Topic Tuesday // What use is a diagnosis? // 19 July, 7pm AEST

[Snuffles]

I only sought treatment for depression for the first time a couple of years ago, despite having many severe episodes since my late teenage years. Then I had a hypomanic episode, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder soon after. It was a relief. An explanation. It makes sense, because it runs in my family. But I dare not tell work, and I dare not tell most people. The stigma against bipolar is so much worse than for depression.

[Mazarita]

I agree with the many people on here who have said that 'borderline personality disorder' is an especially unhelpful label. I agree with @BlueBay that 'emotional disorder' would be more appropriate. I'm interested to discover that some doctors are using complex PTSD as a different way of designating the kinds of problems that a person might experience with that condition. I can fully understand why people diagnosed with 'personality disorders' object to that term.

As for @Shimmer's last question, I'm not sure I do keep a completely separate myself from bipolar. But I do see it as part of me and not the whole me. It helps that I have creative activities from which I gain a separate sense of identity as an artist (at least in my own mind). I imagine we are all made up of different roles in life. For some people it might be the role of parent, sibling, child or family member that defines us most to ourselves. For others it might be work or hobbies. I guess if I was to think about how best to keep sane with a mental health label is to remember to recognise all the other different parts of us that make up our full self. And maybe not focus on the diagnosis too much, except in the way of trying to use it to help our lives better.

[Shaz51]

Thank you @Shimmer and @CherryBomb

for a very interesting night

[greenspace]

I use a visual & action technique to put my diagnoses into perspective - drawing Venn diagrams or other pictures or graphs of myself, with lots of aspects of me & important things in my life, including my diagnoses.
So I might draw a stick figure of me holding a big bunch of balloons, and write words on the balloons - cats, gardening, chocolate, friends, dodgy knees, walking, teaching & learning, good tv series, managing anxiety, reading, Facebook, social justice, goal-setting, sleep, recovery from depression, geeky t-shirts, meditation...
Or a Venn diagram of spheres of values/actions - Community, Spiritual, Growing Things, Physical Health, Creativity, Education, Mental Health, Things I Love Doing - and seeing where they overlap and which are bigger or smaller than I want them to be

[Former-Member]

Hi @CherryBomb, @Shimmer and everyone.    I joined Sane last week and have enjoyed chatting with people who are caring and understanding.

As a child I was diagnosed with with hyperactivity, now called adhd.  Back then it was almost unheard of.  I enjoyed life in primary school, because I had so much life and energy and just wanted to have fun.  All this changed in my first year of highschool. My family moved countries.  I went from being an extrovert to an introvert.  Looking back I can see that I was very insecure.

In my early teens I was sexually attacked by an older man.  After telling my sibling and they didnt do anything about it, I kept silent until my 30s.  I remember always feeling unwell, panic attacks, extreme fatigue and the list goes on and on.  I didnt know what was wrong with me and every doctor I went to said, "you have depression, take this anti depressant".  I hated being told that I had depression.  I felt unwell, nauseous, aching all over, crying all the time,every symptom you can think of.  I didnt want to be told I was depressed.  I tried MANY anti depressants and they all made me feel worse, all except one, which stopped working after 2 years.  

After giving birth 16 years ago, I was finally diagnosed with ptsd.  That to me made more sense.  So my search to get well continued, but this time I knew what I was looking for.  I read and researched all I could about sexual/emotional abuse and slowly I started to recover.  I still have a long way to go, but I am finally seeing progress.  I now sometimes experience happiness instead of gloom and doom every second of the day/night.

What is interesting is that I often asked doctors if adhd as a child could still be affecting me?  Maybe, they would say, but that was it, no more said.

I was chatting with a friend last year, who is very similar to me and she mentioned that she had been to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with adult add.  I borrowed a book from the library about add/adhd and it was such a relief to realize that I actually have adult add, without the h.  Im not hyper anymore, I wore myself out, hehe!  There are different types of add/adhd.

So I diagnosed myself, went to a psychiatrist, who again gave an anti depressant after I had told her that they make me feel much worse.  After 2 months in bed, I went off those ones as well.  She had me try a couple of other medications, which arent good for me either.  Medications arent good for me at all.

I have been to many doctors, psychologists, counsellors, naturopaths, etc.  But my own research is what has helped me the most.  Reading self help books, eating healthy and now, thankfully I am able to exercise.  I try to think positive, not easy, I must say, as I still often wake up fatigued.

Sorry for the long story.  I didnt know where to start, to be honest.

So, in my case the diagnosis of depression, did not help me. The diagnosis of ptsd, anxiety did help me.                                                                                          And my own diagnosis of adult add really helped me.  My life now makes sense to me.           Now I just need to keep on the right track of getting well, so I can enjoy life.  

Ive written so much, youve probably all gone to bed.  hehe!

[Shimmer]

@Samiam I'm glad to hear that this conversation has given you a different, more hopeful and empowering perspective on your diagnosis, in that it doesn't define you, but rather can be used as a guide for help and recovery 

I really liked what you said earlier about being more than your diagnosis! I also wanted to add that from an acceptance and commitment therapy framework, you can incorporate your values and actions towards a meaningful life into your identity as another way to separate yourself from your diagnosis.

Thanks for your thoughtful and inspiring contributions this evening! 

[Mazarita]

I'd also like to say thanks to @Shimmer and @CherryBomb and everyone who participated here tonight. It really helps to clarify some of these things through group discussion. Kind wishes everyone.

[leitor]

Today I learned that Bipolar is the new name for manic depression, I didn't know that!

And I've read some great posts regarding the value of diagnosis, a lot to think on and which have been helpful to me in understanding my position.

The posts from those involved in health care regarding the stigma present in a field I thought would have progressed beyond that is quite disturbing to me though. 

[Samiam]

Thanks Shimmer. It took me a long time to use ACT effectively and to defuse from the intense emotions but I am starting to find it really helpful. Such a great platform for sharing and support. I will be back!

[jb]

I think i responded to you- but its not here.