.5967Keywords:
misdiagnosis, bipolar disorder, autism, identity, inclusive nomenclatureAbstract
Abstract: This essay reflects on my mental health journey that began when I first received a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder at age 18. After countless ineffective treatments and conflicting diagnoses over the course of my young adult years, by the time I was 23, I feared that my condition would never improve. However, a family members’ autism diagnosis prompted me to pursue an assessment myself. After two years on a waitlist, I received a diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder, which changed my perception of myself and led to a massively improved quality of life. This transformative experience showed me the importance of informed and compassionate care, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of mental health conditions and the language used to describe them.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (5th Edition). American Psychiatric Association. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Levine, H. (2024, December 3). Autism: The challenges and opportunities of an adult diagnosis. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/autism-the-challenges-and-opportunities-of-an-adult-diagnosis
Zwaigenbaum, L., Brian, J. A., & Ip, A. (2019). Early detection for autism spectrum disorder in young children. Paediatrics & Child Health, 24(7), 424–432. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxz119
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