"Buzz" Disorders.

[Phantom]

Sorry if this has been done before but I thought it would be fun to debate all the disorders that are diagnosed irresponsibly.

 

Fibromyalgia aka Whiny Woman's Disease.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder.

Depression.

 

Here are some others that aren't necessarily over-diagnosed but just issues that only the individual has power to overcome:

 

Anorexia

Bulimia

Alcoholism

 

Yes, I do feel depression and ADD are legitimate disorders but they are diagnosed way too often and prescriptions are handed out like candy. So what if you get sad every now and then or your child is hyper. That is normal. Do we really need this much medication?

 

And what is the deal with Fibromyalgia. A middle age woman who is tired and cranky? Hello! What middle aged woman isn't? I laugh my ass off whenever I hear someone say they need to rest because their "Fibromyalgia is flaring up."

 

Eating and drinking disorders are on a different level. If someone suffers from these things, they are the only ones with the ability to change it. It might not be easy but such matters come down to self control.

 

So what does everyone think?

[angie]

Sorry if this has been done before but I thought it would be fun to debate all the disorders that are diagnosed irresponsibly.

 

Fibromyalgia aka Whiny Woman's Disease.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder.

Depression.

 

Here are some others that aren't necessarily over-diagnosed but just issues that only the individual has power to overcome:

 

 

And what is the deal with Fibromyalgia. A middle age woman who is tired and cranky? Hello! What middle aged woman isn't? I laugh my ass off whenever I hear someone say they need to rest because their "Fibromyalgia is flaring up."

 

Eating and drinking disorders are on a different level. If someone suffers from these things, they are the only ones with the ability to change it. It might not be easy but such matters come down to self control.

 

So what does everyone think?

 

I thought I was the only one who thought fibromyalgia was a made up disorder. It's what they diagnose you with when your hypochondriac self has come into the doctor's office one too many times with mysterious 'symptoms' and they just want to make you SHUT UP and GO AWAY. To me, sounds like a medical term for fat, lazy, hypochondriacs.

[Phantom]

I thought I was the only one who thought fibromyalgia was a made up disorder. It's what they diagnose you with when your hypochondriac self has come into the doctor's office one too many times with mysterious 'symptoms' and they just want to make you SHUT UP and GO AWAY. To me, sounds like a medical term for fat, lazy, hypochondriacs.

 

Fibromyalgia is probably my biggest annoyance on the above mentioned list. Everyone I know who has been diagnosed with it uses it as an excuse to get out of things they don't want to do.

 

For instance, if you go somewhere with a Fibro "suffererer" you will go all the places she wants to go and do all the things she wants to do. But when you make a suggetion, she will say, "Oh, I need to get home. My fibromyalgia is acting up." Give me a break. Find a real disease.

 

I'm not saying it isn't real. It just doesn't sound real to me and everyone I know who "suffers" from it uses it get out of work.

[angie]

Fibromyalgia is probably my biggest annoyance on the above mentioned list. Everyone I know who has been diagnosed with it uses it as an excuse to get out of things they don't want to do.

 

For instance, if you go somewhere with a Fibro "suffererer" you will go all the places she wants to go and do all the things she wants to do. But when you make a suggetion, she will say, "Oh, I need to get home. My fibromyalgia is acting up." Give me a break. Find a real disease.

 

I'm not saying it isn't real. It just doesn't sound real to me and everyone I know who "suffers" from it uses it get out of work.

Not being a doctor I can't say it doesn't exist but it does seem a bit convinient and hard to believe. Luckily I've only met one or two people with this 'disease' and they aren't friends that I have to put up with all the time.

 

As for using it to get out of stuff they don't want to do-that goes with ANY sort of chronic medical illness, believe me. I have a friend with 'back problems' and she cleans and rearranges her furniture but gives her job a hard time sometimes, and if she doesn't want to do something with her friends, it's "I can't, my back hurts". That sort of thing.

[manicmonday]

It doesn't take very much reading through the archives to know how I feel about people "diagnosing" other people. I don't have the energy or time for another debate about depression and how made up it is. However, the 31,000 people who tried to commit suicide in my state alone might not think that depression is so made up. 1 out of 6 of those survived. I guess it wasn't such a made up problem after all. But when there are people who continue to espouse "to get over it", what can we expect.

 

I'm not blaming you or pointing a finger at anyone. I'm just saying, how do you really know the depths of what someone is feeling? How can you say they need to "suck it up and get on with it"? Who are you to say they don't have a real problem or disease or malfunction in the body that makes them incapable of getting better on their own? It's the same with anorexia. Self control. Blech. It's the same as a gambling addiction, gaming addiction, smoking addiction, you name it. It's not always about self control. It's about dealing with issues properly. When a person has the right tools to live life, then the "problems" you mentioned become easier. However, it doesn't make them go away, it doesn't sweep them under the rug and it doesn't make the problem any prettier.

[ParasiteGod]

Fibromyalgia aka Whiny Woman's Disease.

Is bullshit. Are you sure its not just a sarcastic response that doctors made up, along the lines of changing blinker fluid?? I know people like that, though, and oh how I hate them.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

BDDs are weird. I was watching... some daytime show, and they had 2 anorexic girls sitting by eachother. They would look at eachother and say "Wow, you're way too skinny." but looking at themselves they still thought they were fat. They could look at another person just like them and they still can't see their illness. That's really scary.

Attention Deficit Disorder.

I know a girl who is "diagnosed" with this and she uses it as an excuse for stuff. BULLSHIT. Why don't you just admit you're flakey?

This is definitely used as an easy way out, for parents and schools. How about you try disciplining your kids???

Depression.

This one's a little over used too, but from firsthand experience, I'm saying its a real problem. If I didn't get professional help, I'd be dead right now.

 

And the eating disorders... a few of em tie into BDD. But freakin... compulsive over eating?? That's not a disorder that's a lack of self control. Emotional/Boredom eaters... all they need is to get a life and maybe lighten up. I can see the emotional eater maybe needing a little counseling, but boredom eating? Get real, get out, get a life.

[phreakwars]

Fibromyalgia is best treated by smoking cannabis.

.

.

[Phantom]

I don't have the energy or time for another debate about depression and how made up it is. However, the 31,000 people who tried to commit suicide in my state alone might not think that depression is so made up. 1 out of 6 of those survived. I guess it wasn't such a made up problem after all. But when there are people who continue to espouse "to get over it", what can we expect.

 

I'm not blaming you or pointing a finger at anyone. I'm just saying, how do you really know the depths of what someone is feeling? How can you say they need to "suck it up and get on with it"? Who are you to say they don't have a real problem or disease or malfunction in the body that makes them incapable of getting better on their own?

 

I do agree with you which is why I stated in the original thread, "Yes, I do feel depression and ADD are legitimate disorders but they are diagnosed way too often and prescriptions are handed out like candy."

 

I'm not bashing anyone with depression or ADD because I do feel they are both legitimate disorders caused by chemical malfunctions. After my son was born, I was thrilled to be a new mom but the chemical changes in my body were influencing my moods and feelings. I took anti-depressants for awhile and they helped me immensely. I've never had any experience with ADD but I do believe there are some genuine cases of ADD and depression. They just seem to be OVER diagnosed.

 

It's the same with anorexia. Self control. Blech. It's the same as a gambling addiction, gaming addiction, smoking addiction, you name it. It's not always about self control. It's about dealing with issues properly. When a person has the right tools to live life, then the "problems" you mentioned become easier. However, it doesn't make them go away, it doesn't sweep them under the rug and it doesn't make the problem any prettier.

 

I'm not sure if I would place anorexia in the same category as gambling and smoking. Eating disorders, in my opinion, are more psychological while gambling, smoking, and drinking are more along the lines of addictions. Not that I do not have sympathy or victims of eating disorders but unlike someone with a physical illness, they do have the tendency to do what they do to themselves. Their body is not infected with a virus, they don't have cancer, they didn't "catch" the disease. They do it to themselves. Even if the cause is not their fault, they can still try to gain control over the illness.

[Phantom]

Is bullshit. Are you sure its not just a sarcastic response that doctors made up, along the lines of changing blinker fluid?? I know people like that, though, and oh how I hate them.

 

hehehe Could be!

 

BDDs are weird. I was watching... some daytime show, and they had 2 anorexic girls sitting by eachother. They would look at eachother and say "Wow, you're way too skinny." but looking at themselves they still thought they were fat. They could look at another person just like them and they still can't see their illness. That's really scary.

 

I understand people being critical of themselves or seeing their flaws that nobody else can but for heaven's sake! Get over it. lol

 

And the eating disorders... a few of em tie into BDD. But freakin... compulsive over eating?? That's not a disorder that's a lack of self control. Emotional/Boredom eaters... all they need is to get a life and maybe lighten up. I can see the emotional eater maybe needing a little counseling, but boredom eating? Get real, get out, get a life.

 

LMAO! I don't know how I forgot this one. I can just picture someone sitting at their kitchen table shoving food into their face for everything they are worth. Not trying to be cruel- I am sure their problem stems from some sort of emotional malfunction. I hate saying it but this disorder is a little bit humorous to me due to the mental picture I get when I think about it. :o

[ParasiteGod]

Well the anorexia is part of Body Dysmorphic Disorder... sometimes. They can't just "get over it". Well... maybe with some excessive therapy.

The problem with eating disorders is that there are a few different reasons one would develop an eating disorder.

For instance, some people starve themselves because then they can at least control something. And for some its part of body dysmorphia.

Really the only eating disorders I think are serious are anorexia and the other self-starvation disorders. Bulima/Over eating can go crazy too, but I think those are probably a little easier to deal with than anorexia.

Some chick on secret lives of women was like "OMG I HAVE EXERCISE BULIMIA CAUSE LIKE I EXERCISE INSTEAD OF THROWING UP CAUSE I DONT LIKE THROWING UP BLAHBLAH" and I was sitting there thinking "...what an attention whore."

 

Mental illness is complicated :\

[manicmonday]

I do agree with you which is why I stated in the original thread, "Yes, I do feel depression and ADD are legitimate disorders but they are diagnosed way too often and prescriptions are handed out like candy."

 

Even with this cavate, you are still saying that if a person has these disorders, they probably were one of the millions, in your opinion, that were overdiagnosed. And how do you know that they there? For every person that overdramatizes their problems, there are a million who have people in their lives with this attitude. And they don't get help because they have friends and family who mock and riducule these disorders. Would you want to get help or more importantly, admit you have one of these disorders if you had friends or family that openly mocked them?

 

I'm not bashing anyone with depression or ADD because I do feel they are both legitimate disorders caused by chemical malfunctions. After my son was born, I was thrilled to be a new mom but the chemical changes in my body were influencing my moods and feelings. I took anti-depressants for awhile and they helped me immensely. I've never had any experience with ADD but I do believe there are some genuine cases of ADD and depression. They just seem to be OVER diagnosed.

 

And I don't totally disagree with you. But again ( and I know this is a debate board, bla bla bla bla) I hope in real life this isn't something you openly dismiss, because you never know who is dealing with what. And they might not feel comfortable talking about it, because they don't want to be in the "over diagnosed".

 

 

 

I'm not sure if I would place anorexia in the same category as gambling and smoking. Eating disorders, in my opinion, are more psychological while gambling, smoking, and drinking are more along the lines of addictions. Not that I do not have sympathy or victims of eating disorders but unlike someone with a physical illness, they do have the tendency to do what they do to themselves. Their body is not infected with a virus, they don't have cancer, they didn't "catch" the disease. They do it to themselves. Even if the cause is not their fault, they can still try to gain control over the illness.

 

 

Here's the wonderful thing about addiction. It changes the chemical process in the brain. So while you think that someone should know that they are doing it to themselves, that isn't a picture of reality. They don't. What started out as a fun past time or whatever, has now taken over the brain, body and soul. The craving, the desire, the NEED, it is ingrained. It has become psychological. While some people are able to quit smoking, for instance, by themselves, many many many people need help and struggle. Why? Because the psychological needs have changed. Now substitute that addiction with anything else and it is the same scenerio, only worse. Because gambling, drugs even food take money. And there enters the debate of legalizing drugs and even more gambling. Which I won't touch with a ten foot pool because my opinion is as solid as a jar of jelly.

 

Back to the question on hand. Are addicitons something someone needs to exhibit some self control over and just get over it? I say it is on the same parallel line as depression and ADD and any other "overdiagnosed" disorder out there. While to us, on the outside looking in, it seems the person should pick themselves up by the boot strap and get on with it, it IS NOT THAT EASY. And the people in our lives who are struggling with either addiction, depression, anorxia, bulemia, BBD, ADD deserve more than our casual dismissal.

[Phantom]

Bulima/Over eating can go crazy too, but I think those are probably a little easier to deal with than anorexia.

 

I pretty much consider anorexia and bulimia to be twin sisters. One pukes and one starves. Bulimia is also serious as repetitive vomiting can rupture the esophagus and cause death when one chokes on their own fluids. They both seem to wreak havoc on the body, in other words.

 

Some chick on secret lives of women was like "OMG I HAVE EXERCISE BULIMIA CAUSE LIKE I EXERCISE INSTEAD OF THROWING UP CAUSE I DONT LIKE THROWING UP BLAHBLAH" and I was sitting there thinking "...what an attention whore."

 

That's a first for me! Exercise bulimia? Actually sounds pretty healthy. Work off what you eat.

 

Seriously though, I see how that could work. The overuse of diuretics is also a form of bulimia.

[Phantom]

NOTE: Sorry about the double post. Just wanted to separate the long replies to different users.

 

Even with this cavate, you are still saying that if a person has these disorders, they probably were one of the millions, in your opinion, that were overdiagnosed. And how do you know that they there?

 

Honestly, there is no way to know. It IS a medical condition but it seems these days anyone who is just having a bad day is being prescribed anti-depressants. Everything should be judged on a case by case basis. What are your thoughts on ADD? Do you feel that is over diagnosed?

 

For every person that overdramatizes their problems, there are a million who have people in their lives with this attitude. And they don't get help because they have friends and family who mock and riducule these disorders. Would you want to get help or more importantly, admit you have one of these disorders if you had friends or family that openly mocked them?

 

You bring up an excellent point. I was made fun of, too, when I was taking anti-depressants right after my pregnancy. Sometimes I felt like a pariah. Other times I told the naysayers to go fuck themselves. Back when anti-deps were new, I will admit I thought some of the people who were on them were taking them because they were nutcases. :o

 

And I don't totally disagree with you. But again ( and I know this is a debate board, bla bla bla bla) I hope in real life this isn't something you openly dismiss, because you never know who is dealing with what. And they might not feel comfortable talking about it, because they don't want to be in the "over diagnosed".

 

Nope! I already stuck my foot in my mouth once when bitching about Fibromyalgia to my mother and her friend. Mom and I were laughing about it when her friend said she had it and became VERY defensive about it. After that, I like to keep my mouth shut in that regards.

 

Here's the wonderful thing about addiction. It changes the chemical process in the brain. So while you think that someone should know that they are doing it to themselves, that isn't a picture of reality. They don't. What started out as a fun past time or whatever, has now taken over the brain, body and soul. The craving, the desire, the NEED, it is ingrained. It has become psychological. While some people are able to quit smoking, for instance, by themselves, many many many people need help and struggle. Why? Because the psychological needs have changed. Now substitute that addiction with anything else and it is the same scenerio, only worse. Because gambling, drugs even food take money. And there enters the debate of legalizing drugs and even more gambling.

 

Back to the question on hand. Are addicitons something someone needs to exhibit some self control over and just get over it? I say it is on the same parallel line as depression and ADD and any other "overdiagnosed" disorder out there. While to us, on the outside looking in, it seems the person should pick themselves up by the boot strap and get on with it, it IS NOT THAT EASY. And the people in our lives who are struggling with either addiction, depression, anorxia, bulemia, BBD, ADD deserve more than our casual dismissal.

 

Great response and perspective.

[manicmonday]

 

Honestly, there is no way to know. It IS a medical condition but it seems these days anyone who is just having a bad day is being prescribed anti-depressants. Everything should be judged on a case by case basis. What are your thoughts on ADD? Do you feel that is over diagnosed?

 

In all seriousness? Yes, I think it's overdiagnosed. But then I read blogs or have people irl who have are going through the battle with their children and I think, who am I to say that the struggle isn't real? Also, 90% of ADD cases are later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a disorder I'm all too intimate with. And here's another thought. 100 years ago, people weren't diagnosed with ADD and bipolar because we didn't have the technology or knowledge. But what did happen was that people were just put in the insane asylum, to be treated like animals. I would much prefer the overdiagnoses of today, than what happened 100 years ago.

[rizzo]

I think many things are over-diagnosed these days. And instead of finding out the root causes of problems, the doctors give us a pill and send us on our merry way. Treating the symptom not the problem has become the norm.

 

Here's the wonderful thing about addiction. It changes the chemical process in the brain. So while you think that someone should know that they are doing it to themselves, that isn't a picture of reality. They don't. What started out as a fun past time or whatever, has now taken over the brain, body and soul. The craving, the desire, the NEED, it is ingrained. It has become psychological. While some people are able to quit smoking, for instance, by themselves, many many many people need help and struggle. Why? Because the psychological needs have changed.

 

Very well said.