Yesterday I was at an appointment and she asked if knowing what she thinks I have (Borderline Persoality Disorder) would help me or not. Be it she asked me after she told me, in the context of "before we never told the patients because they'd focus on the diagnosis etc." but I said that yeah knowing helps. But then I got to thinking, does it really?
I mean yes, I like knowing that I'm not just making it up and it's a real disorder, but does that now mean that I can simply blame all the stupid things I do on the diagnosis? Even if I am diagnosed though, it doesn't mean that I no longer have choises in the matter. I can choose to do safe things, or I can choose to do unsafe things. That doesn't change with a diagnosis.
I have to go on tuesday to be "officially diagnosed" by a pcychiatrist because the lady I see is only a social worker and cannot diagnose.
I'm really not sure where I stand. I've gone undiagnosed for a physical health problem since 2006 and I hate not knowing what it is. I like knowing things, so maybe it'll be good to know.
So finally my question for all you lovely people...
Did getting a diagnosis (for any mental health problem) actually help you? Did it hurt you?
If you could, would you go back and decide not to know?
Has knowing your diagnosis changed anything in your life?
Thank you
Emily
It's the children the world almost breaks that grow up to save it.
-Frank Warren
I would've been angry if I wasn't told my dx. Knowing the diagnosis has helped in the way that I have researched it inside out and know signs to watch out for when things are going wrong. If I hadn't learnt about the episodes and symptoms involved then experiencing them would be scary as I wouldn't know what's going wrong.
It didn't hurt me to know, no. Even if I tried to carry on with things pretending I wasn't schizoaffective bipolar type wouldn't mean I wasn't so I'm glad I know.
It has definitely helped. Before I felt like I was fumbling in the dark...some people didn't really believe me (although that wasn't the most important thing)...and I didn't know what to do, where to go, or what the hell was going on with me most of the time.
It's kind of like if you have something seriously wrong with you physically and it is causing all kinds of symptoms and not knowing what it is. If you don't know what it is how do you know what meds to take? How do you know what you should or shouldn't do? What is dangerous for your health? What might you do that could make it worse or cause complications? You won't know the answer to any of these questions until the doctor finally tells you what it is that is wrong.
That is how I have felt with my mental health. Once I figured out what my diagnosis was and what I was dealing with, well then I knew some very important information I needed for my emotional health care.
Just my thoughts...
Last edited by SecretMe : 21-11-2008 at 07:41 AM.
Reason: error
It helped because it was finally given a name. There was actually something medically wrong, I had actual symptoms and they could be managed with therapy and medication.
And no, because I have BPD. It's a label that sticks. It's one that a lot of people aren't educated about and they assume it just means I'm manipulative and untreatable. It means there's something wrong with my personality.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
It helped because it was finally given a name. There was actually something medically wrong, I had actual symptoms and they could be managed with therapy and medication.
And no, because I have BPD. It's a label that sticks. It's one that a lot of people aren't educated about and they assume it just means I'm manipulative and untreatable. It means there's something wrong with my personality.
My official medical diagnosis doesn't really cover all my symptoms.
Basically, I'm pretty complex, my past is pretty complex, and it feels better to have a primary diagnosis.
Even the psychiatrist told me that I have 'depression, anxiety, panic attacks and other problems due to things that happened to you in your past'. Which is pretty spot on, really.
A diagnosis isn't all of me, nor is it all of anyone.
I find it helpful to understand that I have a number of difficulties that I've always had, and am working on, of which depressed feelings is a major componant.
Notice the difference - 'depressed feelings' rather that 'Depressive Disorder'. It's far more descriptive of what I'm dealing with.
I'm currently working at de-pathologising myself. Which is an ongoing challenge for a number of reasons.
The only diagnostic label that I am comfortable with fully connecting with is Complex PTSD. However that ain't in the DSM/ICD-10 [yet?] and it is unlikely I'll ever get it diagnosed via NHS folks.
No, I already knew what my symptoms were and had good insight into my condition.
I may be slightly negative as I was initially misdiagnosed and had a lot of bad experiences due to that.
However I don't believe being told what I had, I already knew why things weren't great and I knew what feelings, experiences and thoughts I had that weren't normal.
However obviously it is useful for my psychiatrist to have a diagnosis on me as it has helped him to determine what medication and therapy would be useful for me.
It can be helpful so you have something to tell people in respect to what is wrong with you.....but....as control freak said....with the diagnosis of BPD. a lot of people don't really understand what it is, so they can discriminate and get a bit funny about it.
Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other i'm afraid
"Has anyone seen my contact lens? It may be stuckto a tree or a rock or something. Oh boy, I am so grounded" Family Guy
if everyone cared and nobody cried, if everyone loved and nobody lied, if everyone shared and swallowed their pride, we'd see the day that nobody died
I'm angry when things are kept from me. I have every right to know my diagnosis. I also want to look at my medical records. I want to see what they write about me. I'm nosey, as you can see.
But no, I was diagnosed with ADHD, I already know I have anxiety, but now, out of the blue, I have difficulty in Emotional Regulation ??? WTF?! What else could I have 'difficulty' in or been diagnosed with?
You know? I have every right to know what is going on with me. It would help me a lot because then I'd know what it is, and know what to do about it. Not knowing makes me wonder even more. Which is bad because my mind can think deep a lot.
Sarey, you DO have a right to see your notes and know what is happening with you. You can apply to see your notes anytime (usually a letter to the CMHT stating you want to see your notes or have a copy made available to you works). However, it is within their rights to take out anything which they think will distress you, and that could include a provisional diagnosis.
Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different…
you once called your brain a hard drive, well say hello to the virus.
Oh, I do intend to get a copy of my notes, both medical and from CAMHS. It apparently costs.
Well, if that's the case, I'll just straight out answer my psych. What is my diagnosis?
Because it's frustrating when they keep changing their minds.
It can take a while for the professionals to settle on what they think is exactly wrong. During which they will change their minds. It's better than them coming up quickly with an incorrect dx.
I'm actually so confused in what I'm thinking.
Like, if I am diagnosed with BPD, it really doesn't change anything. I'll have a name for it, but in the end all it is is choises. You either choose to do unsafe things or you don't. From what I've read all it will accomplish is making it harder to get into a hospital. All the symptoms, it's all things I either choose to do or not to do. If it were Schozophrenia, well then getting a diagnosis could help you so that you know you aren't crazy and that you aren't making it up and that it's real in a way (I'm sorry if this offends anyone!!). With this though, calling it BPD is almost like "allowing" it to happen. I don't think that makes sense. It's like saying that it is acceptable to do all these horrible things because I've been diagnosed. Except at the same time I am trying to do the complete opposite of all the symptoms to prove it doesn't define you as a person. I'm trying to not even talk to the people I have way to close a relationship where i depend on them to much.
I mean, I've been undiagnosed for a physical problem since 2006 and it sucks, but this is different.
Sorry if this makes zero sense!
It's the children the world almost breaks that grow up to save it.
-Frank Warren
Very good question - for me, yes and no.
For depression, I think it helps me because it's almost a validation... like I'm not just making it up or being over sensitive/lazy/stupid, but someone recognises that it's actually a problem that I struggle with. And it's also helpful because once the problem is identified, you can better attempt to find a solution (e.g. meds), rather than trying to fix an unknown, if that makes sense.
But then no, only really because of the stigma/public perception of it. And it winds me up, because I don't want to be labelled with something that I don't want to have.
Then with eating, it doesn't really help me knowing. Slightly in the same way, it's a kind of relief that someone has said 'Yes, we recognise that you do have an actual problem'.
But mostly no, because often I feel like I have to conform to the diagnosis, which probably sounds crazy. 'But I think that's just the way the 'ill' part of my head works - I'll end up thinking 'Well I can't possibly eat that, anorexics don't eat' etc. And when I'm in a really bad place, I'll just use it as an excuse to stay ill.
Sorry for completely rambling, my brain is still asleep.
I really want a diagnosis. Purely so I can know what is wrong and how I can deal with it. Because at the moment I have no idea what the heck is wrong with me and I have absoluetly no idea how to deal with it at all.
I know that may sound really stupid and silly. But yeah :/ I'd rather know whats going on because I'm really scared atm, because I don't know what's wrong.
I find that being told I have BPD is kinda making things worse for me. Because when I am in my major depressive episode I'm often dismissed as ''Oh she is just a BPD'' So am sent on way.
My worker often says things that are not right just because some people with this label have the symtom doesn't mean I do.
Also with anorexia, that gets overlooked by SW as she see's just the BPD.
Luckily my GP is an angel and deals with what the current problem is. Whic right now is major depression and anorexia.
Telling people you have BPD often, I find, gets doors closed in front of you.
I only have 2 maybe 3 traits of BPD and that makes it really hard for everything else.
But in saying all that I'd rather know the label so I can look into it and see if there is anything I can do myself to help without having to rely so much on the (useless) workers I have.
Last edited by Breeze : 22-11-2008 at 02:51 PM.
Reason: added bit
I want to kiss the bottom of the ocean before I burst through its surface into the sunlight, otherwise I will always be wondering about what was left unseen at the bottom
i'm tired of chasing my dreams. i'm just gonna ask where they're going, and hook up with them later.
