What's in a name - do labels really help or hinder?

 

 

Let’s say you meet someone for the first time and, for whatever reason, take an instant dislike to them. There was no reason why you should, you just did. Perhaps they were having a bad day and so were a little short with you. 

 

As you didn’t know them – or they you – the easy reaction was that they were just plain rude, or, if you were feeling a little more charitable (!), brusque. So, unconsciously you put a “dislike” label on them, without realising that it would then determine how you treated – and reacted – to them in future. 

 

But, perhaps, it wasn’t them at all. You were the one having a bad day, but still put this less than positive experience down to them, not you… 

 

And, again, the end result was the same. An instant dislike. 

 

Then, a few weeks later you met them again. This time they seemed to be completely different. Or, perhaps you were (!). Either way, they seemed much more friendly and amenable. 

 

So how would you treat them? 

 

More likely than not, as per your first impression and the label you gave them. As someone you disliked. 

 

While this may be an overly simplistic example, can you see how much a label blinkers you? 

 

Instead of looking at the complete picture, you only noticed things which confirmed your initial impression – and label – of that particular person or thing. 

 

Our love of labels not only applies to our own individual assumptions and reactions. It’s also used to great effect by mainstream media, both to simplify issues and “manage” our reactions to certain individuals or groups of people. Neatly divides us into two opposing and increasingly antagonist camps. 

 

If you’re pro this then, automatically, you’re against that. If you believe this, then it naturally follows you believe that – and are against the other. As we don’t want to inadvertently raise anyone’s blood pressure or light any fuses (!) we’re not going to give any specific examples but are sure you can easily come up with plenty of your own. If not, just look at the News headlines… 

 

Once again, life just isn’t that simple. It doesn’t automatically follow that if you believe / support A, then you also support B and are against C. Instead, it divides people – often, within families on particularly contentious subjects – and shuts down any meaningful conversation. Or put another way, creates prejudices which are a great time saver, whether we care to admit it or not... As this isn’t what we wanted to talk about today, we’ll leave it for another blog post. 

 

Nowhere are labels more evident than in modern healthcare. Once a diagnosis is made – often on a set of very general symptoms –it’s usually set in stone. Rarely reviewed or reconsidered. While it may have been a reasonable description of the symptoms on that particular day, it may not apply even a few days later, let alone in a few weeks or months time... 

 

With this in mind, doesn’t it seem strange that we put so much emphasis on a diagnosis? On the label given for a set of symptoms. At the very least, it should be automatically reviewed a short time later to see whether it still applies AND to help evaluate how the person is responding to treatment and any suggested lifestyle changes. It should never be left in place for weeks, months or years without being reviewed. 

 

Say, for example, a blood test shows that a person is a little anaemic. If you see this as only meaning that they were only a little anaemic on the day the blood test was taken, it doesn’t automatically follow that they’re going to be anaemic on an ongoing basis. 

 

There may be many perfectly innocent reasons why they were anaemic on that day, such as unrecognised digestive problems issues, poor diet, a heavy Period or starting a strenuous exercise regime. Our bodies are more than capable of dealing with such things, without the need for any intervention – or, certainly, long term intervention – given a little time and the necessary resources. 

 

Of course, having treatment at this stage may be helpful, but should always be reviewed to see how the person is progressing. To determine whether this is a one off issue or more of an ongoing one. 

 

A series of blood tests over several months showing ongoing low iron levels are completely different to a single test showing slightly lower than usual iron levels. 

 

Unless a test shows results well outside the norm – so requiring urgent or emergency intervention – it’s the ongoing trend which is key, rather than the results of a single test. 

 

It may seem that we’re labouring this point but, having talked to many people about this over the years, it seems to be one that many find difficult to understand. 

 

Added to this is the temptation to link any potential future medical issues to that particular label, rather than looking at each new – or changed – set of symptoms with an open mind. An example we regularly come across is where a Client has been given a “Depression” label in the past. If similar symptoms appear in the future, the response is often “well it must Depression again”; rather than looking at what’s actually happening – and comparing it to how it was in the past. 

 

While we’re on the subject of labels (!), there’s one other common misconception which needs to be laid to rest. This is that the symptoms used to diagnose – or label (!) – any problem are specific to that particular one. Often this is not the case, with the same generalised symptoms applying to many different issues. Each one then comes with its own label and conventional treatment options. 

 

This is one of the reasons we always ask for specific symptoms, rather than the label you’ve been given. It’s also why we want to know what else is going on with your health and life, so we can put the symptoms in context and pinpoint the possible cause(s). 

 

It means we can then make suggestions to help you make changes to your lifestyle and diet to help address the specific issues and so the symptoms causing concern. Without doing this, it’s all about managing symptoms rather than addressing them completely. And, along with prejudices, we’re going to put this subject to one side for another blog post... 

 

Let’s take a couple of other labels we regularly come across with Clients as examples. 

 

Asthma, which has increasingly been diagnosed in recent years. But how many people appreciate the general nature of the symptoms for this label?  

 

Here they are from the NHS Direct website: 

 

 

Now, let’s be honest, who hasn’t experienced these symptoms at some time or other? We certainly have, but are they really Asthma? In all likelihood, no. 

 

Without knowing a bit more about what else is going on with that person, how can you possibly determine whether it’s a short term issue or an ongoing one? And, so, what label – and treatment – is needed? 

 

Experiencing these symptoms for a few days after a Cold or Flu – or during this long, cold and damp Winter – is completely different to having them on a daily basis for months. Or in someone who hasn’t exercised for years and has recently started a strenuous exercise regime. 

 

Can you now see the unintended effects labels have? 

 

Let’s look at another. ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  

 

Again, the symptoms come from the NHS Direct website: 

 

A child or young person may show sings of being inattentive, such as 

 

 

They may show signs of being hyperactive and impulsive, including: 

 

 

If we ignore the fact that many of the symptoms seem to be remarkably similar then, again, haven’t all children ticked these boxes at some time or other? And many adults too… 

 

Having talked at length with those working with young children we hear the same observations over and over again. That children learn by doing, not by sitting. Expecting them to sit quietly and concentrate for any length of time is not realistic; but is exactly what the modern educational system expects from them. 

 

Added to this, here in the UK, modern schooling starts at a much younger age with parents – particularly Mothers – under pressure to return to work. Compare this with many other countries where formal education doesn’t start until much older – around 7 years old – and children remain at home until starting school. 

 

And this is just one of the many issues which are now being shown to play a part in the increasing numbers of children being given this label. With many of these being life style related, there are lots of simple things that can be done at home before considering taking any other action. 

 

So, wouldn’t it make more sense to look at these issues before considering a label and diagnosis? 

 

We appreciate that the lure of labels is a strong one but trust we’ve given you a little food for thought.  

 

Do they really help as much as we’ve been led to believe? Or are they more of a hindrance? 

 

As always, the choice is yours.