Why so many diagnoses

I've been bottling this up too long. Is it possible to have so many diagnoses? I know I'm messed up and was severely tortured and traumatized as an infant and bullied my entire childhood.

I must say that all of my psychologists struck me as very experienced and good. First psychologist diagnosed me with schizoaffective disorder. She sent me to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with general anxiety disorder, depression, and PTSD. After about a year I nearly jumped off a bridge because of her and so I was force to find another therapist. I found another good psychologist who after a year diagnosed me with: Primary diagnosis is schizoaffective Disorder, a provisional diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Specified Personality Disorder with Borderline, Schizotypal, and Avoidant Features. She sent me to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with BPD, depression, and general anxiety disorder. She also sent me to a very experienced psychologist who has experience with DID. He diagnosed me with DID.

Could someone please tell me what am I supposed to do with all of those diagnoses. I feel that all of them can't be correct. It makes me feel like a freak people see in fiction movies. I always run away from everything but I'm trying so hard not to run away this time and just face things hoping life gets eventually gets better.

Any help is appreciated!

In my opinion diagnosis is subjective. You go to a specialist that specializes in zebras you will get a zebra diagnosis. You go to one that specializes in horses that’s the diagnosis you get. Psychology is not like other sciences that have specific requirements. To me this suggests that you are unconsciously giving them what they seek to find based on their own bias.

Yes, and I wonder what psychology will be like in a hundred years from now, and how they will view present day diagnoses. My take is that it's a lot more difficult to diagnose people with a lot of trauma. I mean for people who are depressed or have anxiety is one thing, but people who have complete change in the big 5 personalities on a daily basis etc etc might go beyond the present models. That's just my feel. But it doesn't help me much. Maybe I should go to a penticostal church and have them lay hands on me speaking in tongues :/ idk what to do.

…and part of the problem is hmos and insurance that insist on a snap diagnoses before reading getting to know a person. Back in the 80’s when I was diagnosed my first pdoc wrote down a list of diagnoses to rule out. Then she got to know me and had me take all these tests. She even sent me to specialist in personality disorders and ruled out things one by one until she was left with two. Major depression and bipolar. After about a year and a half she said manic depression which is what they called it back then. After about 4-5 yrs I quit seeing her and the next time I was hospitalized the hmos ruled and I’ve been given lots of diagnosis over the years including DID but I only had faith in the first diagnosis because it was carefully considered. The medication I was on influenced my behavior a lot and that was not taken into consideration by later pdoc.s I don’t believe any of them were malicious or deceptive they were pressured to provide a snap diagnosis under time constraints and tended to go with their own bias.

I've had two psychiatrists and 3 psychologists. Each psychiatrists didn't see me nearly as much as the psychologists, like 15 minutes per week for maybe half year each, but their diagnoses were less scary to me; general anxiety disorder, depression, BPD, PTSD.

I saw my first clinical psychologists about a year for 50 minutes per week, often 2 to 3 times per week. The 2nd clinical psychologist talked to my first one and continued from their. I also saw her about the same time. The DID guy was a clinical neuropsychologist in his 70s. He diagnosed me with DID. I saw him for 50 minutes per week for about a half year'ish. I think he was the best psychologists of the 3 but he was kind of aggressive. He said modern psychology understands about 1% of the brain and I believe it. No offense to anyone but I don't like the DID models and think that's one of the least understood disorders. It's probably one of the least accepted disorders amongst psychologists. He didn't want me to see DID as different people, but rather as parts that forms a whole person.

The short answer to your question is yes, as far as I’m aware having two or more concurrent diagnoses is possible even common. The DSM is a very controversial text in many circles and the vagueness of dealing with the human mind makes it often hard to fit people in one nice neat diagnostic box. That said it sounds like you have had a lot of diagnostic labels thrown your way. I am not a doctor of therapist so I can’t say what’s right or what’s wrong just that I can see how that would be frustrating.

I'm learning to not put much importance on disorder titles. My symptoms are real. That's what's important.

Feeling frustrated and want to find yet another psychologist to get diagnosed so maybe they'll know the best way to help. One of my diagnoses was BPD but I a lot of times my manic/depressive cycles are so rapid they can occur at the same time where I'm both manic and depressed. Does BPD get that or is that bipolar disorder?

In general BPD is fast cycling. In general a bipolar episode has to last two weeks or more. If your leaning towards the BPD feeling like the right diagnosis then maybe what you can look for is a therapist that specializes in DBT even if it turns out not to be the right diagnosis the DBT won’t be a waste cause it helps symptoms. DBT is usually very useful.

@Nammu thanks. I'm all over the place but usually my cycles are less than two weeks.

I did DBT therapy but became frustrated because it requires me to want to do the DBT techniques during those moments but that's the last thing I always want. When triggered or in a bad BPD/BD peak in the cycle the last thing I want is to live. I also did EMDR although only a little bit.


Anyone know how to do DBT techniques when living is the last thing you want during those moments?

That I don’t know. Back when I was in therapy it was CBT in the beginning I had lots of trouble with it but it proved useful over the years. Everything I’ve read about DBT makes me wish it had been available back then.

I did learn to incorporate the cognitive changes but it took years. I don’t thing DBT is much different. It just takes effort and to keep plugging away at it until it becomes easier.

Sorry I have no better answer. Maybe someone here who’s had DBT can answer better.

Boundaries between having a disorder or not are always somewhat vague, partly a result of inclinactions the person who diagnoses you and symptoms overlap. Moreover, depression or anxiety disorder can be the result of difficulties you experience because of another disorder.

Personally, I believe a diagnosis should be a handle that gives you access to a better suited treatment. That could be the correct medication (for instance for BPD), a specific flavour of psychotherapy or other forms of support.