[Loose Screw x 2]

Has your doctor ever put you on a med and not told you what it was for? Did you wonder about it and eventually figure it out on your own then, bring it up to your doctor and have them admit it? Do doctors or therapists ever hold out on a patient to avoid upsetting them with news that could worry them?
And lastly, if you do exstensive research into any kind of illnesses and recognize several symptoms within yourself then, are you just a hypochondriac who is full of it and have no idea what you're talking about?

[Nocalove]

I am not sure but it is very likely.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by MavriforceK9r

Has your doctor ever put you on a med and not told you what it was for? Did you wonder about it and eventually figure it out on your own then, bring it up to your doctor and have them admit it? Do doctors or therapists ever hold out on a patient to avoid upsetting them with news that could worry them?
And lastly, if you do exstensive research into any kind of illnesses and recognize several symptoms within yourself then, are you just a hypochondriac who is full of it and have no idea what you're talking about?

your title question "Do doctors or therapists ever withhold diagnosis info from patients?"

yes. here in america we have mental disorders in almost every mental disorder category, that covers this area where treatment providers do not have to tell their clients what their diagnosis is or why they do not fit in, one way or another a certain mental disorder that the therapist or client may think they have.

they are all the diagnosis's called "unspecified" in the diagnostic manuals.

no not all people who do research are in your words "full of it" and in your words a "hypochondriac"

suggestion talk with your treatment providers, they may tell you how and why they have you diagnosed a certain way, but on the files they may not want to say for sure one way or the other.

[Skeezyks]

My pdoc has never offered me a med & not told me what it was for. (I'm no longer on any med's. Since going off Cymbalta a few years ago now, I've just routinely declined any med suggestions he has made.) I couldn't say if doctors ever hold out on a patient in order to not upset them. My pdoc has not done this. He has not, however, ever offered me any kind of diagnosis. I presume he doesn't feel it is worthwhile... perhaps due to my age?

I can't say as I've ever done extensive research into illnesses. There was a period of time a number of years ago now, when I was into reading books related to mental illness. I would go to the bookstore, look through the titles, find something that looked interesting, take it home, & read it. One of the books I read was: Lost in the Mirror which was on BPD. And, based on what I read in that book, I became convinced I could have been diagnosed as having it when I was young. (I've been told BPD tends to burn itself out as one ages. And I've definitely done that.)

I don't think that recognizing symptoms within yourself in your research makes you a hypochondriac. All mental health diagnoses share different individual symptoms. It's the way in which these various symptoms are grouped that makes one diagnosis different from another. So I think it makes sense that one would recognize aspects of oneself within a variety of different mental health diagnoses.

I recall, several years ago, watching a YouTube video posted by a young woman who had schizophrenia. As she discussed each of her symptoms, I found that I could relate to every single one except that she experienced some visual hallucinations which I do not. So she gets a diagnosis of schizophrenia & I get, or would get, something else... presumably... headscratch:

I recall many years ago now when I was in college, in a psychology course I was taking, the professor said that mental illnesses are just more extreme examples of experiences everyone has. So, for example, I'm quite security conscious. As a result, I check the locks on our doors regularly. But were I to begin doing so to the point where it began to interfere with my day-to-day life, then I might be diagnosed as having OCD. Does that make sense? At least that's the way I look at it.

[Travelinglady]

I think they might at times.

[Nammu]

When they give medication they are supposed to explain what it is for and side effects.

[Loose Screw x 2]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

My pdoc has never offered me a med & not told me what it was for. (I'm no longer on any med's. Since going off Cymbalta a few years ago now, I've just routinely declined any med suggestions he has made.) I couldn't say if doctors ever hold out on a patient in order to not upset them. My pdoc has not done this. He has not, however, ever offered me any kind of diagnosis. I presume he doesn't feel it is worthwhile... perhaps due to my age?

I can't say as I've ever done extensive research into illnesses. There was a period of time a number of years ago now, when I was into reading books related to mental illness. I would go to the bookstore, look through the titles, find something that looked interesting, take it home, & read it. One of the books I read was: Lost in the Mirror which was on BPD. And, based on what I read in that book, I became convinced I could have been diagnosed as having it when I was young. (I've been told BPD tends to burn itself out as one ages. And I've definitely done that.)

I don't think that recognizing symptoms within yourself in your research makes you a hypochondriac. All mental health diagnoses share different individual symptoms. It's the way in which these various symptoms are grouped that makes one diagnosis different from another. So I think it makes sense that one would recognize aspects of oneself within a variety of different mental health diagnoses.

I recall, several years ago, watching a YouTube video posted by a young woman who had schizophrenia. As she discussed each of her symptoms, I found that I could relate to every single one except that she experienced some visual hallucinations which I do not. So she gets a diagnosis of schizophrenia & I get, or would get, something else... presumably... headscratch:

I recall many years ago now when I was in college, in a psychology course I was taking, the professor said that mental illnesses are just more extreme examples of experiences everyone has. So, for example, I'm quite security conscious. As a result, I check the locks on our doors regularly. But were I to begin doing so to the point where it began to interfere with my day-to-day life, then I might be diagnosed as having OCD. Does that make sense? At least that's the way I look at it.

Thanks, Skeezy. Your posts are always enlightening to me.

My psychiatrist and I never really discussed my exact diagnoses. Though, he did advise me what each medication was for. Being put on Lithium made it pretty much a given I was Bipolar. It kind of came up in a later session but we have never really sat down to discuss it. It has been more a case of us discussing the symptoms of the disorder and their treatment.

This went on for about 5 years until I made application for military disability benefits. For the first time I saw on paper the list (!) of diagnoses: Bipolar, PTSD, GAD, Atypical Depression. The psychiatrist by the way provided me a copy of the letter and report he submitted to Veteran's Affairs Canada. It was quite the eyeopening read.

[Seaman]

Originally Posted by MavriforceK9r

Has your doctor ever put you on a med and not told you what it was for? Did you wonder about it and eventually figure it out on your own then, bring it up to your doctor and have them admit it? Do doctors or therapists ever hold out on a patient to avoid upsetting them with news that could worry them?
And lastly, if you do exstensive research into any kind of illnesses and recognize several symptoms within yourself then, are you just a hypochondriac who is full of it and have no idea what you're talking about?

Not only do they do that ... but also release all your personal and confidential info to anyone they want ... without your consent or signed release.

It happened to me with four (4) police officers came knocking at my door with guns drawn. Sent by another person I did not know ... the police officers saying ... "I know your in there ... Do you want us to knock down your door ... If we have to do that you definately won't like it. Maybe you will be dead."

I felt like saying Go to H.... I did not open my door and they went away

I came to my therapist for an anxiety disorder and trust issue ... I don't trust anyone ... and now definately

It also did wonders for my anxiety ... don't you think ... It has increased 10X

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Seaman

It happened to me with four (4) police officers came knocking at my door with guns drawn. Sent by another person I did not know ... the police officers saying ... "I know your in there ... Do you want us to knock down your door ... If we have to do that you definately won't like it. Maybe you will be dead."

I felt like saying Go to H.... I did not open my door and they went away

It also did wonders for my anxiety ... don't you think ... It has increased 10X

It is really awful to be hounded in your home by the police. I'm sorry this happened to you.

[whisperingskye]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

Being put on Lithium made it pretty much a given I was Bipolar.

I just wanted to say lithium doesn’t automatically mean bipolar. I have been on lithium, but I definitely don’t have bipolar. It is meant to be good for suicidal thoughts/behaviours, not just bipolar...