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Poll Did You Self-diagnose?
- Post starter anonymousperson:)
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Eagle3
Platinum Member
I researched the hell out of things, and self-diagnosed about 12 years ago. I never claimed the Dx, however, I did seek help in various places. It was only recently I was able to get formal diagnoses (also on the Autism spectrum, and have a cognitive disorder to boot!) so now I can officially claim for accommodations. Not a fun ride, but it was hard finding a professional who would believe me when I said PTSD...my current T and several interim therapists in college noticed it right away!
I spent a lifetime pretending I was OK or ending up having treatment for other stuff. I didn't consciously do it but did avoid all mention of things that would have cued anyone in. Not things that happened or the intrusive stuff that popped up. The most treatment I received was for eating disorders. Less ways of hiding that. Its quite funny if I think about it as I saw a therapist for 5 years once a week and almost spoke zero about any of it. It didn't really belong to me and my life was not my life.
It was first suggested to me online. I was already in my 40's. Or I should rather say it was first suggested to me online that I had experienced traumatic incidents and was showing signs of trauma. By a trauma therapist. I remember my utter disbelief and the ridiculousness of the word "trauma" when it was used. Absurd!!! Then later PTSD was questioned. By that point I was having treatment for trauma in a woman and children only centre. That's when I was diagnosed. I just about didn't survive the battle that ensued about the diagnoses. It was around the time I joined here. I simultaneously was talking about things here and yet elsewhere had near complete denial of any of it. Weird. I didn't really believe it even when I spoke about it though. I still often don't. Its only in the last 6 months or so that I have felt more accepting, That's over 5 years later.
And I started talking about the symptoms etc online first because I was absolutely furious with my then present t and her suggestion that I might have been even slightly affected by a rape. I had brought it up as one would bring up the weather. And was furious with her reaction. In truth something about her questioning and her not hearing me in therapy at the time seemed to shake the ol' PTSD thing right out its tree.
The small amount of work I have done on trauma in these last years has had a thousand time more affect on my quality of life than all the previous decades added together of present day t work I did before approaching myself from a trauma perspective.
It was first suggested to me online. I was already in my 40's. Or I should rather say it was first suggested to me online that I had experienced traumatic incidents and was showing signs of trauma. By a trauma therapist. I remember my utter disbelief and the ridiculousness of the word "trauma" when it was used. Absurd!!! Then later PTSD was questioned. By that point I was having treatment for trauma in a woman and children only centre. That's when I was diagnosed. I just about didn't survive the battle that ensued about the diagnoses. It was around the time I joined here. I simultaneously was talking about things here and yet elsewhere had near complete denial of any of it. Weird. I didn't really believe it even when I spoke about it though. I still often don't. Its only in the last 6 months or so that I have felt more accepting, That's over 5 years later.
And I started talking about the symptoms etc online first because I was absolutely furious with my then present t and her suggestion that I might have been even slightly affected by a rape. I had brought it up as one would bring up the weather. And was furious with her reaction. In truth something about her questioning and her not hearing me in therapy at the time seemed to shake the ol' PTSD thing right out its tree.
The small amount of work I have done on trauma in these last years has had a thousand time more affect on my quality of life than all the previous decades added together of present day t work I did before approaching myself from a trauma perspective.
If its self diagnoses then these are things I would consider:
Have you seen a dr or psychiatrist about your symptoms and if not could you arrange that as soon as possible.
If you are already seeing a t, dr, or pdoc then have you mentioned the following if you experience them: nightmares about trauma, visual and other intrusions about trauma, the traumas themselves past and recent etc.
Does your trauma really fit into criterion A in the diagnostic criterion. There are other diagnoses for difficulties resulting from non criterion A incidents. Sometimes tentatively identifying issues ourselves can be a help but a self diagnoses isn't actually a diagnoses at all as we don't have the knowledge. .
Have you seen a dr or psychiatrist about your symptoms and if not could you arrange that as soon as possible.
If you are already seeing a t, dr, or pdoc then have you mentioned the following if you experience them: nightmares about trauma, visual and other intrusions about trauma, the traumas themselves past and recent etc.
Does your trauma really fit into criterion A in the diagnostic criterion. There are other diagnoses for difficulties resulting from non criterion A incidents. Sometimes tentatively identifying issues ourselves can be a help but a self diagnoses isn't actually a diagnoses at all as we don't have the knowledge. .
lymphomamama
Silver Member
Nurse who came on shift after me started noticing discrepancies and non-entries, confused charts. She asked what was up and I dissolved. Confessed the extreme terror both home and work. Just kinda opened the flood gates on the years uphill climb to sanity. Fortunately she &I were coworkers at the time of my attack and she understood. She spent the next 6 months double checking my duties and covering my ass. I agreed to take no more patients after that one's death and take early retirement. I dont know how long before she noticed my errors but I had noticed things before hand. She was a true friend to essentially take on double shift work to help me get through my last patient. *Thanks Gertie. Much love woman.*
Amonth later I started psychotherapy, meds and intense therapy and they later agreed on a cptsd/anxiety/panic bundle.
I worry about self dx. Its as risky as try to self diagnose cancer. Too many variables, too many fluctuations. Professional help is my advice.
Amonth later I started psychotherapy, meds and intense therapy and they later agreed on a cptsd/anxiety/panic bundle.
I worry about self dx. Its as risky as try to self diagnose cancer. Too many variables, too many fluctuations. Professional help is my advice.
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I saw a therapist while in college who diagnosed me with depression, then one when I was married and we started couples therapy, which became individual therapy after first visit as a couple. I was then diagnosed with "situational depression and general anxiety." I was being abused by my husband. I continued to have more and more "situations" to be depressed about. Finally, about twenty years later, I was diagnosed with PTSD as that was when the symptoms and memories from all the "situational" traumas surfaced with a vengeance.
My therapist I had been working with for two years diagnosed me and tried to get me to seek help. I didn't believe her and refused.
...five years later I had a major breakdown in an employment office and started a very very bad black state and ended up seeking help out of desperation. My doctor confirmed as did my next therapist.
...Wish I had listened the first time.
...five years later I had a major breakdown in an employment office and started a very very bad black state and ended up seeking help out of desperation. My doctor confirmed as did my next therapist.
...Wish I had listened the first time.
One step at a time
Diamond Member
After things had ended, on really bad nights (when I was too exhausted to think consciously about it), I would come on this site and read.
I was terrified by the fact that what I was reading about other people's feelings and experiences felt familiar. I was too terrified by that feeling of connection to be capable of consciously analyzing where that was coming from, let alone to conclude that I might also have PTSD (Who, me? Of the golden childhood?)
Later on, when I was becoming increasingly symptomatic and isolated, I began engaging in old behaviors, which scared me into reaching out to a free service. I told that person I did not want to seek help because I was not sure I wanted to get better. Even I could hear how unstable that sounded. I eventually accepted their referral to my current T, who encouraged me to get an accommodations letter. That process involved getting an official diagnosis, and the one I got was PTSD.
I was terrified by the fact that what I was reading about other people's feelings and experiences felt familiar. I was too terrified by that feeling of connection to be capable of consciously analyzing where that was coming from, let alone to conclude that I might also have PTSD (Who, me? Of the golden childhood?)
Later on, when I was becoming increasingly symptomatic and isolated, I began engaging in old behaviors, which scared me into reaching out to a free service. I told that person I did not want to seek help because I was not sure I wanted to get better. Even I could hear how unstable that sounded. I eventually accepted their referral to my current T, who encouraged me to get an accommodations letter. That process involved getting an official diagnosis, and the one I got was PTSD.
asadafagahajakal
Not Active
I'm gonna sound like sort of a hypocrite, but I self diagnosed. I knew all my problems stemmed from trauma, and I talked to one counselor about it and she said I definitely fit the definition for ptsd, but when she asked me to see a psychiatrist to confirm it, I politely refused. I was 15 and I know for a fact my step mom would put me on more drugs to shut me up just like she did when I was officially diagnosed with aspergers. Knowing what zoloft did to me, which was nothing short of morbid bouts of depression and suicidal ideation non stop. I didn't know what to do so basically I looked online for any self help tips. But nexterm month I'm actually seeing a psychiatrist for the first time in 5 years, since I'm 22 now and have all the power to refuse prescriptions. Plus my wife helped me realize I have serious problems and I need to deal with them.
But I think self diagnosis is ok, but for only a few reasons. That is you find your symptoms, and you find a way to deal with them like separate problems. If the symptoms persist, you look into legitimate resources to see if you fit the criteria of any mentail disorder so you can find coping methods for what you might have. If that persists, you see a doctor or psychiatrist for a diagnosis as well as treatment and any services you may need.
If you just had a few flashbacks (I'm sure tons of people have had them on rare occasions) doesn't mean you have ptsd. So if you go on social media and say you have ptsd because of one flashback, or your girlfriend dumped you, not only are you making yourself look stupid, but you're invalidating people with real mental disorders by making the mental disorder look like it's not really that bad, when in reality were in a living hell, and some of us are affected to the point were disabled. So it can be a good and a bad thing.
But I think self diagnosis is ok, but for only a few reasons. That is you find your symptoms, and you find a way to deal with them like separate problems. If the symptoms persist, you look into legitimate resources to see if you fit the criteria of any mentail disorder so you can find coping methods for what you might have. If that persists, you see a doctor or psychiatrist for a diagnosis as well as treatment and any services you may need.
If you just had a few flashbacks (I'm sure tons of people have had them on rare occasions) doesn't mean you have ptsd. So if you go on social media and say you have ptsd because of one flashback, or your girlfriend dumped you, not only are you making yourself look stupid, but you're invalidating people with real mental disorders by making the mental disorder look like it's not really that bad, when in reality were in a living hell, and some of us are affected to the point were disabled. So it can be a good and a bad thing.
I am still trying to pluck up the courage to speak to a dr or counsellor about it. Though I've tried many times, I just can't say the words and go speechless.
Sounds strange, but I was actually going through Pinterest! Scrolling through and I saw something about ptsd and it had listed some symptoms. I started looking at more and more and was shocked that it described me, things I've always dealt with. I had no idea.
So many things I lived with that I never knew were actually for a reason! Such as hypersensitivity.
From a young age I've had issues with this. My socks have to be just right for example.
Sounds strange, but I was actually going through Pinterest! Scrolling through and I saw something about ptsd and it had listed some symptoms. I started looking at more and more and was shocked that it described me, things I've always dealt with. I had no idea.
So many things I lived with that I never knew were actually for a reason! Such as hypersensitivity.
From a young age I've had issues with this. My socks have to be just right for example.
D
Deleted member 541
I was diagnosed after yet one more suicide attempt and had been placed in Pysch ward. That was 22 yrs ago. Probably went undiagnosed for 20 years before that....
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