Many pathological patterns are nonspecific. The same inflammation can result from different triggers such as infection, toxins and genetics. In an attempt to figure out the relevant link for a patient, pathologists say “this is the pattern and these are the likely categories of cause.”
NOT “this is exactly why it happened in this person at this time.”
We are given only part of “the why,” not a complete, single-cause explanation, and that matches a lot of real-world practice. The article above headlines: WHY autoimmune diseases … but never gets past the WHAT. The medical establishment conflates the two; or perhaps it is we who fool ourselves about the why by focusing on the what.
Pathology is strongest at describing what is going wrong in tissues or fluids and at narrowing the list of possible causes, but it does not always pinpoint one definitive underlying reason on its own. Instead we learn more about the biological mechanism and immediate cause, not the deeper personal or environmental reasons. Why did the mal-exposure occur in the first place or why did my immune system respond in a certain way?
We should not stop at “this is what is happening and how.” We should keep going and try to figure out the why for ourselves.
We often defer to pathology, and even pathologize ourselves on purpose, in order to manifest a seemingly objective, nameable explanation for suffering. This reduces our impression of uncertainty, sometimes it can bring access to help; and unconsciously it’s almost certainly done for a sense of belonging.
Naming a condition can make chaotic experiences feel structured and understandable …
… this in turn reduces our anxiety about the future failing in the future. A pathological label suggests there is a mechanism and possibly a treatment, giving a sense of control, even if there is none.
This is something that can be managed, not just random bad luck.
Pathology and diagnostic labels are backed by institutions (medicine, science, insurance), so they carry social authority.
We trust what sounds objective and measurable
Lab results, scans, and biopsy reports look technical and hard. We allow them to overshadow the more ambiguous psychological, social and existential aspects of why we are unwell. Also having a diagnosis can be useful to feel validated. Confirming that our distress is real is emotionally relieving. We bless certain pathological labels while distancing ourselves from others we understand to a lesser extent. This reinforces stigma and othering. We increasingly medicalize normal variations and everyday distress, converting them into diagnostic categories.
So it is easy to reach for a pathological frame whenever we need one.
You keep it going man, you keep those books rolling
You pick up those books you’re going to read
And not remember, and you roll man
You get that associate’s degree, okay
Then you get your bachelor’s, then you get your master’s
Then you get your master’s masters
Then you get your doctorate
You go man, and then when everybody says quit
You show them those degrees man
When everybody says, “hey, you’re not working
“You’re not making any money”
You say, “look at my degrees and you look at my life
Yeah, I’m 52, so what?”
Hate all you want
But I’m smart, I’m so smart, and I’m in school
These guys are out here, huh
Making money all these ways, and I’m spending mine to be smart
You know why?
Because when I die, buddy
You know what’s gonna keep me warm?
That’s right, those degrees
-Kanye
Hey, Jimmy, where you going?
I don’t know where I’m going
My dad died, and uh, he left me his degrees
My mom would always say, “Dad, why don’t you work?”
But he just kept learning
All the other kids parents were working and saving up money for school
And I was actually in school all while my dad was in school
He even, he was so greedy with degrees, he took my degree
And now I’m just glad he left me these
Because all the regular homeless people have newspaper, and look what I have
These are documented
My father left them to me
And I’m gonna leave them to my kids
I’m gonna learn too
I’m gonna get super smart, so I too can die without money
But I’ll be the smartest dead guy
Who has that?
-Kanye
