Diagnosis/therapy Questions

[Ghostybear73]

Hmmmmm, I had assesment tests performed by the trauma specialist. Maybe that's the same thing. When I think of a dignostic test, I think in terms like an EEG or MRI of the brain.

I agree with @Solara on this one. It may be harsh, but without an actual diagnosis, I think you are jumping the gun.

 

[joeylittle]

@Ghostybear73, that's what the tests are - assessment tests for mental health. Those lists of symptoms, and the scale of 1-5, or 1-10, or whatever else it is that day. I wish there was a valid medical test for anything in mental health. That would be incredible.

@Polly Sue, just check your insurance for what kind of mental health services are covered; or, call your insurance company. What you want to know is whether you need a referral from your PCP or whether you can just go to anyone who takes your insurance. In some cities, almost no-one takes insurance, so you'll need to pay out of pocket.

If you are uninsured, you look for docs who say they have sliding scales.

 

[Polly Sue]

I tried a couple of those online tests, but they asked a couple questions like did you experience "trauma?" And I assume by trauma they mean a situation in which your life was threatened, so I wasn't sure how emotional abuse fit into that. And they asked questions like, "Did you experience flashbacks after the trauma" or "Loss of activities once enjoyed since the trauma," and those are hard to answer since I went for years before I experienced any symptoms. And when I do get symptoms, they're not exactly flashbacks where you zone out and reenact the situation, but more like emotions and memories that come that I don't always have control over.

 

[Kefira]

Just my two cents but you're saying you don't meet major diagnostic criteria or symptoms.

That's not to say you aren't affected by this situation but I would advise dropping preconceptions if you go in for an evaluation and to be open to a diagnosis other than ptsd. I think you should go, you obviously feel you need help and want to get it. But you really do need a formal diagnosis and treatment plan. Being proactive in your healing is one thing but until you know what you're working with you could be moving backward and are likely not going to be meeting your full potential.

Only a professional will be able to determine what your diagnosis is.

 

[bell]

Re trauma, here's a quick and dirty difference:

PTSD: "OMG, this person/disease/accident is going to kill/hurt me. For real. Like, now."

NOT PTSD: "OMG, I'm so embarrassed, I could die."

Yes, I'm generalizing, but from what you've described your experience was more the latter than the former.

Not to minimize it, just that the actual immediate threat on your life and the threat to your own safety was not there, which, to me, is a good thing. You don't want to experience the first type. It blows. Hard.

 

[Chava]

If you've never done therapy just look for a therapist that has some trauma specialization to begin with (or maybe others that might be relevant, like I have an eating disorder, so willingness to work with that helps me too). Get an assessment and ask what their approach is. For many, cognitive or talk therapy is helpful, for many EMDR is helpful, and for many other somatic experiencing or body-focused therapies are helpful. I like the body-oriented Somatic Experiencing route because of my combination of symptoms (eating disorder, chronic pain, terrible somatic awareness and emotional and pain regulation). I have several traumas, from very early (like I'll never remember) to medical, to sexual assault and physical abuse. So for my long-term complex trauma, it was hard for me to organize any of that in talking. I just became speechless. But learning from body cues and using my body to express and release those traumas I can't even remember seems really helpful. We've also worked on how I can feel safe and safe in my body, stuff like that. Good luck!

 

[Polly Sue]

I just read an article on humiliation which said that sufferers of public humiliation can definitely develop some symptoms of ptsd and that exposure therapy can help.

I've been so all over the place emotionally over the past 5 days. And now if these symptoms don't go away then I'm gonna have to look into it more which I really don't want to do. None of this was my fault and it's an inconvenience to my life. :(

I thought I had gotten so much better over the past year, and now I'm back to having these symptoms again, except different this time. Last time it was extreme anxiety and constant images of that place; this time it's more major mood swings, some feelings of extreme shock at the situation and humiliation for no reason, and an inability to completely concentrate, which is great, since school just started and now I'm stressed about that too.

I can only hope that the symptoms go away this time too.

 

[ghotiff]

I think you should definitely seek therapy as you seem to need help with your problems.

Regarding diagnosis - I do not have a diagnosis (my T doesn't like labels). I go through the diagnostic list and I have basically everything on it and my trauma (long term childhood sexual abuse) certainly fits....but...I don't think I would meet a diagnosis as I am too high functioning, which means that while my past impacts my life significantly, I expect it's not significant enough to meet the PTSD diagnosis requirements.

But.... while I don't have a diagnosis, my T is treating me from a PTSD perspective as she sees it's relevance to me. So, in some ways a formal diagnosis of anything (PTSD / depression / anxiety) is unlikely to make much difference to your treatment if you have found the right therapist.

Good luck finding the right T.

 

[bell]

@ghotiff, from my understanding there is no "too high functioning" issue regarding PTSD. It's just that some people's symptoms are easier to hide and others are more manageable. For me, these days, you would never know I had it unless you went out with me. Although things were very different when I was little, I just thought I was super weird and carried on as normal, except for when I was triggered and would do crazy batshit things.

@Polly Sue, "some symptoms of PTSD" do not equal PTSD, as some overlap other disorders, except (again, my understanding) Criterion A... That's the clincher and what sets it apart.

 

[ghotiff]

@bell thanks for the information. I really don't know if PTSD fits me and my T doesn't want to discuss a diagnosis and usually I'm fine with that, but sometimes I want to know and feel it would be a bit validating (but then I think that thought process is silly and that I need to stop self minimizing).

I suppose I think that some symptoms are a severity level. eg disassociation happens to everyone (eg the driving example). For me, I Disassociate mildly maybe once a month and to the point of losing time maybe once every few years so it's not a symptom that interferes with my functioning and so I thinks it's not "severe" or "impacting" enough. Then again I have built my life to fit around my issues. Eg I disassociate more often if touched, so everyone who I am around knows not to touch me.

But to be clear, I really don't know anything about PTSD other than what I've googled and read here, so I don't know how off base I am.

I do know that regardless, I have learnt so much here that has helped me and I am very grateful for this site and the community.

 

[joeylittle]

I just read an article on humiliation which said that sufferers of public humiliation can definitely develop some symptoms of ptsd and that exposure therapy can help.

I have to ask: why are you so stuck on PTSD? Yes, sure, "some symptoms of PTSD" could be absolutely true. it is akin to saying that people who suffer a broken leg could develop some symptoms of vascular disease. And that is a true statement: you break your leg, you can easily have circulation problems.

But you wouldn't go into the ER with a broken leg and say "I have vascular disease". You might say "I think my leg is broken." You might say "my leg is numb". Not "treat me for vascular disease and everything will be fine"

Why are you apparently ignoring every bit of advice you are getting?

I can only hope that the symptoms go away this time too.

No. You can go to see a psychologist or psychiatrist or a MSW therapist even, and talk to them about what has happened to you and what you are experiencing. And they can help you manage or even eliminate your symptoms.

Self-diagnosis is futile. And the more time you spend looking up symptoms is the less time you spend looking for qualified help. How about making a list of qualified help in your area that you can afford or will take your insurance? I promise you, it is probably harder to do that than to get an internet diagnosis - but the results are ever so much better.

 

[Melody coates]

I was diagnosed with PTSD by a professional. do I think it fits? not exactly but whatever my problems are, they are crippling and destroying my life :/