[pearlys]

I dont know where I should post this but I post it according to my latest diagnosis.
The past couple of years I have had quite some diagnoses, besides recurrent depression and anhedonia it was Avoidant Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, mood disorder not otherwise specified and my latest DX is bipolar disorder. I have had a couple of cognitive behavior therapies, schema therapy, ACT, and I dont know what else. Nothing helped. My latest psychotherapist says that I have some avoidant traits and Im vulnerable and a sensitive man but they don't see enough traits to DX me with a personality disorder and narcissism they don't see at all. She says that a lot of my problems are because of my mood disorder and they want to treat that first. Then it is to be seen what remains of my personality traits and eventually treat them. But first my mood has to be stable. And I've heard this from 3 psychiatrists before.
I agree....
So how can they diagnose a personality disorder when one is depressed, agitated depression, mixed state or even manic (i was not manic when they dxed me with those personality disorders but I might have been in a mixed state when they diagnosed me with narcissism or at least an agitated depression).
Shouldn't there be some protocol that FIRST the mood disorder, wether its mania or depression, should be treated and stabilized, and not first DX one with a personality disorder while he/she is completely not him/herself?

[~Christina]

I honesty would just focus on treating mood disorder first , Until that is leveled out it really is almost pointless to fling around Personality disorders as they mainly respond to DBT Therapy not really medications.

Some Pdocs are comfortable diagnosing PD's early on and some Pdocs take there time.

[pearlys]

I think it makes sense. And making premature diagnoses can do more harm than good. My self esteem was already very low and I felt extremely guilty for what I didd and after that narcissism dx i even got more insecure and doubted all my actions and expressions. I felt really bad and I think I was near psychotic cuz I started to identify myself with that diagnosis and loathed myself for being that kind of a person. I always disliked narcissists and arrogant selfish people and I never wanted to be like that. And then for some reason they told me im a narcissist i told my friends and even my wife who I betrayed during that maldito episode and noone sees any narcissist traits in me. I even asked my current therapists and they neither recognize that. That diagnosis really made me feel a lot more worse than I already was, and that was pretty bad.... I would plegde for a protocol and not arbitrary diagnosics.

[pearlys]

One year later I asked them on which 5 or more out of 9 criteria they diagnosed me with NPD. They dont want to answer and only say that I should listen to what my current therapists tell me... Wtf... Thats like telling someone he/she has a terminal illness and has 3 months to live, then a year later on a checkup they diagnose diabetes. When asking why they thought it was terminal they say: ooh, just listen to your current docs.... Meanwhile preparing for the end, like I also did.......

[~Christina]

Ditch all the labels.. Plain and simple , Start a new blank slate for yourself. You do not have to accept what they say, seriously PD's are typically managed in Therapy. Worry about working on the mood disorder.. See what changes and stability you find then you can revisit whether you have a PD ..

Fyi .. I was IP once and I didn't agree with the IP pdocs opinions nor his wanting to snow me into a drooling zombie.. When discharged he gave me BPD .. Was it right or fitting? Nope.. My Pdoc removed it from my medical records.

Drop all the labels and work on just feeling better and building back up your self worth and self esteem .

[pearlys]

Yes you are right. My mood and self esteem are my primary concern. Here in my country psychologists diagnose personality disorders and together with psychiatrists they diagnose bipolar disorder or other psychiatric diseases.
What is PI? And BPD? Afaik BPD is borderline personality disorder but you might mean bipolar disorder?

Yes ditch all the labels. But this narcissist diagnose was while i was hospitalized and as a result they refused everything i asked for and they didnt let me talk with copatients alone. Everytime I talked to someone and we sat down somewhere, soon a staffmember came to intervene. As if i abuse or harm others. And even if i would be a narcissist, is that the right way to "cure" it, frustrating someone? That really made me paranoid. I got a one flew over the cuckoos nest feeling there. It traumatized me in a way. I was there 7 weeks. Worst experience in my life and it didnt help at all.

[~Christina]

IP inpatient/ hospital
BP Bipolar
BPD Borderline Personality disorder
AVP Avoidant Personaity disorder
NPD Narcissist Personality disorder

Ect...

Psychologist here (USA) also diagnose.

Some Psychologist, Therapists and Pdoc (psychriatrist) are easier to work with than others. Even if a person had a PD ( personality disorder) or not there needs to be a basic understanding between provider and client/patient.. Just because there is or could be a PD doesn't mean you don't have valid reason(s) to want or need XYZ .

If your treatment team isn't helping you find solutions to make life more enjoyable then you should look for new providers if you stuck in a situation where that isn't an option, Then you will need to really start to research coping skills and learn as many as possible and see what helps you and what doesnt , it's not a one size fits all..

Of course PC is a wonderful resource when it comes to just reading peoples stories and seeing what has or has not helped others.

[pearlys]

Thats one of my biggest issues, not standing up for myself. I should have left that cuckoos nest. But i believed them and really thought, ok i just have to except that im nothing and i need to obey.... That IP was kinda my last resort .....

[~Christina]

It's never your last resort until you lie done and stay down

I like to prove people wrong. Take back your life and enjoy it

[pearlys]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Take back your life and enjoy it

I hope soon I will.

[wiretwister]

Originally Posted by pearlys

ok i just have to except that im nothing and i need to obey....

you should never let anyone say that to you, and more importantly you should never tell yourself that, ...