Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Resist the tendency to label your patients

Vania Manipod, DO
Physician
October 22, 2015
Share
Tweet
Share

Several friends have pointed out to me their observations of my interactions when in public places: That people strike up random conversations with me, ask for directions, of if I could take a couple’s picture at a touristy hot spot, etc.  These types of interactions are becoming less awkward to me in the last few years, and I initially attributed my approachability to giving off a “psychiatrist” vibe, as if people can sense that I’m trained to listen to people’s issues.  Or, perhaps, as one friend pointed out, I appear to be the antithesis of “bitchy resting face” syndrome.

Flashback to around twenty years ago when I was a loner preteen in the girls’ locker room, where my locker was located in the same aisle as the most popular girls at my school.  As I stared at the floor too shy to make eye contact, I recall trying to muster the courage to say something to them — anything — in hope of some kind of acknowledgement, a wave, even a “Hi” — anything to feel slightly less invisible than I already was.  When I looked up directly towards them, words never left my mouth.  All I had the courage to do was smile.  A forced, awkward, and uncomfortable smile that caused my cheeks to fatigue.

And all that effort and energy exerted for the end result of coming off as creepy: “That girl is smiling too much,” was all they said.  From then on and for quite some time, I became known as “that weird smiley girl.”  As if smiling was a negative thing.  And, as one could imagine, I didn’t smile for months thereafter.  Little did they know how much of a hit to my self-esteem that one incident would have. Putting yourself out there only to get rejected sucks and may hinder further attempts to connect with others in the future.

One may perceive me as a highly sensitive, socially anxious person, and I don’t deny possessing those traits.  However, rather than being identified with a label or descriptor (i.e., “that weird, smiley girl,” or “Vania is anxious and highly sensitive,”) I prefer that people acknowledge the different facets of my personality that make up who I am as an individual (i.e., “Vania has social anxiety and can be sensitive”).  The general tone changes depending on the wording and language used.  In the former statement, being anxious and highly sensitive are inferred to be words that define me, whereas the latter refers to anxious and highly sensitive as traits.

For many years, I viewed myself as abnormal.  That is, until the last few years where I grew to appreciate the qualities that make me who I am as a unique individual, which I attribute to surrounding myself with an amazing support system, including my therapist, who helped me realize it.  As a result, I no longer stare downward nor feel afraid to smile and chat with others.

An issue that I have with how psychiatry is perceived is the tendency to create labels.  Many people have enough anxiety about seeking psychiatric help in the first place, and the fear of being labeled and stigmatized might sit at the top of one’s list of concerns.  I’ve encountered several patients who told me they were diagnosed with a specific mental illness after one brief, initial 30-minute interview.  “The doctor told me I’m bipolar without barely getting to know me” is a statement of different variations that I’ve heard several times in my practice.  I try to maintain an open mind about my colleagues, especially those who are only allotted 15 to 30 minutes to meet with a new patient (which is ridiculous in medicine, especially in psychiatry) because the ability to see a high volume of patients within a short time frame and fully get to know each patient seems unrealistic and virtually impossible to maintain.

However, the last thing any person, including any medical provider, should do is make you feel like another label and essentially invisible or judged.  Often when people muster up the courage to reach out and seek help are in times of desperation and in highly vulnerable states.  The most therapeutic thing any person (or provider) can do is look you in the eye (even if you might be too afraid to look directly at them) and acknowledge you for who you are.

Vania Manipod is a psychiatrist who blogs at Freud and Fashion.

Prev

We need to provide health insurance for undocumented people. Here's why.

October 22, 2015 Kevin 34
…
Next

An orthopedic surgeon's appreciation for personal trainers

October 23, 2015 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Psychiatry

Post navigation

< Previous Post
We need to provide health insurance for undocumented people. Here's why.
Next Post >
An orthopedic surgeon's appreciation for personal trainers

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Vania Manipod, DO

  • How this doctor beat burnout. You can, too.

    Vania Manipod, DO
  • The constant fear of losing a patient to suicide

    Vania Manipod, DO
  • I tried not to let a drug rep influence me. But he probably already did.

    Vania Manipod, DO

Related Posts

  • Are patients using social media to attack physicians?

    David R. Stukus, MD
  • Physician Suicide Awareness Day: Where are the patients? 

    Jennifer M. Sweeney
  • You are abandoning your patients if you are not active on social media

    Pat Rich
  • Our patients matter, but at what cost to our families? 

    James A. Quinn, PA-C
  • Your patients are counting on you

    Adam Striker, MD
  • Is physician shadowing immoral?

    David Penner

More in Physician

  • A surgeon’s testimony, probation, and resignation from a professional society

    Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA
  • Locum tenens: Reclaiming purpose, autonomy, and financial freedom in medicine

    Trevor Cabrera, MD
  • Collective action as a path to patient-centered care

    American College of Physicians
  • Portraits of strength: Molly Humphreys and the unseen women of health care

    Ryan McCarthy, MD
  • When embarrassment is a teacher in medicine

    Vijay Rajput, MD
  • The crushing bureaucracy that’s driving independent physicians to extinction

    Scott Tzorfas, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes

      Ziya Altug, PT, DPT and Shirish Sachdeva, PT, DPT | Conditions
    • The backbone of health care is breaking

      Grace Yu, MD | Physician
    • How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education

      Caleb Andrus-Gazyeva | Policy
    • Why transplant equity requires more than access

      Zamra Amjid, DHSc, MHA | Policy
    • The ethical crossroads of medicine and legislation

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Why your health care dashboard isn’t working and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims

      Robert E. White, Jr. & The Doctors Company | Policy
    • A surgeon’s testimony, probation, and resignation from a professional society

      Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA | Physician
    • One injection dropped LDL by 69 percent. Should we celebrate?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • Locum tenens: Reclaiming purpose, autonomy, and financial freedom in medicine

      Trevor Cabrera, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors struggle with family caregiving and how to find grace [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 8 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes

      Ziya Altug, PT, DPT and Shirish Sachdeva, PT, DPT | Conditions
    • The backbone of health care is breaking

      Grace Yu, MD | Physician
    • How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education

      Caleb Andrus-Gazyeva | Policy
    • Why transplant equity requires more than access

      Zamra Amjid, DHSc, MHA | Policy
    • The ethical crossroads of medicine and legislation

      M. Bennet Broner, PhD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Health equity in Inland Southern California requires urgent action

      Vishruth Nagam | Policy
    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Why pain doctors face unfair scrutiny and harsh penalties in California

      Kayvan Haddadan, MD | Physician
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Why your health care dashboard isn’t working and how to fix it

      Dave Cummings, RN | Policy
    • Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims

      Robert E. White, Jr. & The Doctors Company | Policy
    • A surgeon’s testimony, probation, and resignation from a professional society

      Stephen M. Cohen, MD, MBA | Physician
    • One injection dropped LDL by 69 percent. Should we celebrate?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • Locum tenens: Reclaiming purpose, autonomy, and financial freedom in medicine

      Trevor Cabrera, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors struggle with family caregiving and how to find grace [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Resist the tendency to label your patients
8 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...