Why haven't I received a diagnosis?

[Meatballs]

I went to the doctor to see if I had anxiety and they gave me the standard test you find on beyondblue and all over the internet. To be honest, I was expecting something a little more in-depth than that, but anyway, they referred me a psychologist and reminded me to 'think positive.' On our first session, the psychologist said 'you might have generalised anxiety and / or social anxiety.' I have now been seeing the psychologist for several months now and they still haven't confirmed whether I actually have anxiety or not.

Since they have not told me 'yes you have anxiety,' does this mean I don't? I get panic attacks and have all the symptoms, I just don't want to self-diagnose. Or should I just assume I do, since I talk to the psychologist about coping with stress and exposure therapy and all that?

I know it shouldn't matter, and it's not like I'm going to go around telling people, I just want to know. I want to ask the psychologist, but I'm afraid of looking stupid when they say 'oh honey, no, you don't have anxiety, you're just a bit of a stress-head' (I know they won't really say that, but that's how I'll take it).

[blondguy]

Hello Meatballs

Thankyou for having the strength to post! Good on You!

You are intelligent enough not to self diagnose. Having a 'label' for everything can make our situation worse when we dont it to be. I have had panic attacks and anxiety for many years and its an awful place to be in.

Panic attacks/anxiety attacks are the same. You have a really good psychologist. The psychologist just doesnt want you to get any more anxious by providing a lable when he/she isnt sure of the correct diagnosis to start with.

You have the courage to see a counselor and good on you. The psych will never think you are stupid for asking...just ask...you are there to heal and recover...please ask...you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by asking.

It will take a few consultations for your counselor to make a correct diagnosis. From what you have said above you have anxiety in general. The panic attacks are a huge part of anxiety. Your counselor is there to be non judgemental and caring. You are no stress- head Meatballs....the panic attacks are common and are a the same as anxiety attacks.

Give your psychologist some time to breathe before a diagnosis is made...It takes time. Panic attacks do lessen in severity over time with regular and consistent visits.

There are many really kind people on the forums that can be here for you. It would be great if you could post back again. You are not alone 🙂

My kind thoughts for you

Paul

[Neil_1]

Hi there MB

It’s great that you’ve been able to post and I thought Paul’s post to you was a very good one. It’s also very good that you’ve been able to find a psych and from what I can gather, you seem to have a good association happening there. That is very key when seeing your psych – if you find that you’re both ‘on the same page’, it can be a huge bonus.

It sounds good that you’ve been discussing ways of coping with stress and also other exposure therapy assistance as well. Are you finding that these sessions are helpful and also for what you're learning?? These things can be a huge help for the future when you either continue to encounter stressful situations or when something like those crops out, say, out of the blue. Sure it might swallow you up in the initial phase, but once you recognise what’s happening, you’ll be able to reach into your coping mechanisms (hopefully) to push those anxiety effects to the back of your mind.

I’d also be going back to visit your GP to let them know how you’re going; to give them a run-down of what you’ve been doing and I think it wouldn’t hurt to ask your GP about a diagnosis as well.

Kind regards

Neil

[Meatballs]

Thank you Paul and Neil! I do very much appreciate your thoughtful responses. I will try to work up the courage to ask the psychologist on our next session.

I suppose the reason I am worrying about this is, if I do actually have anxiety, then there's a proper reason for me to be feeling like this all the time. But if I don't have anxiety, it's just me, my fault, my personality.

The sessions have been helping a little, but she often spends a long time talking about the amygdala and brain stems and how panic helped the nomadic people to survive, which is all very well and good, but I knew all that already. I tell her this, but she just keeps going on, and sometimes I feel like my money is being wasted.

Again, thanks for the replies.

[blondguy]

Hi MB, great of you to post back and thanks. If I may ask, how many sessions have you had with your counselor?

Neil was spot on about trying your GP for a diagnosis as they have much better training than they used to. My GP diagnosed my anxiety. It took him under 5 minutes depending on the symptoms of course...My best. Paul

[Emma77]

Hi Meatballs,

My apologies in advance if any of this comes out as critical or judgmental, however you’ve got me thinking about my own situation, and I’m curious if you think a diagnosis would make a difference? Even if it is ‘just you, your fault, your personality’ isn’t that still a proper reason to feel like that? I’m truly not trying to question whether you should seek out a diagnosis, and if you really do want one, then I also encourage you to ask your psych.

I think I was diagnosed with anxiety many years ago, but you’ve now got me wondering if that was ever formal. I do remember debating with my psych whether I was agoraphobic. I figured that as the only time I ever left the house was to see her, that was pretty phobic! But she said I had ‘tendencies’. Pfft, either way, it used to scare the crap out of me leaving my front door, so what difference does the label make?

I go through stages where I think I don’t have a condition, I’m just weak, and other stages where I think I should be locked in a padded room with the key thrown away. Of course, neither of those things are true.

Oh, and I think your psych read from the same science of anxiety book as my psych!