[morning_view]

I'm about to start therapy for the first time - I went to my GP a few weeks ago and he told me I have depression and anxiety and that therapy would be far more benificial to me than medications - I agree with him, I want to try and deal with things first before I go on any type of medication.

However, I don't really agree with my GP's diagnosis - I don't think I really explained anything well - Yes, I do feel depressed, and I constantly feel under stress, but I don't think that's the main issue with me.

From doing the sanity score test, I found that scored high in depression and mania, which I guess suggests bipolar, but the major concern was that of borderline personality disorder (which came as a shock to me) - after reading up on it though I really do think that's what going on with me, especially after I spoke to some other people who have been diagnosed with it.

So my question is, when I start my therapy, do I suggest/tell my therapist that I think I have borderline personality disorder?

[Rapunzel]

It depends on the therapist. I'm always trying to diagnose myself, and I have lots of internet test results, and my T does not want to hear it. But when you are just starting therapy, if take in your results and talk about it, but don't approach it as "here's my diagnosis," I think most therapists would be open to at least talking about it. Be careful about going overboard. Being a "quiz junkie" isn't as helpful after a point, because it really is looking an external source to learn about your inner self. Just looking inward at yourself and talking about your own thoughts and feelings and concerns is a lot more real and genuine. One of your concerns might be that you see a resemblance between yourself and BPD. You can talk about that. But don't present it as your diagnosis. Let the therapist decide about that.

[morning_view]

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about - I don't want to seem like I'm diagnosing myself, I just happened to come across a diagnosis that made sense to me

I think I'll leave it for a little bit - get into the swing of things and then maybe bring it up and see what he says

thanks for your help x

[Cheri]

I think it's okay to go in and say, "I read about BPD and can really relate to a lot of it," or something along those lines. That's not dictating a diagnosis, but giving the T some information about yourself that may be valuable to him in getting to know you.

I am really very bad about self-diagnosing. Last week, I was convinced I had Aspberger's Syndrome. When I showed the test results to my T, she just rolled her eyes and said, "I'm going to throw your computer away."

So there's a difference in approaching something as shared information vs. self-diagnosis, imo.

[sunrise]

Some therapists are not into diagnosis. My therapist, for example, approaches the client from a position of health rather than pathology. He has never felt a need to put a label on me, and I haven't asked him for one.

I would give your therapist a chance and let things unfold naturally. If you share some characteristics with people who are labeled BPD, he will know after a few sessions.

I think it is great you are trying therapy before automatically jumping to meds. Hang in there. Wishing you good health. And good luck with your therapist! Just be yourself, and be honest.

First I just want to say that I think it's really great that you're taking the step towards therapy in favor of just medication. It also sounds like you have a really decent GP, as many wouldn't even make that type of recommendation-- they would just proceed to write a prescription.

I want to tell you that I hate online mental health quizzes. I believe that they can be really damaging for some people. Online quizzes ask you about certain symptoms and you have the opportunity to fill in a very cut and dry answer (yes, no, somewhat, often, etc.) The thing about mental illness and personality disorders in particular is that none of it is cut and dry. A lot of people possess charateristics of borderline personality disorder... then the quiz will tell you that you have it... What the quiz can't do is help you to recognize that every personality disorder and mood disorder exists on a continuum. It doesn't take into account social and environmental factors, interactions, etc. This will all unfold when you enter into therapy.

It's fine if you don't agree with your GPs assumptions. However, I am guessing from his assumptions that you are experiencing depression and anxiety-- and that's the key thing. When you go to therapy you don't want to be too concerned with telling your therapist what you think you have, rather, you want to tell him/her about what you are feeling/experiencing/how you are relating/functioning. That's what you'll be in therapy to work on-- Most therapists do not rely too much on diagnoses for therapeutic purposes... insurance purposes maybe, but a good therapist should not zone in on a particular diagnosis, rather he/she should be concerned with getting to know you and treating the whole person.

Good luck!

[Perna]

Actually, what you think and feel is most important and if you read about BPD and it feels "right" to you, that is important information for your therapist to know, to tell where you are coming from (and why you are coming in). You would follow it by explaining why you feel you might have BPD, what traits you see in yourself.

I wouldn't present it as "diagnosing" yourself but say something about feeling "most comfortable" with that rather than depression or other dx's you've read about.

[morning_view]

Thanks so much for your help everyone, I really appreciate the time you've all taken to answer my question!

and in answer to statement pinksoil about my GP, he rather shocked me actually! When I finally made myself go to the GP I was terrified because I thought he'd just say there was nothing wrong with me (like the last one did....) or just throw drugs at me and not be very helpful.... but after I explained everything he looked at me and said...

"Hmm, what I think you need is to find a counsellor or a therapist and talk about this with them. I mean, it'd be very easy for me to just say "you're depressed" and throw drugs at you... but I'm not going to do that. Now therapy is not going to be easy, but I think that's really what you need right now."

Now to me, that was the talking of a good doctor!