No obvious issues?

I first joined the forum over 8 years ago because I thought I had some mental health issues. I was seeing a counselor back then... then I stopped. I saw a different counselor for a time.. then I stopped. Then about 5 years ago I started again... but stopped seeing that counselor, too and I haven't seen anyone in several years.

I'm doing okay. I kinda doubt I would fit any diagnosis right now. There are issues I'd like to work on. Being more assertive and less confrontational, for instance. But - this forum is a source of support. I don't have many friends in real life And when I have had friends, I didn't find them to be helpful, and yet I expected them to give me a lot of help. I shared too many of my deepest inner struggles and then was disappointed when they couldn't resolve those struggles for me.

Anyway... does anyone feel like they don't fit any particular diagnosis, and yet find this site to be helpful?

Yeah, I think I can sort-of relate to what you wrote here. I've seen several therapists for short periods over the years. But I never really found any of them to be that helpful. I also have a psychiatrist. He's been helpful in terms of medical management. But that's all he does.

So far as I know, I have no diagnoses. I suppose there must be something written down somewhere for insurance purposes. Probably depression and perhaps anxiety. That's easy. But I don't know as I fit any particular diagnosis either. I do clearly struggle with some depression although it's certainly not debilitating plus I do have anxiety. I also have waged a life-long struggle with my gender identity. And I think I could make a pretty-good case for complex PTSD. One psychiatrist who treated me while I was hospitalized said she thought there might be "a bipolar element" to what was going on with me. (Whatever that meant.)

Despite everything, though, I'm doing okay too. There are issues I could be working on as well. But at my advanced age, it seems pointless to get into it for a variety of reasons. I don't have any friends, or even acquaintances really. I'm what I like to call an "urban hermit." MSF is something of a support, although nowadays I spend most of my time in Games. I don't tend to find many posts in other forums to which I feel I have anything to contribute. And I rarely post my own threads anymore. (Few members reply to them when I do.)

When i first joined this forum, i was a real "right-fighter" as dr phil calls it. But IRL i was afraid to speak assertively. I never felt present at like medical dr appointments. I think this forum has helped me a lot.

It may not be a case of a diagnoses that is the source behind relationship issues. The diagnosis could be for the other person who has not sought help, so undiagnosed. It could also be a relationship with an antagonistic person, their personality style, a conflict of both people’s personality styles.

I have been obsessively trying to sort it out for myself as well (even have been diagnosed yet not sure if originated within me or the worst brought in me by the antagonistic person’s behavior).

I do find this site helpful and also enjoy knowing the different people here. I am very isolated, too.

My biggest struggles are with having to acknowledge that there will always be antagonistic people in my life... and knowing how to deal with that fact and responding in ways that don't end up hurting me. I struggle with how to set boundaries with antagonistic people. I do admit that sometimes I do bring problems on myself... but it's also true that sometimes I am a victim - or perhaps I should say that there are times when people attempt to victimize me.

I'm talking here of close relationships(friends, spouse, family members), acquaintances, and even strangers at times.

I get what you are saying. I don’t have any diagnosis or in fact any particular issues at the moment. I visited this forum by accident when searching for help with the particular issue I was dealing with and when issues was gone I stuck around. I am on here for number of reasons: I made friends on here so I like to support them and just chit chat with them, I share things I know on various sub forums and hopefully it helps others, I read on what others share and learn from them and I have a few problematic family members so it helps to read on here how people deal with them because everyone has one or a few of those!

When I came here in 2004, I was a total mess & nothing had helped for 13 years before that.

I was dealing with Major Depression, anxiety, & anorexia & a bad marriage of 29 years & many sui attempts during those last 13 years. My mom was dying of cancer. Ended up going through a trauma with the home care person I caught abusing my mom & police got involved. After my mom died in Jan 2005, it took me a year before I could go back in her house where all the trauma happened. Finally got the house sold oct 2006 & put all the money in my trust so my husband couldn't touch it.

In 2007, I took a trip to Ky (from Calif where I had lived all my life). Knew if I didn't buy a farm when I was there I would return to Calif & be trapped there the rest of my life. Bought my small farm, packed a suitcase & my dog Leo & flew back for the closing on my farm & to start my new life.

The minute I walked into my farm house, my life began to change for the better. It was not like a new chapter in my life, it was like a whole new book. I had problems & issues along the way. I found a wonderful therapist who when she retired told me when I came to her she thought she would never be able to tear down the concrete walls I had built. She got me involved in a 2 year intense DBT program with another wonderful therapist & she became my private thetapist when my other one retired. Kept going for a few more years, more as just someone to talk things through so not to bother friends. She got me through my divorce, & legal battles with my ex but mostly she brought out what had been hidden inside me all my life & helped me integrate my past (dysfunctional parents & husband) so I understood my reactions to things now & how to respond functionally with the functional (& dysfunctional) people I run into in life now.

All my crap was basically "situational" mental health issues but they were enough to end my computer engineering career & throw me into dissability in 1994.

Now I am totally recovered & leading a more normal, functional life than ever before in my life. Never been happier or felt more peace even through major losses of my fur babies & horse over the last 4 1/2 years. Think owning my little farm with woods & streams & surrounded by nature has also been a wonderful part of my healing.

Don't come to MSF often any more but still check in once in awhile. Was a major part of my life for a long time. Not that easy to just leave......& maybe my healing can be an inspiration & encouragement to some who need it

I am similar. When I came here I didn't have any true diagnosis, I was mainly looking for support due to work stress.

Later, after a second very stressful work situation, I was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, which is a temporary reaction to stress or change. Yeah, I had a string of bad bad job luck then. In the second case, it was a department with lots of turnover and my boss wanted me out. They tried to make me quit to avoid paying severance. I was eventually laid off and was pretty much back to normal after leaving that environment.

I still stick around because I enjoy interacting with the people here.

I relate to this. The only diagnosis I have is a couple of depression/anxiety episodes. I suspect I have an anxiety issue ongoing but I’m living a fully functioning life. My issues have been triggered by situations but I relate to what you say about wanting to react in healthier ways and my resilience is an ongoing life work.

I do find a lot of intelligence and insight on these forums, and also find it very uplifting how caring and compassionate people are when responding to others here.