WorkingwithYourPsychiatrist

Working with Your Psychiatrist by Gail Erlandson, M. A. EMPOWERMENT MAGAZINE Promoting Overall Wellness and Mental Health Resiliency for the Greater Sacramento Home Current Issue Magazine Sections Interviews Advertising/Sponsorship Distributions... More

Working with Your Psychiatrist by Gail Erlandson, M. A. EMPOWERMENT MAGAZINE Promoting Overall Wellness and Mental Health Resiliency for the Greater Sacramento Home Current Issue Magazine Sections Interviews Advertising/Sponsorship Distributions Contributors Calendar Videos Announcements Photos Contact Us Working with Your Psychiatrist by Gail Erlandson, M. A. A seasoned psychiatrist once said to me: “We are just beginning to scratch the surface in understanding mental health disorders. ” This has served me well. As a gesture of hope, this same doctor also handed me a paperback with stories of accomplished people in history who experienced a broad array of mental health challenges. I learned not to identify myself as an illness, and that language is important in making this distinction. To empower myself, I choose to say “I manage bipolar” rather than “I am bipolar. ” It is important that we emphasize that we are people, regardlessof our particular challenge. There are many compo Less