Being diagnosed and other things

Sorry I didn't know how else to title this thread or if it's even in the right section.

Recently my therapist has used the word psychosis and put down "psychotic disorder NOS" which I don't know what it means. In the past couple months things seem worse, I have outbursts of anger, I randomly cry, people close to me I feel I love at one moment then can't stand them the next. It sounds like BPD but I don't know if the testing will show that. Also I don't feel like I know who I am or what I'm here for. I don't know what is real. I'm supposed to have an evaluation done in March.

A lawyer type guy is handling my SSI claim because based on the records he got, it was worth pursing. It stresses me out because I don't feel the government takes what is wrong with me seriously, I also don't trust the government, or people in general.

Guess my questions are will the testing really help determine what I have? And is this SSI thing worth pursuing? I know I have a poor work history because I have troubles holding down jobs and getting along with people. Thanks for reading.

Trouble getting along with people is one of the best things you can discuss very fully on the questionnaires that SSA will send you, if your pursue getting disability. If a lawyer thinks it is worth pursuing, then you do have a decent chance of getting it. Lawyers can't make money helping you unless, and until, your claim is approved. They don't like to waste their time on claims with less than what they see as an 85% chance of winning. So take heart. A history of job failures is also an excellent thing to disclose very fully on the questionnaires. The government doesn't really care how much a person suffers from a diagnosis. They only care about how it hampers you holding down a job.

A diagnosis of "psychotic disorder NOS" by a therapist won't impress the SSA very much. Now, that same diagnosis by an MD would carry a great deal of weight. Testing may shed some light on things. I don't think that the SSA considers anything diagnosed, until an MD - ususally a psychiatrist - signs off on it. The best thing you can do, if you want your claim approved by SSA, is to establish documentation of medical evaluation and medical treatment. That means MDs and medications. I went through the process not too long ago.

It sounds like you've been very distressed lately. I hope that eases up for you. If you have a chronic problem, you may have to manage it over the long term. Going to get evaluated by someone is a step toward that. It's good that you do have people around you that care for you.

Thanks for the response.

I know there's more there than just that. In the past I know they've said things like major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety and social anxiety. It stresses me more, because I know a lot of this stuff is there, but that these "tests" will not show that. This is stuff that happens on a daily basis and affects my daily life, I know this because I live it day in and day out. I guess that's the most frustrating part, you get judged or accused for an invisible disease. But it's certainly not normal to dislike people, not trust anybody, to not have friendships, to want to just stay inside out of various fears of social interaction, for example.

Guess we'll just see what the future holds.

No, your right. It is not normal. There is no one test that can nail down what all this is coming from. But tests can shed some light. Any diagnosis you are giving will be the best guess that the doctor/therapist can come up with. That's the best anyone can do. Over time, with getting to know you better, the diagnosis might very well get changed. It might get changed more than once.

The name of your condition is not what's most important. What really matters is that you are suffering and not finding yourself able to participate in life successfully. That must be very demoralizing. You probably have been struggling for a long time. I think it's good that you get help. I hope the March evaluation provides some insight about how you can be helped to have a more satisfying life.

I think a lot of good can come out of being in a day program at a mental health facility. If you get an opportunity to participate in something like that, I would urge you to take that opportunity. Sometimes it is called Partial Hospitalization. I went to one that helped me a lot. Medication alone will probably not change much in your life.

I'll have to see if we have any programs like that. To some degree I kind of live in the middle of nowhere, and it's at least an hour to get to a major city, which doesn't help. They have me on Cymbalta, and it has been a few months but I haven't noticed anything. They also tried Abilify and Invega, but both of those make me throw up, so I refused to continue them. It's unfortunate we have to play guinea pig with medications, too.

The services outside a major city are a lot, lot less. But check around. With the meds, it really is hit or miss. Nobody can predict what will help, or hurt. If you are having trouble sleeping, that can often be helped with meds. Other symptoms are much less responsive to medication. You are going to need some help other than meds. Let us know how you are making out.

Genesis somehow I so relate to what you are going thru. Hope it gets better, I really do