Poll What Was Your Diagnosis/Misdiagnosis Prior to PTSD?

[Dylan]

As we all know, PTSD can mimic so many other disorders (avoidant personality disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, etc.) I'm curious what others were diagnosed with before they were finally diagnosed correctly with PTSD.

I don't believe a poll with this question has been posted, although I did see the poll about individuals actually having more than one issue/disorder. This is more about misdiagnosis.

Since a myriad of disorders could be PTSD misdiagnosed, I'm just wondering.

For instance, my original DX was schizoid, symptoms being:

Takes pleasure in few, if any, activities
Does not desire or enjoy close relationships, including family
Almost always chooses solitary activities
Little or no interest in sexual experiences with another person
Lacks close relationships other than with immediate relatives
Indifferent to praise or criticism
Shows emotional coldness, detachment or flattened affect
Exhibits little observable change in mood

Not really a complete fit, but at the time I think it's the best the therapist could do, given how numb/flat I was. PTSD for younger people (and/or non-veterans) was rare I think; C-PTSD wasn't even a DX yet. I allowed for multiple choice (I was subsequently DX'd with Avoidant Personality Disorder, GAD, Social Phobia, Borderline Personality Disorder and Panic Disorder). Again, none of them really hit the mark...

Thanks,
Dylan

 

[sallysellsseashells]

My goodness! 100% of us were misdiagnosed with the same 3 things - how does that happen? I know I ticked multiple answers.

For me, I'm not surprised, because when I was younger I was so afraid of talking about the whole picture (because of threat of death by a relative if I did say thw whole truth), that the Doctors had to go by what limitted information I could give them. My unwillingness to answer certain questions, but complete openness and honesty about others would have mislead them. I figured that because they are experts with all the tools of the trade they could figure out what I wasn't telling them from my natural behaviour (which is to say, ringing wrists, pannick, fear of the future, etc).

I believe I was right not to mention certain things, as I would surely have been killed. But I am sad that I had that lumped on me from such a young age. If I was an adult or had somewhere I could go that was safe, I woulc have done that, then told the Doctors, but I had to go home, so I did not feel safe speaking about it (or just going home in general willed me with dispair, because I never knew what cruelty awaited).

S.

 

[dust]

I voted other as I wasn't diagnosed with any mental health problems - but had inconclusive tests for slipped disc, MS, epilepsy and Brain Tumors because of the neurological symptoms I was experiencing.

 

[becvan]

There isn't a No option.

Mine would be none or no. Although my diagnosis name has changed it has always been PTSD, it just didn't have that name years and years ago.

bec

 

[cragger65]

Mildy psychotic was one of my tag lines, but dissociative disorder was the main one. Maybe that should be an option? Quite common, I would think.

 

[tardis]

Unless your speaking of a specific psychotic disorder, psychosis is not a diagnosis per se; it is a symptom of other conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug-induced psychosis, etc. Psychosis can also occur as part of PTSD. My girlfriend has had psychotic breaks due to the severity of her PTSD. She has a diagnosis of secondary psychosis as part of her PTSD, but not as a misdiagnosis or prior diagnosis.

For myself, I have not been diagnosed with anything incorrect in relation to my PTSD, so I am not sure how to answer. In relation to having Aspergers Syndrome, yes, I was diagnosed incorrectly with OCD and ADHD before receiving my AS diagnosis, however the PTSD is separate and was diagnosed correctly first time round.

 

[Mina]

I think I am really, really lucky in that I was diagnosed correctly and quickly - no misdiagnoses. It was very clear-cut.

 

[SoulComa]

I was misdiagnosed, too. Not by my current therapist, but a few years ago. My diagnoses were Bi-polar, borderline, antisocial and ADD.
It was my current therapist who diagnosed me correctly as PTSD and DID because she saw the whole picture...

 

[FlameTachiku]

Mine is situational depression, lol

 

[anthony]

I have edited the thread to include "No Misdiagnosis" as a placebo to the question. I have edited the thread title.

 

[becvan]

Thanks Anthony! I have now voted accordingly. :)

Bec

 

[2notbedefeated]

I was mis-diagnosised with multiple personality (dissociative disorder).