If there is one thing I want everyone on earth to understand before I die, it is that physiological illnesses can cause psychiatric symptoms that are not necessarily caused by one's frustration with the illness.

Our binarism about "body v. brain" is just ridiculous. #neisvoid

My adrenal insufficiency manifested as inability to motivate myself and initiate tasks. My mast cell activation disorder frequently manifests as mood swings, lability, and anger. "Psychologizing" these symptoms primarily just delayed proper diagnosis and treatment. #neisvoid

After these diagnoses I was able to start slowly healing from years of eroded trust in my ability to narrate my experience of my body. Even so, I still tense up when I'm asked by a doctor about the symptoms of my drug reactions when I know they are "neuropsych." #neisvoid

Unfortunately, to all but the most shrewd medical staff, the presence of *any* emotional symptom (irrespective of context) = you need therapy and here's a brochure on depression. Or - less harmful but still frustrating - the symptom could only be from you being upset. #neisvoid

I felt terrible guilt after rehoming my cat due to extreme allergic reactions that included severe mental symptoms. I thought I wouldn't be believed about the cause. Nobody told me there is actually a "nose-brain connection" and thus this wasn't so far fetched. #neisvoid

Until there is a radical shift toward holism in the medical world, I will continue to be misunderstood, shrugged at, or dismissed when I describe my experiences accurately to health care professionals. #neisvoid

Addendum: This isn't irrelevant to #COVIDー19 either. Just ask Chris Cuomo. https://www.newsweek.com/chris-cuomo-says-his-coronavirus-infection-causing-emotional-psychological-illness-its-my-1497649