Psychological Abuse and Divorce: Mental Illness by Layman’s Declaration

For almost every battered woman and abused man I work with, there is a layman’s label attached to the core of their self-perception. This label is typically bestowed upon them by their battering partner or by allies supporting his/her plight to save face and to discredit and silence the abused.nnBut the question is where do these nonprofessional people obtain license to provide these diagnoses? And why do these battered women and men internalize the layman’s psychiatric label?nnWho Has License to Say You’re Mentally Ill?nnI spent four years in undergraduate psychology study and then four years of graduate psychology study and experimental research, followed by a year of internship and then two years assistantship and preparation for licensing by the board of psychologist examiners in order to be able to call someone a “bipolar disorder.” nnActually, I had the ability to make the diagnosis during my advanced study, but to be professionally legitimate and insurance reimbursable, I had to endure the full stretch of professional preparations described above. So I’m wondering how one can declare the same professional rights and responsibilities without any training to do what it took me 11 years to earn. I’m sure you understand where this is going. nnIf you ever are subjected to another person flinging a psychiatric label upon you, ignore it and ignore them if this person has no business doing so. Then comes the issue of slander. For that, seek legal advice. And secure a second psychological evaluation by a creditable and trustworthy psychologist that understands the psychosocial politics of domestic violence.nnYour Internalization of the Mental Illness or NotnnNow as far as your internalizing these unprofessional labels, either consciously or unconsciously, this will be your job and no one else’s. It is all up to you as to how you receive and process what is dished out to you. No one knows you better than yourself, no matter what anyone tells you. nnYour job is to find the place within where your voice only is present and pose the question, “Is what’s being said about me true?” Now if you don’t feel equipped to answer such a question realistically because you have no idea what this diagnostic label means, then you will need to do some homework before you can proceed with the inner inquiry. nnSome people may be more comfortable doing their research online, others may wish to go to the library and some have a trusted professional they can consult. Whatever the method you choose for your personal research, most important is that it be done before you retreat internally to ask the question: is it true?nnNow once you have satisfied your cognitive and intellectual understanding, it is time to explore the inquiry from your inner knowing of yourself. Keep posing the question, Is it true that I am_______? You will see over time, a wealth of revelations emerge and with this the thought that troubles you will let go of you.