I don't mind the diagnoses I have except for the fact that I already have had issues in the past getting doctors to take me seriously when I went many years before getting a proper diagnosis for my joint pain and other symptoms. I think I appeared as an anxious young woman with various symptoms and got boxed into the "just stressed" category.

I did feel a little brushed off by the rheumatologist I saw recently (didn't help that I was coming down with some flu-like illness that day and was super out of it at the appointment, plus I was wearing a mask to keep others from getting sick and I think she thought I was just a hypochondriac :/). My gynecologist was awesome though, discussing the bipolar and the PMDD diagnoses with me openly and saying so genuinely "gosh how are you dealing with this?"

I do find it helpful to get the OCD diagnosis, though. I had no idea anyone was experiencing similar thoughts and problems as I was so I feel less alone and confused.