False anxiety/depression diagnoses

[stackcats]

Hi all,

I'm posting here because I'm becoming frustrated. I feel like mental health professionals are not listening to what I say, and are too keen to tell me what I'm dealing with is anxiety/depression.

I have issues with focus/concentration/organisation and it's detrimental to my quality of life. I struggle to get things done. I know I'm not stupid, but I was unable to do well at school or go to university because doing homework/assignments/studying is almost physically impossible for me. As I get older it's become easier to manage, but I'm trying to go back to school in my 30s and running into the same concentration issues.

Every time I've spoken to a professional about it, they've told me it's anxiety, that I'm scared of failing, that I'm beating myself up for not being perfect. I'm not! I've been through serious depression in my 20s and I'm out the other side now. I know I'm prone to anxiety but this is not it! This difficulty focussing doesn't just apply to studying it applies to things like cleaning, shopping, reading a book, watching my favourite TV show. I've been like this all my life.

I feel like I have some kind of learning or attention or memory issue. But I feel like doctors see a 30-something female and go "anxiety/depression/self-loathing" almost reflexively. It's almost like they've decided what to say to me before I get half-way through explaining my problem.

Am I just being obtuse and they're right? Or are my feelings of dismissal valid?

[therising]

Hi stackcat

First, just want to say how glad I am that you've come out the other side of depression. I imagine this has given you some insight in regard to what feels like a mental health issue and what doesn't. Myself, I've also come out the other side of depression and have learned to trust myself based on my experience.

I mention this due to the fact that a few years back I'd been experiencing what my GP termed as 'anxiety attacks'. I insisted this was not the case as I knew how I ticked at the best and worst of times. He refused to listen, wanting to put me on anti-anxiety meds. He told me to come back for another consult (as we were both getting a little frustrated and the consult was nearly up). Long story short, the attacks were getting worse which led me to another doctor who ordered an MRI scan. Diagnosis was 'silent migranes' (migranes without headaches). Luckily I was having one of my episodes whilst in the MRI machine. Problem solved.

It might pay for you to trust your instincts stackcat. Could be a myriad of reasons as to why you're feeling the way you are: Chemical imbalance of some nature, sleep issue (such as sleep apnea) etc, etc.

Take care of your self and keep investigating.

[White_Rose]

Dear Stackcats

Hello and welcome. Glad you found your way here. It is frustrating to feel you are not listened to and any treatment seems to come from a list of options without a specific application.

I wonder if the concentration etc that you speak of is part of the difficulty in telling a doctor what is happening. If this is a possibility may I make a suggestion. I know from my experiences and those of others who write in here that explaining what is happening can get mixed up. I find I veer off course and start talking about the background to something instead of keeping to the topic. You have explained yourself pretty well in your post, so one suggestion is to print your post and take it with you to the next doctor.

Another suggestion is similar but requires you to sit down and write about the whole issue. This may be better than using your post as you can consider everything you want to say, what happens in various circumstances and how you feel. It may also be useful to include your future ambitions such as uni.

It may be a shorter document if you write it in dot points. Try not to write War and Peace as the doctor will not read a lengthy document but will start asking you questions and place you in the same situation as before. You can of course read the document to him, it's up to you but I imagine he/she will want a copy. So take two copies.

We all know how when we see the doctor, or anyone else a stressful situation like this, that the brain dies and we forget much of what we wanted to say. Happens a lot. So the doctor may simply not get the full story. Remember you know what is happening, they may be hearing it for the first time and there is quite a lot to take in. Can you give them the benefit of the doubt and start from scratch?

I don't know if you are being dismissed. Perhaps you can start with this as your reason for writing your experiences (tactfully written). I agree that it can certainly appear to be a dismissive attitude but not necessarily with that intention. I had a little chuckle when I suggested you use tact. I am not good at this and it makes me smile to suggest it to others. I do try and usually succeed but it is a failing of mine. I have watched many others get through a situation by being far more calm than me and I do envy that ability.

Love to hear what you think about this.

Mary

[Over1t]

Have you had testing by a neuropsychologist?

They can administer tests to determine if you have an impairment and if it neurological or physchological?

You can then get the correct treatment.

Good luck