I was relieved to be diagnosed with severe depression because it meant that I was about to start feeling better (through drugs / therapy) and that gave me a reason to go on for a bit longer and not to try and kill myself. I had been plagued with suicidal thoughts for years and when the doctor diagnosed me I told myself to give the professionals a chance to help me.

18months later I was diagnosed as having a dependent personality disorder. I already knew this was the case because I had read so much about my symptoms. The diagnosis only clarified what I had known for months.

The attitude of mental health professionals shocked me. I was told by my care co-ordinator that the DPD diagnosis implied negative things about me as a person. While I was an in-patient one of the nurses said that she was sorry that the psychiatrist had talked about my personality as being 'disordered'

Once again, I am relieved and not at all upset by my diagnosis as I can now work out why I have struggled socially, and in so many other ways for the last 27 years. I can go easy on myself and only be with people who understand and accept me instead of trying to be something I am not.

Where there is predjudice against our conditions then I would expect there is a fear of diagnosis. Do you have people around you who are unaccepting of difference? We are all different and I am proud of who I am. Even more so now that I know why I've suffered.

Going without the right diagnosis and treatment caused me to become so ill that I lost my job, my home and my partner (he took my 3 year old son with him). It nearly cost me my life. My 3 children would probably have grieved for the rest of their lives. Only now that I am on the right treatment am I able to genuinely enjoy them.

I hope that telling you about experiences has helped you. Please do not allow yourself to become more ill by not seeking the right kind of help.

Happy New Year !

DP1 (and proud of it!!!!!)