Is getting a second opinion (or a third or a fourth) when handed a diagnosis of schizophrenia an idea whose time has come?
There are now many more doctors who consider themselves holistic practitioners, and some of them, I hope, are doctors who don’t agree with the label of schizophrenia. If they truly are holistic, they should distrust the rush to label someone and should be willing to disagree with that practice. There are registries of such doctors on the Internet under the labels “holistic” and “alternative.”
This will only work if you find yourself a doctor who is “schizopositive,” meaning a doctor who subscribes to the idea that schizophrenia is not a disease, it can be the beginning of a spiritual journey. Schizophrenia is still the line where even supposedly open-minded doctors often have minds that swing shut when the “S” word is mentioned. This plan may work best if you are not already on meds. The presence of meds usually scares physicians into agreeing with their peers.
People seek second opinions in every other area of medicine. Why not a second opinion in mental health?
The psychiatrists are part of an “old boys” network and getting someone who sees things differently is a challenge. In my case it is getting my son to agree to this, and get him off meds.
I have the same problem with my daughter.Her life is passing by it seems all a waste