I have been learning Mandarin Chinese for about 6 months. It's been a long journey. And, it's been a challenging journey. I only now can have a basic conversation. My listening comprehension is very limited. Limited to what I've heard and learned before. When asking, "What do you like to do on the weekends.", and you only have the vocabulary to understand, "I like to read, spend time with friends and watch movies.", but they answer with, "I like to have philosophical debates at the local pub with my colleagues.", you may have a mind bewildered. This is when the phrase, "I don't get your meaning." is quite useful. But, isn't that our life? If we don't have the language to understand our situation, how can we comprehend a solution? How can our doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists comprehend our problem, if we don't have the vocabulary to describe our plight?
We must empower ourselves with the language of our disorder. We have to be aware of what is happening in our minds. For some, this may be difficult. For others, this may be a natural ability. Self-awareness, when you have a disorder of the mind, is one key to the many doors that are locked inside our jumbled and confounding heads.
All this to say that language is not restricted to the French, Spanish, or German classroom. Everything has its language, its lingo and its jargon. Healthcare professionals take our words and translate them into their doctoral tongue. Then, with that carefully considered translation, they formulate a treatment plan. Here's the rub. If we give them a jumbled mess of words that describe what we are going through, something can and will get lost in translation. I'm not advocating that we get PHD in healthcare. No. However, we do need to educate ourselves in basic healthcare language. Just as you would perhaps learn survival Mandarin, you would learn survival healthcare.
Research. Research. Research. Know the basic symptoms and use that language when it applies to your situation. When you can describe a day in your life with more familiar vernacular, they can better treat you. Now, it should be clear that if the symptom does not apply, don't add it to your vocabulary. If you feel hopeless, say that you feel hopeless. But, if you don't feel sad, then don't say so. Would you say that you have a cat in your pants in Spanish, if you didn't actually have a cat in your pants? I don't believe so. Therefore, only describe those symptoms that apply to you. Take your language that may confuse your psychiatrist or therapist and translate it into something to which they can relate. Be educated about your disorder.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have healthcare language course to complete. :)
Be well. Be blessed.
We must empower ourselves with the language of our disorder. We have to be aware of what is happening in our minds. For some, this may be difficult. For others, this may be a natural ability. Self-awareness, when you have a disorder of the mind, is one key to the many doors that are locked inside our jumbled and confounding heads.
All this to say that language is not restricted to the French, Spanish, or German classroom. Everything has its language, its lingo and its jargon. Healthcare professionals take our words and translate them into their doctoral tongue. Then, with that carefully considered translation, they formulate a treatment plan. Here's the rub. If we give them a jumbled mess of words that describe what we are going through, something can and will get lost in translation. I'm not advocating that we get PHD in healthcare. No. However, we do need to educate ourselves in basic healthcare language. Just as you would perhaps learn survival Mandarin, you would learn survival healthcare.
Research. Research. Research. Know the basic symptoms and use that language when it applies to your situation. When you can describe a day in your life with more familiar vernacular, they can better treat you. Now, it should be clear that if the symptom does not apply, don't add it to your vocabulary. If you feel hopeless, say that you feel hopeless. But, if you don't feel sad, then don't say so. Would you say that you have a cat in your pants in Spanish, if you didn't actually have a cat in your pants? I don't believe so. Therefore, only describe those symptoms that apply to you. Take your language that may confuse your psychiatrist or therapist and translate it into something to which they can relate. Be educated about your disorder.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have healthcare language course to complete. :)
Be well. Be blessed.