Roles that define our social identity?
Lets think about this – when we get introduced to someone in social or business settings, very often we get introduced by our names and what we do for a living.
Most of us don’t mind having a social identity based on our professional roles. In fact the more successful we are in our chosen field, the more of an ego boost we may derive from the same.
But what in the case of an illness or a health condition when we are given a label, such that it becomes our identity? Would we like it? Most of us would dread to even think about it, especially if the problem relates to mental illness.
This is not surprising as people with mental illnesses continue to experience stigma and discrimination in our society – both externally and times internally (in their own minds).
Diagnostic labels help health professionals speak a common language. A correct diagnosis is the first crucial step in drawing up a management/ treatment plan. Most people are relieved when their problems or those of their loved ones are validated and recognised by professionals and options for effective evidence-based treatment offered. The problem arises when people use language casually and unmindfully when describing the person suffering with the problem.
Consider the following statements -
‘My son is autistic’
‘I am manic-depressive’
‘She is a P.D.’ (P.D. is used by some to imply personality disorder)
The use of is and am in the above statements enmeshes the illness with the identity of the person. If people are referred to repeatedly as above or one naively make statements like these about self or others, sooner or later the person with the condition will experience an identity crisis.
They could struggle to separate their identity i.e. who they truly are and what they are capable of, from their illnesses. This could result in low self-esteem and confidence, de-motivation and features of depression, to name just a few. Furthermore, the person could get sucked into a state psychologists refer to a ‘learned helplessness’ with the prevailing attitude being ‘I give up’ or ‘what’s the point’.
What can be done –
The solution is quite simple and yet the impact is undoubtedly profound. The key is to use language mindfully. It is important to ‘separate one’s behaviour from one’s identity’.
The above statements can be rephrased as -
‘My son has (a diagnosis)/ suffers from autism’
‘I have (a diagnosis) of manic-depressive illness’
‘She has got a (diagnosis) of personality disorder’
By readjusting our use of language ever so slightly we can make a huge difference to someone’s perception of themselves and their abilities, despite the limitations (both real and perceived) placed by their condition or circumstance. Wouldn’t this simple change in the use of language help us know who we truly are?
