Who Diagnosed Your Ptsd Or Other Mental Health Conditions?

[Smushroom]

I'm 100% certain I have PTSD, it's just the other ones I don't know about. But my focus anyway is on the PTSD, as that is just crippling me.

 

[Sick of Fear]

A psychologist diagnosed me when I showed I was still affected by the trauma years later. The other diagnoses that you were given could be included with the ptsd while also being separate, if that makes sense. For example, fibromyalgia has a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, but that is a disorder on its own.

I think any questions you have regarding your diagnoses should be addressed with your doctor (if they already haven't been) and that way you can gain some clarity and peace of mind. Hope this helps some, I'm not in the best state to be giving advice at the moment, but just wanted to try to help.

 

[Hashi]

I think OCD is an extreme form of anxiety. In my layperson's words I'd say it's when your anxieties drive you to act repeatedly in certain ways.

I have an OCD diagnosis, and although I sometimes use the term here on the forum as a shorthand, for myself I only think of it as anxiety. And the anxiety comes from PTSD, so I see it part of my PTSD symptoms anyway. I never use the term OCD with my therapist, we just talk about the particular issues (eg my problems with checking) as and when I need to.

I think diagnoses are helpful in some ways, such as normalising things and helping us get appropriate treatment. Apart from that I mostly ignore them. Otherwise they can make us feel worse about ourselves, when we're the same person as before someone gave us that label. And if there are issues, we can deal with those issues without having to think about the label.

I'm sorry you have so much anxiety. It sounds really tough.

 

[Smushroom]

The other diagnoses that you were given could be included with the ptsd while also being separate, if that makes sense. For example, fibromyalgia has a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, but that is a disorder on its own.

Thank you Sick of Fear, that does make sense. I believe that is what it is, it's a part of PTSD symptoms, I'm sure of it

. And the anxiety comes from PTSD, so I see it part of my PTSD symptoms anyway....I think diagnoses are helpful in some ways... Otherwise they can make us feel worse about ourselves.

Totally agree. I think it is just part of my PTSD, this excessive anxiety and worrying, and you are right, having that extra 'label' makes me feel even worse about myself. Thank you Hashi. You have eased my mind a bit. I will simply keep thinking that it is all linked in with my PTSD.

 

[Chincho]

I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist. She now prescribes my medicines and does the follow up.

 

[piratelady]

I was diagnosed by a psychologist. At first I was given a diagnosis of Major Depression. After about 6 months of therapy I was given the PTSD diagnosis.

When I was given the depression diagnosis it made me feel broken. I discussed the feelings with my therapist and he helped me to see passed the labels and just focus on getting better. The funny thing is, as I said the depression diagnosis just made me feel broken and defective. The PTSD diagnosis made sense to me. It helped me to see that I wasn't going mad. Maybe our feelings about a diagnosis say something about us? ... What? I don't really know.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I was diagnosed by a clinical psychologist. It took awhile. Then went I was inpatient, I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with PTSD and MDD. My brother also has PTSD so it wasn't a surprise to me that I had it too. I am not depressed so much anymore.

 

[Raj]

My PTSD Diagnosis came from a counselor and my Major Depression from a Psychiatrist. I felt better knowing and labels that are given in a professional manner don't bother me. Their are some negative uses of the labels I have been given, which I may discuss in another post at a later that really get to me however.

Knowledge to me, truly is empowering.

 

[Springer80]

Well, I started scratching around dissocative disorders due to my own research, with a national support group that help train our health care system about trauma. Ever since I went to the GP when I first got away from my home county I said I'm not depressed I'm traumatised but it never occured to me about ptsd.

When I did find the appropriate people to help me, the lady that did was a 'Chartered Forensic Psychologist, Chartered Scientist and Registered and Practicing Forensic and Clinical Psychologist and Instructor' with all these '(MA (Hons) MSW MSc PDipCBP CPsychol CSci): Executive Director and PhD' !!! :wideeyed:

I think it is fair to say that after years of unsatisfactory/damaging and frankly distressing lack of appropriate help I went a bit over kill on the level of qualification I deemed myself worthy of.

 

[Smushroom]

The PTSD diagnosis made sense to me.

It's funny how it just seems to 'fit'. As strange as it sounds, receiving the PTSD diagnosis brought me peace because like you, it was good to know why I am the way I am, that there was a reason, nothing 'wrong' with me.

 

[LhasaLover]

It's good to get a diagnosis if it is accurate and have it treated I would probably add to this thread!

I was diagnosed by a traditional psychotherapist (a very good one, imho)... and she only told me when I needed something written down. It came with severe depression. Another doctor said I had severe anxiety. Addressing the issues was more important to me than the diagnosis. It took a lot of work and time to come this far and I am sure I have a lot more work to do!

At least I am not crying everyday anymore.

 

[smogmonster]

I was diagnosed with PTSD by a therapist and a psychiatrist. They work in a local community health center that is mostly focused on crisis and substance abuse. I was not able to talk about abuse in my childhood until after a few years of talk therapy and medication and an ADHD diagnosis, so for me it's been like peeling the layers of an onion. The addition of a new label takes some getting used to, though it does make sense given my history and symptoms.

My psychiatrist has background in ADHD, and they all deal with trauma on a regular basis, so I've been able to find the resources I need there, including EMDR and other therapeutic techniques if needed. And I had to make a lot of changes in my own life to get to the point where I was stable and could seek out help at all, which took many years, so it's been a long road.