Diagnosis?

[Spoons]

Ok, so its been bugging me that, im pretty screwed up, but i dont know why.

I mean yeah obviously abuse and stuff messes you up, im medicated for depression/ manic episodes/seeing and hearing things.
Then on top of that im bulimic and i cut regularly and end up in a and e regularly.

But my family cant quite rasp any of it, its not like i can see look im.... or ive got....

sometimes i wish i could just say look, its not my fault im ...so and so

does that make sense?

i wish i had a reason for why i hear/ see things or why my moods are everywhere.

Have you been diagnosed?
did it change things for better/ worse?

any opinions at all?

[craola]

I *sort of* pushed for a diagnosis.

Symptoms-

Seeing things, hearing things, bad mood swings.
Suicide attempts, self harm, suicidal ideations etc.
Im on a lot of medication- Anti-psychotics, anti-depressants and mood stabilisers.

I received a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
I was...relieved to have something I could...not blame, but work with, a reason and then I was made to go this group, I don't like people and it was scary and 20 weeks long and I didn't fit in and I couldn't do any of the work.
I thought it was me but then my psychologist mentioned something in passing about possibly being on the autistic spectrum and I asked what that meant and she told me what it was and the characteristics and it was like a light switched on, I've done loads of research and its taken well over a year for the two of us to get my psych who, coincidentally has just left, on our side and agreeing to an assessment. I have one on the 24th April.
The spectrum is huge and even if they say im not on its not to big a deal to me because I have found a group of people that I really identify with and I mean superly amazingly. I've joined a forum and its so interesting and I've finally found people like me.

There is a reason I've told you all of this I promise :P
I can see now why psychs and doctors are so reluctant to diagnose you.
Mental health is nowhere near as simple as other parts of medicine, its not like a simple broken leg or appendicitis or cancer. Its not worse than, im not in any way saying that cancer is not a bad thing, but leukaemia is what it is and the complications come afterwards. Mental health is a complication through and through. Some people will be simple, bipolar, schizophrenia, depression etc. But some people are a puzzle and when they are pushed to make a diagnosis theres a chance they are going to get it wrong.

The need or want for a label is totally understandable, I used to worry that people would think it was because I was attention seeking but its not. Having a label gives you a reason, it makes you feel normal and non-freakish at least thats what I told myself but I've changed my mind. I would rather not have a label and let them do there thing than have a wrong label and have to do courses that I can't do and that don't apply to me.
And so what if im a mixture of lots of things? I can be a BPDASDBBCWXYZ kinda gal. Im one of a kind and if its taking them extra long to work out whats wrong then im just special, its better than forcing them into a decision they are not ready to make.

[Daydream]

I have a diagnosis, and I wouldn't say it changed things for the better or worse, but it did change things a bit. It was as if I finally had the reason why I am the way I am. But its all too easy to blame every little thing on your diagnosis, or put yourself into a box. Doctors sometimes don't like to give out diagnoses, so getting one might be hard, and it might take a long time, and maybe not all of your symptoms will be explained by that diagnosis. Just be careful xx

[Spoons]

i see my psych that prescribes meds on monday anyway, for him to check on dosages as ive had them recently changed but i might ask him, why is it that i hear/ see things? and why i am on certain meds.

But thans for taking the time to write all that aimee, it helped and really made sense.

Thanks for the advice daydream :)

[Steel Maiden]

I got a schizophrenia diagnosis in 2005. My school are a whole lot more understanding since the dx, but my Mum hates it and she is ashamed of me because of it. I won't go on about my symptoms because you could probably work it out.
Getting a diagnosis is helpful in terms of wanting to know what is wrong, but sometimes it can have bad effects. I now feel "different" because I know I'm a schizophrenic. The word itself makes people feel uncomfortable. Its something that I can't just tell people about, because most people get the wrong idea. If the parents of the girls at my school were to know I have schizophrenia, they would probably campaign to have me kicked out of the school.
But a diagnosis can be really helpful because then people can treat you, and you know what is going on.

[Stellata]

It's good to ask.

My ex psychiatrist's ever so medical diagnosis was 'depression, anxiety, panic attacks and other problems due to things that happened in your past.'! But it's the truth... I mean, on paper medically I have 'Recurrent Depressive Disorder' but it's more like chronic major depression. He also mentioned 'longstanding treatment resistant depression'. My GP, although she's not very diagnosis savvy, she considers what I suffer as depression, but helps me with facing all kinds of symptoms, and doesn't use diagnostic labels.
It is important to me however to have words for what I experience.
My psychotherapist treats me for depression, Complex PTSD and Borderline traits. I'm accepting of that, and know that I am more than one diagnostic label, and that the NHS is never going to identify Complex PTSD, or even PTSD, even though to anyone who knows about it is clear that I have it...

My symptoms - very low self esteem, isolation, extreme sensitivity, hyper-vigilance, defensiveness/hostility, periodic insomnia, rejection anxiety, dissociative flashbacks connected with panic attacks, troubles holding intense feelings....

[Steel Maiden]

Multiple diagnoses...must be confusing. I am glad though, Stellata, that you have your GP and your psychotherapist behind you.
I have overall schizophrenia, in fact I don't even know which type of schizophrenia I have, because I've never been told. I once took Prozac because I had some sort of depression as a result of a traumatic stay in hospital, but it didn't do anything so the doctor took me off it and I never had another antidepressant again.

I can understand your low self-esteem Stellata, because I believe I am nothing but a piece of **** and that I can't do anything right.

[Ami]

erm. ive been diagnosed with bipolar but i dont really think i have it. I dont know why. I just dont consider myself as "mentally ill"

I guess i diagnosis can be helpful, but it may also make you feel like you need to "fit in the box".. if that makes sense
xx

[Steel Maiden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strawberry-Gashes

"fit in the box"

Like the manuals they use...ICD-10, DSM-IV-tr etc. They make things "fit" too often.

[Arioch]

I don't think a diagnosis changed anything for me really.

[Queer Fringe]

I haven't been diagnosed, but in my opinion it would make it a lot better for me personally, they would be able to give me the right help, Know excactly whats wrong etc...at the moment they wont even assess me...dunno why, I'm getting family therapy when I have BPD and ODD symptoms...sorry about the rant...xx
Feel free to PM me though if u want a chat...xx

[Steel Maiden]

My diagnosis feels like a horrible dirty label sometimes.

All my teachers at school know I'm schizophrenic. Some girls from my school know I'm schizophrenic. Rumours are spread around the year every so often. A lot of people these days (hopefully the teachers at my school are a bit more intelligent than this) think that schizophrenics are "dangerous", "to be avoided" and such other things. I hate the stigma.

[Kija]

my diagnosis, only got it recently because the NHS were so slow and didnt seem to take me seriously, however now they are being very good and helpful. it relieved me to have a diagnosis and my family at least now dont think i'm a total weirdo they have bipolar disorder to reason a lot of the stuff i do. although now it does make them more worried about me. i was relieved and annoyed, as i dont like having yet another label people can attach to me and judge me by.

[ashtherabbit]

i hate my diagnosis and have asked for loads of second opinions. When I first got "ill" i would ask every time i saw my psyc what my dx was, pushing for there to be something wrong with me.

Diagnosis can sometimes be helpful because you then have a name for what is wrong and it easy to explain to other people but i often wish i was not diagnosed.

If you do not have a DX then it can be easy to access other therapies and your team can think outside the box. Also once you have a diagnosis it can be difficult to get rid of it, and doctors rarely evaluate it and see if it still fits

Due to my diagnosis whenever i end up in hospital i get poor treatment because they know i am a rapid cycling bipolar I so they just need to patch me up and my mood will change in a few weeks. If i did not have a dx then i would get better (longer term) care.

[Marko]

they told me i was schizoaffective depressive type many year ago. i dont know if i even care now.