mislabelling somatic concerns as mental disorders

[helenlegs 11]

This is a really good article about 'it's all in your head' and the 'too easy' 'dustbin' diagnosis ( too trite a description and I don't mean to 'rubbish' a diagnosis that is psychological, as this is as real as any other, I know) when there IS an actual organic problem.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dsm ... der?page=2
This is something that I have had to endure, well still am actually.
I have tried for a benefit (Industrial injuries, as I fell at work) but although the benefit people are happy to accept that my injury was caused by the fall they are also happy to accept that my problem is central sensitisation rather than actual pelvic neuralgia.
I will post an update of my ridiculous struggle at some stage but this article means quite a bit to me. I am very happy to read that people who can make a difference are looking into this problem realistically.
It is far too easy an option to say, it's psychosomatic.
Even tho' much of the pain management treatments will be similar whether the problem is psychological or somatic the are massive knock on issues if wrongly categorised with regard to any benefits or insurance as explained in this article. Then there is any actual targeted treatments of course, oh best not to get me started
Helen

[Karyn]

Thank you for the article, Helen. I agree with you about how easy the medical community will diagnose patients with a psychosomatic disorders, simply because they don't understand the pathology. This paragraph from the article bothered me quite a bit:

DSM 5 must emphasize that physical symptoms deserve the respect of a thorough work-up before assuming their cause is psychiatric. And people with defined medical illnesses should not be casually mislabeled as also mentally ill just because they are upset about being sick.

Such as yourself; I'm very pleased to hear that someone (anyone!) is acknowledging this. The reason why the statement bothers me so much is because I was deemed a psycosomatic case only AFTER having the aforesaid "thorough work-up" (extensive lab work, lumbar MRI's, standard pelvic MRI's, cystocopies, colonoscopies...). It's been my experience that if you present with symptoms which aren't commonly treated or known about; you're not taken seriously and dismissed.

And people with defined medical illnesses should not be casually mislabeled as also mentally ill just because they are upset about being sick.
I like this statement. Being upset about sickness or unrelenting, unretractable pain IS A NORMAL, HEALTHY HUMAN REACTION.
Best,
Karyn

[helenlegs 11]

Yes Karyn, this needs to addressed as they say in the article sooner rather than later doesn't it.
Just read HM's post on the thread about that poor woman with PGAD who committed suicide. Her words work equally well here.
Not only do Doctors and beaurocrats not believe us; they don't even doubt their omnipotence enough to do a simple Google search and find out that Neurologists who are smarter than them know this is real.
Well said HM. This whole PN problem is tough enough without possible ridicule,probable misdiagnosis and having to prove ourselves time and time again and still not be believed.
This is my own experience to a T, things need to change!

[kia kaha]

amen.
theyve done it to me.