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Originally Posted by emptynightmare
1. Blah blah blah, diagnosis isn't everything. Okay, but I'd really like one. I've been struggling since I reached the double digits (in years) and every "therapist" I've seen just kind of ho hums or agrees with me when I say I have depression. How do I get a diagnosis? Who gives out diagnoses? Psychiatrists? Do I need a referral for a psychiatrist?
Please help; I have not been to the doctor in a very long time and have no idea how anything works. I scheduled a check up with a family doctor (whatever that is) and am planning to tell all and ask for an exam, but what if the dr can't diagnose these things and the appointment is useless?
I'm also worried they're going to commit me because I self harm and have been suicidal. I plan on keeping a clear head and a friendly tone but sometimes you can't predict how things are going to go. How common is it to talk about these things with a family doctor?
2. I'd also really like to know what the pros and cons are to having a diagnosis legally, if there are any. Would you ever let an employer know about your mental health diagnosis? I personally wouldn't, but right now I'm uninformed.
Let me know if I need to clear anything up. Googling in the meantime. Thanks.
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I saw a therapist and a psychiatrist for several years. They had to put diagnosis codes on the forms they sent in to my health insurance co, so they did. It was pretty clear that I was depressed, they didn't need to do a lot of investigation to determine that. But when I started really falling apart, they sent me to a psychologist who specialized in testing and diagnosis. I filled out a whole bunch of forms and tests, it took several hours. Then I had an interview with the psychologist that took a couple hours as well. He then wrote a 5 or 6 page document that described his assessment of me, including things that he thought were relevant to diagnosis. Then he laid out what treatment he thought would be effective and what direction it should go. It ended with a formal diagnosis.
Has it been useful? Yes and no.
He diagnosed me with DID. That has been helpful with getting treatment; the Ts have assumed the diagnosis was correct and we've jumped in with treatment. It has also been helpful for me because I sometimes doubt that I have DID.
He also said that I had Major Depressive Disorder. Treatment Resistant. That was pretty obvious. I think that might be helpful if my health insurance co starts being willing to pay for ketamine treatment. I would like to try that, but it is expensive. Other than that, not really helpful.
He also diagnosed Mixed Personality Disorder, with various traits. That hasn't been very helpful. Personality disorders are supposedly hard to treat/recover from and that is not very helpful to know.
As far as legally, it would probably be helpful if you wanted disability benefits or something like that. But I have not told my employers. I feel like that would be detrimental. Some people, however, have found it helpful to tell their boss what they are dealing with.
Your diagnosis (at least in the US) cannot be disclosed without your permission. Even if you are hospitalized for mental illness, the person that did the diagnosing must have your signed permission to release the diagnosis. Otherwise the hospital has to go by what they see.