[Gavinandnikki]

Since I am unable to respond to the post regarding agreement or disagreement with the diagnosis being given us by our psychotherapist or psychiatrist, what does one do if one disagrees?

Dig your heals in and refuse to accept the diagnosis, and, possibly, effective treatment? Maybe not being able to recognize that the diagnosis itself is not allowing you to accept the diagnosis ?

Consider that maybe, possibly, they could be correct, even if you think they aren't?

Stay in constant pain and anguish feeling that nothing can help you?

Or other?

Seems like most folks sort of, ultimately, end up sort of agreeing with their treatment team. How long can one go on if they never agree? Until the insurance runs out? Or until you simply give up and live in the pain?

What do you do?

[precaryous]

Hi,
Not sure if I agree or disagree with the new diagnosis T and I talked about a few days ago...
There is some testing to be done..if I agree.. (And I probably will agree to it). I will be seeing a different T who administers the tests...and I will consider that to be a second opinion.

Short answer is..if I disagree with T's diagnosis, I will get a second or third opinion, if needed.

[Angelique67]

I've decided to ignore the diagnoses I was told I have in my last inpatient experience. I was not, at first, willing to accept certain things as true, but I've since begun to observe certain traits which would seem to validate the labels I was given.

On any given day, I'll reject or accept these labels depending on how I feel. For the most part, since I consider my life to be over now, I ignore the diagnoses and labels, and/or wonder how it is that I could share labels with serial killers and other criminals. It seems overblown to me, as I've never had even a traffic ticket in the last 35 years. But OK. I'm sure they know what they're doing (NOT!!!!!).

ETA: I was heartbroken when I found out these diagnoses. I felt extremely abused by the people who labeled me.

[ChipperMonkey]

Disagree until the cows come home!

Sometimes it's denial. A lot of the time it's idiot therapists / doctors. Yeah, RUN from anyone who gives you a diagnosis right away, ESP if it's a personality disorder diagnosis! IMHO a diagnosis, true diagnosis must be determined over time.

I have had docs try to pin BP2 on me because they say my anxiety is "mania". I'm not stupid. I've done my research. You can't equate anxiety with mania in the absence of all other mania symptoms. (I have no other mania symptoms whatsoever.) In my gut I know they're wrong. I won't ever agree to that diagnosis, especially in light of the fact that many people with PTSD are misdiagnosed as bipolar. It gets to the point of ridiculousness where you're afraid of feeling anything but depressed because they'll use it as proof that you are indeed bipolar. Been there, not going back.

[brillskep]

Personally I didn't read the thread that way. I read it as referring to the situation when a client thinks the issue is different than what the therapist says. I think it can happen with a therapist who isn't really listening or professional - I've encountered cases of therapists like that. Of course, with certain types of clients and disorders it can also be denial or thinking it's not an issue.

Maybe I'm wrong, this is just how I understood that thread.

[Argonautomobile]

Other. You can do this incredible mental back flip where you disagree with your diagnosis but agree with your treatment plan. And, ultimately, I think you do have to agree with your treatment plan. Otherwise, why would you stay?

Clinical depression resulting from chemical imbalance? Or melancholia in the face of defining existential finitude? Doesn't matter. We agree that the inability to get out of bed in the morning is a problem. We are willing to try whatever might make it easier to get out of bed in the morning. If it works, it works. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Argonautomobile]

I mean, if they get hung up on it and want to explain their case yet again using the model neuron they keep on their desk, you can always just say that you've never really understood the purpose of paperweights.

Not that I've ever done anything like that.