i was diagnosed first with depression at 13/14 then possible borderline at 16 which then was for sure a diagnosis at 18. at 21, i started seeing a psychiatrist who picked up from the start the dissociative aspect of things that others didn't..unless i didn't say much to the other professionals..i am not entirely sure. but now in my 30s, i also have a diagnosis of DID and am going away from the borderline diagnosis. it took me this long to say more about things which was why it took so long for more of a diagnosis or add on.

to me, as much as a diagnosis is helpful, it also depends on how you are being helped, so looking at the current problematic issues/symptoms and seeing what might be able to help with what...though it does take a lot of adjusting things you try and maybe each time a symptom comes up too because unless you have patterns, it might not be that easy.

there were case managers and psychiatrists i saw that i did not agree with or had personality conflicts with. i realized they thought it was because of me and my mental health issues...but to me, it was more because i felt they were really cold towards to me and not hearing what i was trying to say. i would do what they asked (for the most part). but i was working with my psychiatrist who never pushed meds on me, yet the case managers mostly pushed meds at me like it was a solution. so because i was not on a consistent medication, they treated me like i was non compliant..yet i tried all the group therapies recommended..and when i used up all the resources i had and was not improving, i got upset and frustrated with them because they told me i just wasn't trying hard enough.

my psychiatrist also tried explaining to them certain limitations i had, yet they were pushing me to do other things. the dynamics of it were kind of strange. they just were not on the same page at all.

i eventually stopped seeing them all because i was able to get help for something outside of my area which seemed to help lessen a lot of other issues for me. it was strange how things just came together in my head how they did. but i realized they had limitations and i used all i could from them, so i had to make the choice to stop seeing them. they were through the mental health clinic whereas my psychiatrist was not, so i figured that maybe was better to see someone privately who wasn't bound by the rules they were at the clinic.

i used to see several people at once for different things. it was too difficult because they each had their own area of what they worked on (trauma, eating disorder, general things, medication management, etc.). i don't think they really talked to each other, so it was like five different pieces i was working on at once and getting nowhere because of it.

hopefully you'll find something that works for you.