Quote:
Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23
However, I've since come to realise that what we actually gain from a diagnosis is understanding: we can look up the condition to understand it and ourselves better. However, even without a diagnosis, we can still come to understand ourselves better by examining our symptoms. So that has been what I have focused on lately; reading up about my symptoms and the stories of others with similar symptoms (whatever their actual diagnosis) and feel that I have a better understanding of myself even without a label.
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I really needed to read this. It made my eyes water.
I don't have a formal diagnosis either and will probably never get one unless I experience another psychosis. Reading academic papers, psychiatric textbooks and the experiences of others has really helped me understand what happened to me. All these things confirmed my experience was real and valid, which a psychiatrist could never do because they did not go through my experience. All they can go by is observation and what I tell them, which is very limited. - A 2004 psychiatric consultation I read confirmed this. The psychiatrist wasn't able to capture what I went through at all.
Sometimes a diagnosis can do a lot of harm, especially if it isn't correct. First episode psychosis doesn't mean you will develop schizophrenia or any other related disorder. Responsible psychiatrists are cautious, because a lot of people who become psychotic recover and only experience it once.