Discuss matters related to personal health and relationships in this forum. However, please keep it sensible and remember that people of all ages can view these forums. Remember, all advice is unprofessional.
I don't want to go into a great level of detail here, but it's finally become blatantly obvious to me that I have a personality disorder. It really ruins certain aspects of my life, and I feel it was responsible for a severe episode of depression I suffered from recently.
I'm not a hypochondriac - I have been to the doctor three times in the last ten years - I'm the sort of person who only goes to the doctor if they know for certain that something is wrong with them, and what that actually is. I also refuse to take medicine for illnesses that are not life threatening. Frankly, I despise being honest about my feelings and never allow anyone to know that I'm a depressive or what I'm actually thinking. I avoid company with other depressives and those that boast about their mental illnesses as if it makes them an interesting person. I don't think I could tolerate therapy.
So would you say there's any point in getting it diagnosed? Those with personality disorders, particularly 'anxious' ones like OCPD - did you have difficulty getting it diagnosed, have you received treatment, and does it help? Do you find that having a label on your personality is at all beneficial, or do you think that you're the right one and everyone else is ****** up?
So would you say there's any point in getting it diagnosed?
depression and anxiety, yes. a personality disorder, no.
meds for depression and anxiety can be very hit and miss but can also work wonders on some people so it's worth describing your symptoms to your GP, doing some online research, and considering getting a mix of therapy (usually CBT) and meds for the depressive and anxious symptoms.
however, PDs are generally not well receieved... by anyone. It's one of those things you really want to avoid having on your medical notes because you don't get taken as seriously afterwards if you're down as someone generally melodramatic/manipulative (traits of many PDs). I've been warned by therapists outside the medical profession to sort myself out and not say certain things to GPs because a PD diagnosis can be harmful to you later on.
I dunno how much truth there is in that. But generally speaking the DSM-IV criteria for PDs just describe anyone who's not a white male aged 25-45 so I never know how much good diagnosis in and of itself actually does anything since you're unlikely to receive any meds for a PD anyway.
But def. sort out any depression and anxiety you feel you have- these no longer have much of a stigma attached at all.
You know the DSM-IV's only American, right, second anon poster?
See a doctor, OP, and try to see a mental health linkworker or whatever they're called. The help will be more specialised and tailored to you.
You know the DSM-IV's only American, right, second anon poster?
yes?
How does that change anything I said in my post? Unless you're going to point out each difference between the DSM-IV and the ICD-10 for every PD then I don't see what difference it makes.
I have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Basically, most of the time I wish I didn't have it. It means my whole personality is flawed. It's hard to treat, there are no medications specifically for PDs. Most psychiatrists see "Borderline Personality Disorder" and jump straight to "Well, s/he must be manipulative and attention seeking." You get judged by most professionals and deemed hard to treat.
What makes you think you have a personality disorder? You might have depression. Firstly, you have to be over eighteen to be diagnosed. Second, taking an online quiz doesn't mean you have it. You didn't say you had taken an online quiz, but most people do. Most of the population could take a quiz and get told they have a PD. Infact, most people show traits of PDs but they only have it if it significantly impacts on all areas of their life.
You don't think you'd get on in therapy, well that's pretty much the only treatment for PDs. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was tailor made for people with BPD. Medication only really deals with small parts of the illness; depressive symptoms or psychotic symptoms, pretty much.
If you think getting a diagnosis would significantly help you then by all means see a psychiatrist. But if you don't want therapy or medication then it's not really worth it. You don't want a label that will most likely stay with you for life (most people agree that people with PDs have this at least until they reach their 30s/40s and sometimes longer).
I don't want to go into a great level of detail here, but it's finally become blatantly obvious to me that I have a personality disorder. It really ruins certain aspects of my life, and I feel it was responsible for a severe episode of depression I suffered from recently.
I'm not a hypochondriac - I have been to the doctor three times in the last ten years - I'm the sort of person who only goes to the doctor if they know for certain that something is wrong with them, and what that actually is. I also refuse to take medicine for illnesses that are not life threatening. Frankly, I despise being honest about my feelings and never allow anyone to know that I'm a depressive or what I'm actually thinking. I avoid company with other depressives and those that boast about their mental illnesses as if it makes them an interesting person. I don't think I could tolerate therapy.
So would you say there's any point in getting it diagnosed? Those with personality disorders, particularly 'anxious' ones like OCPD - did you have difficulty getting it diagnosed, have you received treatment, and does it help? Do you find that having a label on your personality is at all beneficial, or do you think that you're the right one and everyone else is ****** up?
Cheers in advance
I have OCPD, and yes, there was much difficulty in getting it diagnosed. Psychiatrists were telling me of how it was just 'perfectionism' that was ruining my life- which was in fact got to do with another mental illness linked to having OCPD. I was only properly diagnosed a few years later, after seeing another psychiatrist who apparently could spot my personality traits straightway.
I didn't receive treatment because they told me I didn't need it for this type of personality disorder. Though when times got really bad I started to take anti-anxiety medication. I also received behaviour therapy and psychotherapy – both of which were useful. So, I'd try that if I were you.
I wouldn't say that it's beneficial but then again, nobody will know you have a mental illness unless you tell them. I bet some people have a personality disorder and don't even know it- after all it could just be a personality trait.
Thanks for the advice thus far everyone. For the person who asked my age, it's 20. By the way, I was diagnosed as having had "a severe depressive episode that resulted in isolation" - I knew this already, but I had to go as I required a letter to explain the significant absences from university. I also stated that I felt perfect the day after it peaked, which was true. He found that odd. At the moment I've not been prescribed medication or been offered CBT but he advised that I must go back if I feel it hitting me again. I have, but it's been much milder than before - I have far fewer symptoms and am thinking more rationally.
Originally Posted by zzzzzoe
why would you want to be diagnosed with a personality disorder? and what good could come from it??
What makes you think you have a personality disorder? You might have depression. Firstly, you have to be over eighteen to be diagnosed. Second, taking an online quiz doesn't mean you have it. You didn't say you had taken an online quiz, but most people do. Most of the population could take a quiz and get told they have a PD. Infact, most people show traits of PDs but they only have it if it significantly impacts on all areas of their life.
I'm not a suggestible person. I did not take an online quiz. That said, the sheet the doctor used to help diagnose my depression might as well have been an online quiz - I had to tick boxes relevant to the thoughts I experienced over the six weeks of my episode. It resulted in 21/26, which his reaction to was "wow, that's pretty severe".
I thought I made it fairly clear that I don't want to join some exclusive club here. I'm just asking if there's any point in having it diagnosed and receiving treatment, particularly given my absolute hatred of being candid about my thoughts. There probably isn't, given that I've already spent countless hours feeling extreme guilt that I confided my depression to the GP and announced it to the university.
Hm. Well, from what you've said I guess there's not much point in getting diagnosed if you don't want the treatment, but on the other hand it might be a weight off of your mind to find out what's going on.
I have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Basically, most of the time I wish I didn't have it. It means my whole personality is flawed. It's hard to treat, there are no medications specifically for PDs. Most psychiatrists see "Borderline Personality Disorder" and jump straight to "Well, s/he must be manipulative and attention seeking." You get judged by most professionals and deemed hard to treat.
This is precisely what I've been warned against. At the same time I'd kind of like a medical professional to tell me I had BPD because it would explain a lot and would contextualize a lot of my feelings and behaviour. Part of me would rather be diagnosed than just think I'm a generally ****** person.
I went to my GP recently with depressive symptoms and he said he wanted to send me for a full mood evaluation if I felt the same after Christmas so perhaps it will come out then.
I'm just asking if there's any point in having it diagnosed and receiving treatment, particularly given my absolute hatred of being candid about my thoughts. .
For a PD and if you don't want drugs or therapy, no.
This is precisely what I've been warned against. At the same time I'd kind of like a medical professional to tell me I had BPD because it would explain a lot and would contextualize a lot of my feelings and behaviour. Part of me would rather be diagnosed than just think I'm a generally ****** person.
I went to my GP recently with depressive symptoms and he said he wanted to send me for a full mood evaluation if I felt the same after Christmas so perhaps it will come out then.
Getting diagnosed with BPD was such a weight off of my mind for me. I finally had a diagnosis, I knew the symptoms and the treatment. There was something medically wrong which could finally be treated. For years I was told it was me being a teenager, or it was me being negative or just having the wrong coping mechanisms. I knew something was wrong and nobody listened for years, then finally I had a very long PD test with a doctor and she told me I had BPD.
And then I learnt about the prejudices that came with it. I guess it makes me work harder with my CMHT because I need to show them I'm not just manipulative, that parts of this illness I can't control and might come across as manipulation, but I never intend for that to happen.
So would you say there's any point in getting it diagnosed? Those with personality disorders, particularly 'anxious' ones like OCPD - did you have difficulty getting it diagnosed, have you received treatment, and does it help? Do you find that having a label on your personality is at all beneficial, or do you think that you're the right one and everyone else is ****** up?
Cheers in advance
I recently found out that my psychiatrist suspects I have a personality developement disorder, meaning that I might be diagnosed as having a personality disorder when I am older.
I don't think there is a point in getting diagnosed. It just made me feel depressed when I read about the disorders I might develop and that I might for instance, be doing some things just in order to be loved, etc.
I think it's more important to diagnose symptoms, which might be going with a pdisorder, which can be treated pharmacological such as depression.
I wouldn't ever want to have the label of a pdisorder because everyone thinks you're ****** up and nothing can be done about it. You might have success with therapy, but we know that the NHS is a bit greedy and won't pay for the long time of therapy someone with a pdisorder might need.
I don't want to go into a great level of detail here, but it's finally become blatantly obvious to me that I have a personality disorder. It really ruins certain aspects of my life, and I feel it was responsible for a severe episode of depression I suffered from recently.
I'm not a hypochondriac - I have been to the doctor three times in the last ten years - I'm the sort of person who only goes to the doctor if they know for certain that something is wrong with them, and what that actually is. I also refuse to take medicine for illnesses that are not life threatening. Frankly, I despise being honest about my feelings and never allow anyone to know that I'm a depressive or what I'm actually thinking. I avoid company with other depressives and those that boast about their mental illnesses as if it makes them an interesting person. I don't think I could tolerate therapy.
So would you say there's any point in getting it diagnosed? Those with personality disorders, particularly 'anxious' ones like OCPD - did you have difficulty getting it diagnosed, have you received treatment, and does it help? Do you find that having a label on your personality is at all beneficial, or do you think that you're the right one and everyone else is ****** up?
Cheers in advance
jesus, use a bit of common sense! if you dont want therapy and you dont want medication, then there's no point in getting a diagnosis is there?! and its not going to act as an excuse for not and fulfilling your potential in life. frankly, professionals are wasting their time on people like you who dont want to get treatment, when there are many people out there on waiting lists who actually WANT to help themselves but who cant.
i tried to be civil in my first post because i was really confused by how someone could want a diagnosis under those circumstances, but now im just pissed off (thanks for negging me by the way )
what makes you think you have a personality disorder anyway?!!!!!
you were depressed once. fair enough. whats the point in overanalysing it?!
Getting diagnosed with BPD was such a weight off of my mind for me. I finally had a diagnosis, I knew the symptoms and the treatment. There was something medically wrong which could finally be treated. For years I was told it was me being a teenager, or it was me being negative or just having the wrong coping mechanisms. I knew something was wrong and nobody listened for years, then finally I had a very long PD test with a doctor and she told me I had BPD.
And then I learnt about the prejudices that came with it. I guess it makes me work harder with my CMHT because I need to show them I'm not just manipulative, that parts of this illness I can't control and might come across as manipulation, but I never intend for that to happen.
what would happen if you where diagnosed with anti-social personaility disorder? (I believe it used to be called sociopath or something)
Discuss matters related to personal health and relationships in this forum. However, please keep it sensible and remember that people of all ages can view these forums. Remember, all advice is unprofessional.
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