[Rive1976]

I dont think I have ever felt so distraught in my entire life. So I emailed my T and told her the chatter I hear has decreased with my lower Invega dose and now she says I may not have DID but maybe I am bipolar. I f-ing quit life. All I want is a freaking solid answer.

[susannahsays]

You're never going to get a solid answer with this therapist. She is terrible.

[piggy momma]

It took me well over ten years to get a “solid” answer. Even the dumb twat of a psychiatrist completely misdiagnosed me last April - he was soooo wrong it was scary.

Hang in there - it takes time to get a proper diagnosis but once you finally do, things get better. The problem is so many conditions share symptoms with each other - ie over 50% of conditions have anxiety as a component. So you might have X condition, and it has anxiety, but you don’t have a diagnosis of anxiety.

It’s a messy field, diagnostically speaking.

[Rive1976]

So last week she got mad that I said I didnt think I had DID and this week she says she doesnt know if its DID or bipolar wtf? I just wish she would make up her ****ing mind. Anyway, I pissed her off and I feel a termination coming. I told her if she planned on terminating me dont bother to call me in for that session. I can use that time to find a new therapist. ( i didnt say that part) but I can. So we shall see. I dont think if we do have a session tommorow it will go well. Shes pissed and I am pissed.

[SlumberKitty]

HUGS Dnester.

[LonesomeTonight]

Originally Posted by Dnester

So last week she got mad that I said I didnt think I had DID and this week she says she doesnt know if its DID or bipolar wtf? I just wish she would make up her ****ing mind. Anyway, I pissed her off and I feel a termination coming. I told her if she planned on terminating me dont bother to call me in for that session. I can use that time to find a new therapist. ( i didnt say that part) but I can. So we shall see. I dont think if we do have a session tommorow it will go well. Shes pissed and I am pissed.

Hugs...could you maybe seek out someone who does psychological testing? Some psychologists and psychiatrists are trained in this. Maybe you could try to get a more formal diagnosis from an expert? This T doesn't seem to be helping, as I'd imagine treatment for bipolar and DID are quite different. Does a psychiatrist prescribe the Invega? If so, perhaps try consulting with him or her?

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by Dnester

I dont think I have ever felt so distraught in my entire life. So I emailed my T and told her the chatter I hear has decreased with my lower Invega dose and now she says I may not have DID but maybe I am bipolar. I f-ing quit life. All I want is a freaking solid answer.

OMG that proves she has no clue WTF she's doing.You really need to go in to your session and say exactly what you think.Write down everything you want to say and ask so that you don't forget because you're upset.Read it to her if you have to,but you need to speak up and straighten things out.

My advice is to get away from her and find someone else.ASAP

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

OMG that proves she has no clue WTF she's doing.You really need to go in to your session and say exactly what you think.Write down everything you want to say and ask so that you don't forget because you're upset.Read it to her if you have to,but you need to speak up and straighten things out.

My advice is to get away from her and find someone else.ASAP

Should I go back to my old Psychologist. The one that initially diagnosed me with DID or DDnos? She is a psychologist so she would be better with diagnosis in general right?

[Betty_Banana]

Honestly?I think you might be better off starting fresh with someone new.You have already said some things about the psychologist before that are questionable.

Maybe start with someone new and let them form their own opinion and diagnosis without the influence of any previous professional you have seen.You don't have to consent to having your records or info released.

But of course what you do is your own choice.You need to do what's best for you.Not knowing you or your situation in real life,nobody here can decide for you.

But if I was in your shoes I would start fresh with someone I had never seen before and go from there.

[zoiecat]

Good luck. My T diagnosed me with DID almost 2 years ago. He has witnessed me switching and has talked to some of my alters.

My pdoc doesn't even believe in DID. She keeps thinking it is psychosis and they will go away with meds. She alwats asks me if ai still have the multiple personalities. Hello? It has been called that in years and I wish it was that simple. I have to get a new pdoc.

[ArtleyWilkins]

Originally Posted by Dnester

Should I go back to my old Psychologist. The one that initially diagnosed me with DID or DDnos? She is a psychologist so she would be better with diagnosis in general right?

It's actually best that someone who doesn't have preconceived ideas about you and your diagnosis actually do the psychological testing. If you have insurance, it can be paid for by insurance; you'll need to make some calls until you find a psychologist who does testing (not all of them do testing as part of their practice while others specialize in testing).

It seems like it is time to get that testing done objectively rather than this therapist just randomly throwing out diagnoses without testing. What you have written about your therapist doesn't inspire much confidence in her skills. A competent therapist, by this point, would probably have suggested outside testing by now because of the confusion about your diagnosis.

[Rive1976]

Problem, the only therapist that I can find that does testing for Dissociative Disorders is my old Psychologist. There are a couple of men but I dislike men so that is not an option. There are some therapist but thats the problem now. I am seeing a therapist instead of psychologist. Apparently she won doctor of the year in 2017.

[Rive1976]

So this is how it went down

Me: Hey I was wondering if this chatter may be racing thoughts not DID because they have decreased on the lower Invega.
Her: I dont know if these are bipolar thoughts or DID. Just keep recording in your journal the chatter.
Me: Why would I keep a journal of things you dont believe exist. Then I will just be sitting there wondering if you think I am full of ****.
Her: Wherever did you get that idea- you are making assumptions- when did I not say I didnt believe you.
Me: Well you cant tell me my diagnosis is DID or bipolar
Her: I am done with this communication. It is not helpful. Use coping strategies to calm yourself. I will see you tommorow. I will not be responding to any texts or emails at this time.

Am I in the wrong?

[ArtleyWilkins]

Originally Posted by Dnester

Problem, the only therapist that I can find that does testing for Dissociative Disorders is my old Psychologist. There are a couple of men but I dislike men so that is not an option. There are some therapist but thats the problem now. I am seeing a therapist instead of psychologist. Apparently she won doctor of the year in 2017.

Testing, quite honestly, requires very little interaction with the psychologist doing the testing, and what interaction there is is rather structured around the testing protocols. It isn’t like therapy. It’s actually rather impersonal. You might find the gender of the psychologist doesn’t matter much.

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by ArtleyWilkins

Testing, quite honestly, requires very little interaction with the psychologist doing the testing, and what interaction there is is rather structured around the testing protocols. It isn’t like therapy. It’s actually rather impersonal. You might find the gender of the psychologist doesn’t matter much.

I prefer no interaction with males at all.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

Was this over email or text, or in person?

I don't necessarily think that your T doesn't believe you. It might be that she's just unsure herself and is trying to figure stuff out. In that case reading your journal would help, whatever it turns out to be in the end. It's sometimes hard to tell what exactly is wrong and can take a while until it's clear.

However, if she really did respond that way to your things, I still don't think it's helpful. Even if you are making assumptions or get angry that she doesn't know your diagnosis, it's not okay for her to just stop a session if it was in a session. If it was via email I think it might be that she doesn't want to discuss this in such detail and to such lenghts without seeing you. It's hard to do therapy over text. So she maybe suggested that you try to relax for a bit and that you guys can talk about it tomorrow?

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by Dnester

Problem, the only therapist that I can find that does testing for Dissociative Disorders is my old Psychologist. There are a couple of men but I dislike men so that is not an option. There are some therapist but thats the problem now. I am seeing a therapist instead of psychologist. Apparently she won doctor of the year in 2017.

But you have been repeatedly saying you don't have a dissociative disorder here so I don't understand why you want to find a psychologist that tests for them anyway.

You just need to start from scratch,go see someone and don't tell them what you think you do or don't have and just let them decide all that.

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by ChickenNoodleSoup

Was this over email or text, or in person?

I don't necessarily think that your T doesn't believe you. It might be that she's just unsure herself and is trying to figure stuff out. In that case reading your journal would help, whatever it turns out to be in the end. It's sometimes hard to tell what exactly is wrong and can take a while until it's clear.

However, if she really did respond that way to your things, I still don't think it's helpful. Even if you are making assumptions or get angry that she doesn't know your diagnosis, it's not okay for her to just stop a session if it was in a session. If it was via email I think it might be that she doesn't want to discuss this in such detail and to such lenghts without seeing you. It's hard to do therapy over text. So she maybe suggested that you try to relax for a bit and that you guys can talk about it tomorrow?

Yeah it was email. I understand all of that. I just dont feel like wasting time on her to figure it all thst when msybe I can go get diagnosis whatever they may be then come back to her for treatment of whatever or stay with this new person which looks like it may be my old psychologist.

[SlumberKitty]

Originally Posted by Dnester

So this is how it went down

Me: Hey I was wondering if this chatter may be racing thoughts not DID because they have decreased on the lower Invega.
Her: I dont know if these are bipolar thoughts or DID. Just keep recording in your journal the chatter.
Me: Why would I keep a journal of things you dont believe exist. Then I will just be sitting there wondering if you think I am full of ****.
Her: Wherever did you get that idea- you are making assumptions- when did I not say I didnt believe you.
Me: Well you cant tell me my diagnosis is DID or bipolar
Her: I am done with this communication. It is not helpful. Use coping strategies to calm yourself. I will see you tommorow. I will not be responding to any texts or emails at this time.

Am I in the wrong?

I don't think either of you is in the wrong. Your T did sound blunt in her response. But it's hard to sort stuff out via text or email. It sounds like she wants you to sit with the uncertainty, journal it, and then discuss it with her when you see her tomorrow. I know it's hard to not know your DX. My T never told me my DX, only my PDOC and my GP. Diagnosing someone is not easy as so many symptoms overlap. Try to use your coping strategies like your T said, keep writing here on PC and take it one day at a time. Deep breaths. HUGS Kit

[susannahsays]

You know I am no fan of your therapist. However, this did not seem like a very urgent email and you have said that she has asked you to decrease the number of emails you send. I also don't think expecting her to field your differential diagnosis questions over email is reasonable. And you don't even have long to wait to see her.

[amandalouise]

Dnester... I read what you posted of your conversation with your treatment provider. to me it sounds exactly what a good treatment provider would say... here let me show breaking what you posted down and what my own treatment provider would say and do....you know reality testing, with dissociative disorders reality testing remains intact, so lets use some of that here going over your post just like I would my myself with my emails to people and with my own treatment provider as if I had wrote what you did.....

from your post...

So this is how it went down

Me: Hey I was wondering if this chatter may be racing thoughts not DID because they have decreased on the lower Invega.
Her: I dont know if these are bipolar thoughts or DID. Just keep recording in your journal the chatter.
Me: Why would I keep a journal of things you dont believe exist. Then I will just be sitting there wondering if you think I am full of ****.
Her: Wherever did you get that idea- you are making assumptions- when did I not say I didnt believe you.
Me: Well you cant tell me my diagnosis is DID or bipolar
Her: I am done with this communication. It is not helpful. Use coping strategies to calm yourself. I will see you tommorow. I will not be responding to any texts or emails at this time.

Am I in the wrong?

ok now the walk through as if this was me using reality testing...

Me: Hey I was wondering if this chatter may be racing thoughts not DID because they have decreased on the lower Invega.

in that sentence who brought up that this may not be DID the patient not the treatment provider. you have noticed that the chatter has decreased and you are wondering if the chatter is not DID. this would be something that I would and do say when my meds are changed and the change makes a difference.

Her: I dont know if these are bipolar thoughts or DID. Just keep recording in your journal the chatter.

treatment provider making a reply is agreeing they dont know if your chatter is DID. they also mention another disorder. Bipolar.... remember yesterday when I said we can only post on what you choose to tell us and most people do leave key information out of what they post... well here is a key information.... the bipolar disorder... where in the conversation before she made this statement was bipolar disorder discussed. in order for her to mention another disorder she had to do it either because this other disorder has already been discussed between you both. from the wording of your post. somewhere before this statement you and she had to be discussing whether you thought you had bipolar disorder. the only other time treatment providers mention other disorders in the context that you posted is if they are using it as an example not as a diagnosis. like if I had been talking with my treatment provider and at some point said I dont know what this chatter is, bipolar dissociation, or what. and then report to my treatment provider the chatter has improved with decrease in meds, my treatment provider would naturally say she doesnt know whether the chatter is from DID or from bipolar either. (why would she say it that way because it takes diagnostic testing. to figure out which it was.) no where in that statement is the therapist saying I have the other disorder just stating that they dont know if I have either disorder. it is my own assumption that she is trying to diagnose.

reality testing complete I would realize in hearing this statement I am jumping the gun and my treatment provider is not trying to diagnose me either way just staying neutral answering my own statements of wonderings.

further looking at that statement the treatment provider is asking me to keep journaling about the chatter. this is a completely normal homework assignment. anytime something bothers me my treatment provider tells me to write about it.

the next statement you posted has another one of those missing keys of information....

Me: Why would I keep a journal of things you dont believe exist. Then I will just be sitting there wondering if you think I am full of ****.

the missing key of information is where in the session did the treatment provider say "I dont believe this chatter exists" or "I dont believe what you are hearing exists"

what you have posted does not show the therapist saying to you that the therapist believes the chatter doesnt exist. so all I can go on is that her next statement of ...

Her: Wherever did you get that idea- you are making assumptions- when did I not say I didnt believe you.

this is a completely normal thing my therapist would say to me if I jumped to the conclusion that she didnt believe me when she never stated directly to me that she didnt believe me.

the therapist has given you a completely normal therapy homework to do and you according to your own post got upset and assumed they did not believe you.

according to your post when she confronted you with the fact that you were assuming that she didnt believe you when she never said that, instead of talking with her about why you felt she didnt believe you, you went back to arguing about diagnosing you when according to your post she was not trying to diagnose you, just answering your own wonderings of whether the chatter was DID.

instead of continuing to go round and round and around again over the same thing she decided to end the session by giving you homework and letting you know that there is a boundary of no emails.

this is a completely normal thing my own treatment provider would do if she felt there was no ending the loop of my jumping to assumptions and avoiding working on why I was assuming things that she was not doing. Since I showed no interest in her help to keep doing what I already do to keep myself calm and schedule the next session. when the next session is just the next day my own treatment provider does not accept over night emails either. she expects me to do journaling and discuss the next day.

heres a thought.... maybe you and this treatment provider can record your sessions, this way you can review them together and see where you both are having problems like you feeling she is trying to diagnose you every time she mentions another mental disorder when like your post you are missing key information about the conversation.

sometimes mental disorders can get us so worked up that we dont see what our treatment providers are trying to say and teach us, and we end up having the kinds of trouble you are having with this treatment provider. sometimes having a third person present besides recording the sessions helps too to clear problems like this up.

my suggestion ... if this was me I would continue to do my journaling about the chatter and how it makes me feel. writing is a great outlet and its great for helping someone figure out for their self why something is happening and why what is happening is so important or bothering me.