The word "schizo" on its own has always had a really negative connotation, to the point that it's obviously derogatory. I'm not sure about "schizophrenic"; it has a more descriptive character, and the taboo is more around the illness than that word. Maybe it will eventually start to be seen as old-timey the way "an epileptic" would sound today.
Totally agree. I fully support not using that as a derogatory phrase. Mental health is very much the same as other types of health.
I’m not sure about “schizophrenic”
I think that's still actively used as a medical diagnosis? If so, then it's not pejorative.
It would be like stigmatizing diabetes and using "diabetic" as an insult. It's a medical condition that can be treated with medication. A person's medical conditions do not define them as a person.
edit: Looked into this more and "schizophrenic" even as an adjective is falling out of use. It's disorder-centered, which is divisive.
This is pretty subjective tbh. The medication usually prescribed has a few side effects I consider shitty enough to warrant discontinuation if they're encountered.
Yeah, you're right that everyone will have different outcomes. In general therapy + medication is incredibly beneficial to most folks with a mental health diagnosis. There are also multiple approved medication to help treat the symptoms of Schizophrenia.
Finding the right medication can take a while because everyone has different neural chemistry. That can definitely be rough and I went through that for a different condition I have. It was a marathon, but I'm glad I did it.
I understand there is a lot of wariness towards medication / therapy on the left, but I think it's important to not stigmatize mental health and that includes healthcare.
Yeah, that's a whole line of discussion that has some merit to it. I think the answer is genuinely somewhere close to a synthesis. Neurodiversity should be celebrated and as a part of that folks deserve treatment to help improve their quality of life without fear of stigma.
Even in an ideal world free of capitalism, those with mental health disorders will often still struggle to find balance and stability. I know I'm not in a good place if/when I ever decompensate. It's a terrible space to find yourself and reminds me of how I've heard diabetic lows described.
Treatment should never be forced and state mandated institutionalization has been a blight on the history of mental health as a discipline. There will always be some people that don't want any kind of treatment and that's their choice. I think a lot of the fear and hesitancy around healthcare will decrease though once it is provided universally.
The word "schizo" on its own has always had a really negative connotation, to the point that it's obviously derogatory. I'm not sure about "schizophrenic"; it has a more descriptive character, and the taboo is more around the illness than that word. Maybe it will eventually start to be seen as old-timey the way "an epileptic" would sound today.
Totally agree. I fully support not using that as a derogatory phrase. Mental health is very much the same as other types of health.
I think that's still actively used as a medical diagnosis? If so, then it's not pejorative.
It would be like stigmatizing diabetes and using "diabetic" as an insult. It's a medical condition that can be treated with medication. A person's medical conditions do not define them as a person.
edit: Looked into this more and "schizophrenic" even as an adjective is falling out of use. It's disorder-centered, which is divisive.
Correct: "My sister has schizophrenia"
Incorrect: "My sister is a schizophrenic"
Hopefully this helps others.
This is pretty subjective tbh. The medication usually prescribed has a few side effects I consider shitty enough to warrant discontinuation if they're encountered.
Yeah, you're right that everyone will have different outcomes. In general therapy + medication is incredibly beneficial to most folks with a mental health diagnosis. There are also multiple approved medication to help treat the symptoms of Schizophrenia.
Finding the right medication can take a while because everyone has different neural chemistry. That can definitely be rough and I went through that for a different condition I have. It was a marathon, but I'm glad I did it.
I understand there is a lot of wariness towards medication / therapy on the left, but I think it's important to not stigmatize mental health and that includes healthcare.
Totally! I just take issue with the notion that we should (even if we could) "cure" mental health diagnoses.
Yeah, that's a whole line of discussion that has some merit to it. I think the answer is genuinely somewhere close to a synthesis. Neurodiversity should be celebrated and as a part of that folks deserve treatment to help improve their quality of life without fear of stigma.
Even in an ideal world free of capitalism, those with mental health disorders will often still struggle to find balance and stability. I know I'm not in a good place if/when I ever decompensate. It's a terrible space to find yourself and reminds me of how I've heard diabetic lows described.
Treatment should never be forced and state mandated institutionalization has been a blight on the history of mental health as a discipline. There will always be some people that don't want any kind of treatment and that's their choice. I think a lot of the fear and hesitancy around healthcare will decrease though once it is provided universally.