JustinC writes:
True. I see sibling rivalry disorder and laugh but I take deep depression seriously. I'm just trying to figure out a way to distinguish between the two in a meaningful way. And it doesn't seem like any progress is going to change that much if there's not a serious discussion about basal concepts.
I volunteer that for me, the difference lies in whether a person MUST be treated, or would simply benefit from treatment.
Going back to my example of stress, there are a number of treatments available. It may indeed be proven that these medicines have results, but I would rather not be given medication for a problem which may be solved by better organization and prioritizing in life. I suppose I am holistic in that regards, rather go to a spa than take a medicine with possible side affects.
Stress is a disorder, sure. Anxiety interferes with life as it could be. I would not categorize something as disease unless it were incurable via other means, because I don't relish the idea of making excuses and being subject to the opinions of others. I think that being 'diagnosed' with something is misunderstood by many, and the people in our lives may use this an excuse to blame everything on the 'sick' person. I have never been diagnosed, never been to the psychiatrist, but even a lay diagnosis gets me in trouble with people who want to stereotype or place fault on me.