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Those suffering from heavy mental burdens leave their trust to professionals to treat them, but they can still experience mental health misdiagnosis.
The mental health system has undergone a vicious cycle of readjustments.
Previously referred to as lunatic asylums, psychiatric hospitals weren’t exactly how people envisioned them to be. It wasn’t a safe space for individuals seeking comfort and peace. Instead, as a result of misjudgment and prejudice, these establishments had a long history of mistreatment and malpractice of people who needed help the most. It’s heartbreaking and paradoxical that those who needed saving were thrust into a space where they’re treated the opposite.
Those going through mental health problems were locked up against their will, their value regarded as something below human. This history is best documented in the story of abuse torture corruption and murder by Patricia Lubeck. Her book, Asylum Scandals, captures the horrific history of mistreatment for mental illnesses, as establishments were still in the dark about the proper care for these individuals.
Fortunately, times have changed. Yet, despite modern technology and advancements, there remains room for improvement, especially regarding mental health misdiagnosis.
The Truth About Mental Health In Today’s Society
It was in 1949 when society first recognized and raised awareness for mental health issues. It was around this year that mental illnesses were finally paid enough attention and appropriately treated as legitimate health issues. Instead of throwing around random procedures in hopes they will result in something, society sought to understand this matter for people’s well-being genuinely.
However, the brain is complex, and its implications on people’s lives are convoluted.
It has taken years for society to recognize this structure, and it might take longer to understand the human network. Hence, it can be expected that even professionals will face errors regarding detection and treatment. Mental health has been taken seriously, and people have fought to eradicate the stigmas surrounding it. But this doesn’t neutralize the possibility of mental health misdiagnosis.
While they’re nursing people, conscious beings with lives equally important, professionals can’t avoid committing mistakes. Mental health misdiagnosis may be a prevalent issue in today’s society. But this doesn’t mean it’s done of one’s own volition. Instead, these mistakes are only committed because they lack more profound knowledge and understanding. It’s not done out of ill intention but due to various circumstances piling together into one detrimental medical negligence.
Whether it’s because of delayed diagnosis or a straightforward misreading, mental health misdiagnosis is as common as one might think it is.
Unfortunately, not everyone realizes they’ve been misdiagnosed and will continue living life according to their diagnosis conditions. This doesn’t only cause detrimental effects depending on the medications they’re taking but also the mental stress their diagnosis imposes on them.
The Impact Of Mental Health Misdiagnosis On People
Mental health misdiagnosis happens because of how impossible it can be to detect mental illness. With hundreds of different mental ailments, it can’t be helped that some may overlap with others. This causes difficulty in separating and diagnosing them, putting people in vulnerable spots.
To arrive at a precise diagnosis, people commonly undergo a paper-and-pencil exam. These resources are supposed to measure their health and possible complications they may face. Hence, it’s no surprise why misdiagnosis has become prevalent in society. However, while it, unfortunately, has become a common occurrence, this doesn’t mean it can be overlooked.
Victims of mental health misdiagnosis won’t only experience a troubling life with the wrong limitations. But they will also experience distress, adding to the existing mental burden they’re carrying.
Misdiagnosis may seem like a trivial matter. After all, a mental health issue being treated as another matter of similar condition may seem like the same thing. However, there will be evident consequences when symptoms are neglected and addressed differently. Victims may feel disregarded, and their symptoms will feel cheated, causing their conditions to worsen.
The Opposite Effect, A Deterioration Of Health
Depending on the diagnosis, patients commonly receive medications and behavioral processes that regulate their symptoms. However, when mental health misdiagnosis happens, these won’t match with what they’re supposed to address. This causes the system to be overwhelmed with the wrong stimulations and the illness not adequately treated.
Once this misalignment happens, victims may also develop new conditions as a consequence. The distress and disruption brought by the misdiagnosis can trigger other underlying conditions related to stress. This will be added on top of the current situation they’re experiencing, doubling the burden individuals are carrying and juggling. Hence, mental health misdiagnosis may seem trivial, but their impacts can be devastating, especially regarding the individual’s coping mechanism.
When the patient experiences additional stress, the people around them must cope and live with it. This means the misdiagnosis affects the victim and their support system. This leads to an expected decline in health for everyone in the family, with stress and frustration piling up.
Mental health misdiagnosis can have a lasting impact on patients. Hence, while it can be tricky to avoid, professionals must ensure they’re a hundred and more percent sure of their diagnosis.
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