Trust that diagnosis?

Open Eyes · Jul 05, 2022 at 10:19 AM

I agree that clinicians can misdiagnose and have misdiagnosed patients. But that doesn’t mean conditions like bipolar and ptsd are made up. I think it’s cruel to even suggest these challenging conditions don’t present often crippling symptoms in someone.

Conditions like ptsd and bipolar and depression have troubled human beings throughout human history. There were just different labels used and at times very cruel and Inhumane treatments.

I just read how scientists studying ptsd have noticed changes in the brain in the hypocampus and the amygdala. And one person can have it worse than another.

Therapy can be helpful if the therapist specializes in helping trauma patients for example. There most definitely has to be given respect to a person’s cultural upbringing. A diagnosis should not be given until a clinician has spent a good amount of time with a patient.

Open Eyes · Jul 05, 2022 at 03:40 PM

I think a therapist can be very helpful IF the therapist understands how to listen and by putting their own opinions aside. It has amazed me how a therapist can sit and judge a value of something they know nothing about and never engaged in or experienced themselves.

A good therapist doesn’t sit and judge but instead allows the patient to sit and share things they often don’t talk about with anyone else. There have been things I simply would not discuss with a friend. There are things one often prefers to keep to one’s self

No therapist can fix a patient, but they can help the patient to slowly identify their deep challenges and develop skills to better manage these challenges. Also not everyone can change their life situation. A lot depends on their age and ability to be financially independent. Not everyone is equal when it comes to resources.

Fuzzybear · Jul 11, 2022 at 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pachyderm

The Myth of Mental Health Diagnosis | Psychology Today

When I was in the hospital most often I got the diagnosis of depression, no matter how much I tried to tell people my main symptom was anxiety.

Fuzzybear · Jul 11, 2022 at 10:23 AM

I completely agree. A Good Therapist does NOT sit and judge. I do not currently have time to write the essay that this matter probably deserves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Open Eyes

I think a therapist can be very helpful IF the therapist understands how to listen and by putting their own opinions aside. It has amazed me how a therapist can sit and judge a value of something they know nothing about and never engaged in or experienced themselves.

A good therapist doesn’t sit and judge but instead allows the patient to sit and share things they often don’t talk about with anyone else. There have been things I simply would not discuss with a friend. There are things one often prefers to keep to one’s self

No therapist can fix a patient, but they can help the patient to slowly identify their deep challenges and develop skills to better manage these challenges. Also not everyone can change their life situation. A lot depends on their age and ability to be financially independent. Not everyone is equal when it comes to resources.

Fuzzybear · 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pachyderm

I never found that any medications helped at all. For me, the only thing that has helped is insight, and that I have had to develop almost entirely on my own (with reading, etc.).

I relate to this. Meds have not helped due to intolerable side effects and I have not found a competent therapist who has the ability to put their negative countertransference and/or other ''issues'' (such as poorly hidden NPD) aside to be even somewhat competent. I too have only found insight helpful and I've had to develop this mostly on my own (definitely not helped by any ''therapist'' in ''real'' life.)

eta

''Two clinicians may be looking at the same symptoms but seeing and naming them differently based on different contexts, which can include the clinician's own biases, differences in training, and what the client... reports''

Completely agree and have experienced exactly that

Fuzzybear · Jul 11, 2022 at 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downandlonely

I actually use a website for peer support. Lots of virtual meetings available. Some are free, and all are cheaper than therapy.

When I saw therapists, all they did was validate me. That meant I thought I didn't have to change, so I didn't. Actually the 12 steps helped me own my part and make positive changes.

I think it's hard to find a good therapist who has the ability to find the balance between just sitting and validating someone (which often does not alone facilitate change) and being/becoming aggressively confrontational.. even brutally so... perhaps having become ''bored'' or in a few cases finding a new ''supply''...

(not about anyone on msf)

MuddyBoots · Jul 11, 2022 at 12:46 PM

I've been misdiagnosed before and the treatment never fully helped. When I was dx'd with depression they gave me antidepressants that made me ragey-manic and when I was dx'd with bipolar they gave me mood stabilizers which didn't treat the psychosis. When I was dx'd with BPD they tried "holistic education" (I actually think DBT would have helped because I do believe I have some BPD traits) which I still don't get but it didn't help.

I can only speak for myself but once I got the right dx's (schizoaffective, ptsd, opioid use disorder), I started a journey of getting the right treatment. I'm just starting it (it's called ACT: Assertive Community Treatment) and I'm very new to it. They're helping me not die from my addiction while helping me get my shyt together (have some income, find housing, learn how to navigate the world with a fked up head).

downandlonely · Jul 11, 2022 at 02:51 PM

Sounds like it has been a long journey, but glad you are finally on the right track @MuddyBoots.

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downandlonely Legendary Member Since Mar 2018 Location: United States Posts: 10,760 (SuperPoster!) 6 10.6k hugs given	Jul 11, 2022 at 02:51 PM #28 Sounds like it has been a long journey, but glad you are finally on the right track @MuddyBoots.
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