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

[Mazarita]

Hi all,

I have a mostly positive attitude to my diagnosis. I've had withdrawal and depression problems ever since I can remember, was a very shy and unhappy child. Then after leaving home at 16, I went through a metamorphosis overnight from this into a kind of sex kitten for some years. Then back in the other direction into terrible depression including a suicidal time in my late 20s. Later again, a swing into sexual mania and not being able to sit still. For so many years, one extreme or the other, often with elements of both occurring at the same time.

For 18 years I was treated for anxiety and depression alone, during which time I explored many alternative options, including meditation, creative engagement, alternative health treatments like homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy and many more. These were also partly for crohns disease which I was also diagnosed with at 18. After many more extreme swings of mood that lasted for long periods of time, going from crying rivers to being the wildest party girl in town, I was finally diagnosed as bipolar in 2008.

For me this has been a lifesaver, as the medications I have since accessed have made my life far more managable and livable than ever before and they've also made my relationship life stable in a way it never was before. I don't go around advertising the fact that I have been diagnosed with bipolar to everyone but most of the people important to me in life know about it. Some question the diagnosis because I've always been good at keep a rational mask, even when I was having extremely strange thoughts and delusions in my own mind. But, overall, I'd have to say getting an apt diagnosis, one that makes sense of my experiences, has helped me. 

I understand though that this experience is not always the case and not for everyone. One thing that may have a bearing on my situation is that I've never been hospitalised, so my experience with psychiatrists (mostly good) has been all of my own volition and choice. It's possible this has made my diagnosis a lot easier to accept and find useful. I don't see my condition as having a cure. But I do see it as livable in a way it really wasn't before getting the bipolar diagnosis. For this I am grateful.

[Shimmer]

@Shaz51 some of the diagnoses you listed overlap - for example, SAD and GAD are both types of anxiety, depression and bipolar can't occur together (bipolar includes depressive episodes but having manic or hypomanic episodes excludes people from a diagnosis of depression), and ADHD is the new term for ADD. I hope that helps illustrate a little how diagnoses need to be updated and consolidated, rather than added to a list, which I don't think is explained well to people!

So @Shaz51 the professionals that your husband is working with are unsure what the appropriate diagnosis is for him, and this has led him to withdraw from all help? I'm sorry to hear this! The specific diagnosis is not always important in working towards recovery - sometimes engaging in treatment based on what symptoms are bothering someone can be really helpful regardless of diagnosis.

[Bimby2]

 Have managed to join the conversation tonight on what purpose does a diagnosis have in letting a person

know what specific mental illness they're suffering from. I have been plagued with depression/anxiety for

many years that has much to do with personal traumas I have been through during my lifetime. Does it

have any great bearing on how one copes better after being diagnosed? Yes and no. It gives credibility

to what maybe the problem and specific treatment for symptoms. To people who have suffered stigma and

alienation because of MI it is often of little comfort to know what their diagnosis is. There are not enough

facilities to cope with  myriad people suffering MI and relevant authorities don't seem to give credence to

putting more into prevention rather than cure. I have come a long way in partial recovery from MI thnaks to

the support of loyal GP's and likewise, friends. They're not really interested in what my diagnosis is more in

how they can help and support me. Thanks for this wonderful forum. Bimby2  

[CherryBomb]

Hi @Former-Member  - hope the kiddy winkles get some shut-eye soon!

You raise some really good points, particularly how diagnoses are perceived and judged by others. It seems this is one the main challenges. 

I'm wondering if anyone has thoughs on how/if you disclose you have a diagnosis with others? Is it worth sharing it, or should you keep it private? 

[Shimmer]

Welcome @Missellybee 

So you have experienced both upsides and downsides of receiving diagnoses:

+ Helped you get the help you needed

- Feeling overwhelmed

+ Can explain to others what is going on so they can better understand and help

- Stigma and judgements from others

What an interesting example of how a diagnosis can be helpful in some ways but challenging in others. Thanks for sharing!

[Samiam]

It has taken a very long time for me to actually believe that I can be more than my diagnosis.  I have finally found an antidepressant that works for me - I had years of trying different medications - and times when I gave up completely - I felt better than ever in my well times but over time I had more frequent although shorter severe depressive episodes.  I have also started to use acceptance and commitment therapy - using mindfulness and values based approach to moving forward in my life.  I find this much more helpful to me than CBT - although some aspects of CBT have been helpful.  Hearing about the recovery approach and trauma informed care has given me alot of hope for mental health recovery for myself and others.  I have had some really great support where I live and linked into community mental health services as well as seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist - being on a mental health plan means I can only see her ten times a year - which sounds a lot but is not really enough to work through issues and relationships - having community mental health services - personal help and mentoring has been fantastic and has given me hope that I can actually study and re-engage with work and society.  I have just started the mental health cert IV at Tafe and hope I can assist others in the future. While this is a very scary step and pushes a lot of buttons with anxiety and particularly social anxiety I hope I can do the course.  I am very passionate about supporting people as people and not their diagnosis.

[Shimmer]

@BlueBay it is really difficult if you feel that your diagnosis and the path forward in treatment has not been properly explained, I can understand why you are feeling fearful!

I would really encourage you to reflect this confusion to your treating team, and ask to have a conversation so that you can better understand BPD. That way you can get back on the same page and work together in your recovery! A collaborative approach is ideal.

[Decadian]

@Bimby2

I think it's wise to get another diagnosis if you are unhappy with it - if it feels wrong - and if the medication is giving you unpleasant side effects it's important to not just put up with it but have it checked out

We have to be in charge of our own situation - after all - we are the person who has the symptoms

Decadian

[Shaz51]

Thankyou @Shimmer for that

about two months a go my Husband thought of going back to the mental health team, when he rang because he thought he might go back to hospital

They told him , he is not on the list anymore

[CherryBomb]

@Mazarita sounds like it took a while before getting the right diagnosis. This can happen quite often - diagnoses can change over time. 

@Mazarita I'm curious if you thought that your first few diagnoses were accurate back then? And do you have any advice for people who might not agree with their diagnosis?