Ami
Junior Sharer
Posts: 74
|
Post by Ami on Aug 23, 2013 20:06:50 GMT
Hi people I was just wondering if anyone wanted to share their diagnosis stories: how long it took; how many doctors were involved; what service you were with at the time (CAMHS, NHS, private etc); stages of diagnosis; misdiagnosis; reactions of friends and family; what you think of your diagnosis. It would be interesting to see what everyone has to say and how many people have similar experiences!! -Ami xx
|
|
|
Post by Kimberley on Aug 24, 2013 8:39:42 GMT
Hi Ami Funnily enough I did a diagnosis video to send to Bex just yesterday! For me, I was diagnosed through CAMHS. That was a whole hub of mental health professionals including doctors, case workers, psychs, occupational therapists. I got diagnosed with depression at the age of 14, but the whole process probably took about a year, from the moment I first chirped up at a routine appointment to the moment I got my actual diagnosis fro the CAMHS team. At the time, I didn't understand my diagnosis really. I knew what I was feeling but having a label meant nothing to be at that age, I couldn't really understand it. My mum struggled with it immensely, especially when I started taking Prozac. I missed a LOT of doses and I felt awful on it! I think the reason she struggled is because she wanted to me about to fix it like she could everything else, which of course I can understand and apreciate now I'm older. Are you gonna share your story Ami? xx
|
|
Ami
Junior Sharer
Posts: 74
|
Post by Ami on Aug 24, 2013 10:36:32 GMT
What a coincidence! I started feeling depressed about 4 years ago and my teachers at school noticed, so I got referred to CAMHS. After being on the waiting list for quite a while, it didn't take long for them to diagnose me with depression and anxiety (I was already very aware of this before the diagnosis). The psych that diagnosed me actually turned out to be pretty crap: he often triggered panic attacks and he misdiagnosed me as aspergic... I was with him for around a year before I requested a new doctor. I'm still with that doctor and I thought she was amazing and I was finally going to get somewhere, but now I'm not so sure D:
|
|
|
Post by Kimberley on Aug 24, 2013 11:24:47 GMT
Why are you not so sure about your doctor now hun? x
|
|
Ami
Junior Sharer
Posts: 74
|
Post by Ami on Aug 24, 2013 11:50:03 GMT
Cause I mentioned BPD to her a few months ago (I was really worried cause I also mentioned it to the crap doctor before, and he brushed it off immediately and made me feel really pathetic about it), and she actually agreed with me! I meet almost every criteria for the diagnosis, and reading about it, things that I didn't understand started to make sense. Now she's suddenly telling me I only meet 3 of the criteria (self harm, feelings of emptiness, depressive mood swings) which is CLEARLY not true!! I feel like I can't argue with her because she's the professional arghhhh >_<
|
|
|
Post by Kimberley on Aug 24, 2013 12:48:29 GMT
I understand why you feel frustrated, but you're entitled to a second opinion. Could you maybe go to your regular GP and explain your concerns? x
|
|
Ami
Junior Sharer
Posts: 74
|
Post by Ami on Aug 24, 2013 16:11:34 GMT
I might try asking my mum about it again.. thinking about it keeps giving me panic attacks so it might be a good idea to sort it soon xx
|
|
|
Post by ellief on Aug 25, 2013 8:07:08 GMT
I was diagnosed officially with Anxious and avoidance personality disorder when I was hospitalised, by an nhs doctor. My case worker cannot diagnose alone because she isn't a doctor, but on my care plan it also says BPD and Anorexia. I've had bad mental health for about 11 years, and CAMHSin my area never helped me, but the adult team have been amazing. Diagnosis can be very helpful in accessing treatment, but it doesn't have to define you,I have symptoms of other disorders too but I've not been diagnosed with them as it has been seen to be pointless to diagnose them at this point in time, as the help i would receive would be the same as I already am. Make sense? as for reactions, my friends were supportive, my dad told me I was lying and chucked me out!
|
|
Ami
Junior Sharer
Posts: 74
|
Post by Ami on Aug 25, 2013 11:03:29 GMT
Hi Ellie I'm really sorry to hear about your dad's reaction, that's awful! It's good that your friends were there to support you though I've been a bit worried about what will happen when I leave CAMHS, so it's very reassuring to hear you've had a good experience with them hehe xx
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2013 19:27:13 GMT
Hi I just saw this and thought I'd post! I was diagnosed with "emerging BPD" in December 2012 because I'm 17, but I turn 18 in two months and will have a reassessment for it then, although I'm doubtful as to whether I will have "recovered" as such. It took a while to be diagnosed because of my age, and although it was mentioned in an assessment with a psychiatrist at CAMHS when I was 16 they refused to talk about it and avoided all of my questions. I then chose to move to private services under insurance to the Priory Roehampton for treatment in November 2012. I had various assessments and was diagnosed by my psychiatrist there (whose care I am still currently under) with Emerging Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (BPD) and Bulimia Nervosa. Whilst I was at CAMHS the disorder was repeatedly overlooked as depression which was frustrating because I was unable to get the care I desperately needed. However at the Priory things were much better and at the end of January I started a 6 month course of weekly group and individual DBT which has proved to be very useful. My mum didn't react very well to the diagnosis when they read my report through... I don't remember what my dad said. My brother is younger and very supportive so he's never judged me because of any of my disorders/illnesses. I don't actually have much of a problem with my diagnosis - for me it helped me to get the help that I really needed and to learn things I would not have learnt otherwise. However I do have a problem with people using BPD against me, saying things like "that's your BPD talking" and "one of the reasons you have to leave inpatient is because you're getting attached to the ward as a result of your other disorder" which was frustrating. Other than that though it's been pretty much okay.
|
|
Ami
Junior Sharer
Posts: 74
|
Post by Ami on Aug 28, 2013 22:46:21 GMT
Hellooo I think CAMHS could be better in terms of recognising the beginning of a disorder instead of refusing to acknowledge it simply because we're under 18.. I'm glad your diagnosis helped you with treatment and stuff, and the rest is an example of the stigma we've got to all fight together unfortunately Can I ask which CAMHS you went to (Roehampton isn't too far from me)? It's totally fine if you don't feel comfortable with that
|
|
martinlom
Junior Sharer
er...hum...hey...what?
Posts: 80
|
Post by martinlom on Sept 9, 2013 15:39:02 GMT
Hi I was diagnosed when I was 20 years old after seeing a Psychiatrist and my GP for a year with Severe Depression and being told I had Schizophrenia but was diagnosed with BPD instead but they couldn't understand how I was still showing signs of Schizophrenia without actually having Schizophrenia and after 3 years I had Schizotypal Personality Disorder traits added onto my BPD diagnosis, which kind of explained it.
The moment my GP told me that the Psychiatrist had diagnosed me with BPD, I went from being a Depressed Schizophrenic that could be treated to Borderline patient who he saw as a waste of time, up until this point he was always really nice and helpful but all of a sudden within the space of a few minutes, every I said was either ignored or exaggerated and nothing has really changed with the GP's I see generally.
My family haven't taken it all that well, not as badly as some peoples family but still badly, they ignore it because they can't cope with it and if it's brought up or it's noticeable they scream and shout and tell me rubbish with my sister saying things "I wouldn't trust my kids with someone with Mental Health Problems" despite not giving any actual reasons to suggest I can't be trusted or my Mum threatening to harm herself to "teach me a lesson" on what it's like for her. Basically they either ignore it, take it personally or see me as a stereotype.
Anyway, that's my depressing diagnosis story lol.
|
|