 |
| FAQ/Help |
| Calendar |
| Search |
|
#1
Dec 01, 2013, 11:56 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
So, I've been in therapy about 4 months now. My doc is great! But its weird, she won't give me a diagnoses. We've talked, and I'm somewhat educated, and I told her I googled my sx's lol and saw things like "dependent personality/avoidant personality" etc.
Only thing she asked was "how that made me feel"  I understand labeling theory...my ? is: Is this how it works? Is it normal? I'm ok with it (i think) just seems weird.But yes...I plan on asking her directly again next time I see her. Just would like to hear other's thoughts. Thanks for the feedback. Hope all are well |
 @nonymous
|
|
#2
Dec 02, 2013, 12:13 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I believe that diagnosis must precede treatment. But many Ts don't agree.
__________________
Mr Ambassador, alias Ancient Plax, alias Captain Therapy, alias Big Poppa, alias Secret Spy, etc. Add that to your tattoo, Baby! |
| PrisonBound
|
|
#3
Dec 02, 2013, 12:16 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
May I ask why they wouldn't agree? What's the justification for that? Seems logical to have a diagnoses first then work from there? If you have cancer, you need to know first, so that you can treat it, right?
|
|
#4
Dec 02, 2013, 12:25 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
Mr Ambassador, alias Ancient Plax, alias Captain Therapy, alias Big Poppa, alias Secret Spy, etc. Add that to your tattoo, Baby! |
| PrisonBound
|
|
#5
Dec 02, 2013, 12:27 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Interesting...
|
|
#6
Dec 02, 2013, 12:28 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
It can take much longer than 4 months for a therapist or psychiatrist to arrive at a diagnosis, and not all therapists are equally qualified to diagnose.
Even when a diagnosis is made, it is often subject to change as they see a client over a longer period of time and start seeing patterns of behavior, mood, or thinking appear. I was diagnosed for years as having major depression because no psychiatrist had seen me long enough to actually see me in a manic state. Finally, my current pdoc worked with me long enough to realize what was going on. It took over a year for him to feel secure in giving me a firm diagnosis. It can take time. Try to be patient with the process. |
| PrisonBound
|
|
#7
Dec 02, 2013, 12:32 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Excellent point. I can see that. Don't know why she just couldn't tell me that though lol. I'm patient with it...she's helped me a lot and I've had no major issues with her. Thanks again....
 Quote:
|
|
#8
Dec 02, 2013, 12:42 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
| CantExplain
|
|
#9
Dec 02, 2013, 01:38 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Despite efforts in trying to make diagnoses objective (e.g. various incarnations of the DSM, CID etc), they can be anything but. Diagnoses vary by culture, according to who does the diagnosing and/or who is being diagnosed. A lot of mislabeling can occur as a result. It is also hard at times as several disorders share similar symtpoms, so where is the dividing line? As such, psychiatrists can be wary of affixing a label that could be wrong and/or would not benefit the patient.
This doesn't mean one cannot have, if only, an idea or general idea of what a client can suffer from but a diagnosis is not set in stone and takes time to establish. And hopefully, Ts know when it is advisable to set a diagnosis and when it would be preferable not to. |
| PrisonBound, rainboots87
|
|
#10
Dec 02, 2013, 01:43 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
thanks everyone. It all makes sense. Guess part of me wants something "solid" to focus on, and apparently I wasn't being as patient as I thought. Good insight. Helps! Thanks again
|
|
#11
Dec 02, 2013, 02:03 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I was also with my T 4 months when I asked her what she thinks my dx could be. She is also not keen on labels as she calls it. She just said I sure am somewhere on the anxiety disorder spectrum ( well obviously I knew that already ) but too soon to be specific.
The way I think about it is: I have issues and they need to be dealt with. They will not change if I have dx or not. But I think the need for dx is very individual. I know that my issues are all result of trauma and abuse and they make sense to be coping skills which to me doesn't mean I'm ill. It just means I need to process things. Which sure is not true for everybody where dx can be helpful for choosing treatment. |
| PrisonBound
|
|
#12
Dec 02, 2013, 03:24 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I a bit surprised to hear this actually. I knew my diagnosis and when I switched shrinks he wanted to start fresh so did an intake interview instead of relying on another's notes or views. He did wait a while, which I appreciated because the way he did it was showing that he was being very respectful and thoughtful, but he came out with it relatively early on. I don't think people are harmed by a label. As some have pointed out, these things can change over time anyway so it is better to have a "working hypothesis" that can be revised rather than nothing at all.
__________________
“Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer |
| CantExplain
|
|
#13
Dec 02, 2013, 06:43 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Most of the medical professionals and therapists that I've seen stick to a pretty basic diagnosis with me and I'm not interested in anything further than that. The diagnosis that I have fits in some ways and doesn't in others. I don't think anything can be wrapped up neatly in a box, and I don't think I'd be helped further with a few extra labels. I do think the labels matter to some extent. I feel like I'd internalise some of the values attached to the label if someone decided I had an avoidant personality for example, as opposed to describing my sometimes (ah, oftentimes) avoidant behaviour. I don't ever want to accept something like that as a stable personality trait and would rather that I continue believing that it is possible to largely change long-term patterns.
|
| PrisonBound
|
|
#14
Dec 02, 2013, 06:58 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Do you self pay for your sessions or use insurance? I think to bill insurance they need some sort of dx for them to get paid. I saw a T once where I paid for sessions myself and when I asked what my dx would be she kind of ran around the question basically she didn't believe in diagnoses, etc. Whether that was true or not, I don't know..I never pressed the issue.
Some shy away from disclosing that for whatever reason, probably because they don't what the client focusing on it. Either way, it is your right to be able to know. |
|
#15
Dec 02, 2013, 07:02 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I'm sorry to seem cynical but let's be honest. Not all T's are created equal. Some are just terrible or lazy or not focused and it's just a job for them. I absolutely HATE the "how does that make you feel", if I get that too much I respond by saying, "that any one can be a freaking T it seems if all one has to do is ask, 'how does that make you feel', now how does that make YOU feel?" I would ask them. They get the message or I get another T.
I'm sorry folks but the truth of the matter is some T's are not really qualified to be T's. They don't diagnose because they have no idea how to and are afraid to be called out on it later so they play word games.
__________________
Follow me on Twitter @PsychoManiaNews |
|
#16
Dec 02, 2013, 08:08 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
That's probably true, unfortunately. And perhaps why I see a psychiatrist who is also trained as an analyst. The extensive training he has done at top notch schools, where he has also taught, the fact that he is in several reading groups with other analysts, and that he has 35 years or so of experience all mean that he is not your typical therapist. He also is incredibly ethical and conscious of his duties with a great memory so he just knows his stuff and makes it his business to know. So do all his colleagues whom I've seen along the way. It is a remarkable community in the sense that there is a group of shrinks who don't just do meds, but are mainly interested in therapy. So I often defend psychiatrists who are sometimes stereotyped and put down for a variety of reasons. I've met bad ones who were arrogant and thick but I've mainly known ones who give the utmost in quality care.
__________________
“Our knowledge is a little island in a great ocean of nonknowledge.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer |
|
#17
Dec 02, 2013, 10:56 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Love all of the input. Just to answer...I have a psychiatrist at the VA who (contrary to some horror stories from the VA...they're true) has helped me greatly. I feel I've been lucky with the VA in that regard. I have a diagnoses thru her....several actually...major depression, gad, ocd. She referred me to an outside psychiatrist for therapy and I self pay. (the VA psychologist whom i saw twice LITERALLY gave me books to read each time...waste of time) My therapist is an MD. I like her a lot. Like someone said, I would probably internalize any 'label' and would be a self fulfilling prophecy. Maybe she understands that? I just know I have a personality disorder of some type...thats crystal clear. I like to know how things work, reasons for things, etc. I've never been in therapy before, so I start wondering what is "normal" and what isn't, if that makes sense. Ok, i'm done defending my therapist lol!
Thanks again everyone. I value the input! |
|
#18
Dec 02, 2013, 12:28 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
|
| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
|
My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.
Linear Mode
