Bipolar Quote by Alison Miller
““Although it is important to be able to recognise and disclose symptom of physical illnesses or injury, you need to be more careful about revealing psychiatric symptoms. Unless you know that your doctor understands trauma symptoms, including dissociation, you are wise not to reveal too much. Too many medical professionals, including psychiatrists, believe that hearing voices is a sign of schizophrenia, that mood swings mean bipolar disorder which has to be medicated, and that depression requires electro-convulsive therapy if medication does not relieve it sufficiently. The “medical model” simply does not work for dissociation, and many treatments can do more harm than good... You do not have to tell someone everything just because he is she is a doctor. However, if you have a therapist, even a psychiatrist, who does understand, you need to encourage your parts to be honest with that person. Then you can get appropriate help.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Mental Health Podcast, 2023
Disclosing psychiatric symptoms can be risky unless the clinician truly understands trauma and dissociation; otherwise, misdiagnosis and harmful treatment may follow.
In simple terms: Be cautious sharing mental health details with doctors who lack trauma knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Seek trusted therapists who understand dissociation.
Themes
mental health
trauma
communication
Mood
anxious
hopeful
cautious
Type
advice
cautionary
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- psychiatric appointments
- support groups
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
dissociation
misdiagnosis
patient autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you assess a clinician’s expertise in trauma before sharing?
- What strategies help you protect yourself while seeking help?
A Different Perspective
Not all medical professionals are educated about trauma, so sharing may lead to inappropriate interventions.
![“A child who is being abused on an ongoing basis needs to be able to function despite the trauma that dominates his or her daily life. That becomes the job of at least one ANP [apparently normal part of the personality], whom the child creates to be unaware of the abuse and also of the…” quote by Alison Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f94/alison-miller-20257_amnesia_a-child-who-is-being-abused-on-an-ongoin_1146863.jpg)
