Different Pyschologists Diagnosing different disorders

[anita24]

Has anyone experienced this? I am so confused at the moment. I saw a new psychologist & he agreed with the main points of depression and anxiety but i was diagnosed with ptsd with one pyschologist but this new one is saying depression, anxiety and Stockholm syndrome.

I asked what he thinks the panic attacks, easily startled etc is caused from and he said anxiety.

With my new pyschologist his goal is to get me working and move out of home..... i know i wont be able to keep a job down nor afford to live out of home because i haven't studied anything. I can bearly take public transport by myself, i have panic attacks every time and always looking over my shoulder. I get startled easily. Hate public places... I just don't see his idea as realistic to me... because i've tried and tried for many years.

I suppose i have only just started this so i should keep trying, but yeah i just thought id ask because my head feels a mess with all these confusing disorders i just want to know what i have for sure as i don't understand when pyschologists are telling me different things.

[white knight]

Hi Anita, welcome

We have many people here with anxiety. Although I conquered it 4 years ago and it took me 25 years, I can recall the fear of public places, jumpy and panic attacks.

Psych's are human also and can vary a lot in their diagnosis. I've been though that. My last diagnosis was correct, the reason I know that? once on that prescribed medication life became at least tolerable in the short term and great in the medium term.

So in a sense its trial and error. Many illnesses have similar symptoms. eg my original diagnosis was bipolar 1 and ADHD. ADHD can have symptoms of mania. Mania is what I had. Yet some of my childhood symptoms seems more like ADHD. Did I have bits of this and bits of that? likely. Bipolar 1? Did I have that? Not likely...bipolar 2 I have which is far less intense on a scale.

While you are seeking clarification on your correct diagnosis remember some self help strategies to assist you with life.

Google Topic: be radical- beyondblue

Topic: MELTDOWN- back to basics- beyondblue

That thread depicts attending to other ways to calm you down by living in a slow pace environment among other ideas. Back to basics like country living with a vegie garden isn't everyone's cup of tea but we are talking about your mental health here....its really important. Have a read anyway.

Topic: inexpensive recovery idea- camping- beyondblue

All the best

Tony WK

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Anita24,

Thanks for posting. I feel your struggle; I've been to a few different psychologists and psychiatrists and each person has diagnosed me with something different. It's confusing, frustrating and messy.

How long have the psychologists seen you for? I ask because it's very easy for a psychologist or a psychiatrist to give an opinion or a diagnosis even if they've only seen you for 40 minutes. I've had this done before. Important to remember that they are only making an assumption based on what they've seen. Unfortunately for many mental health conditions there is no blood tests or scans that can know for sure.

My psychologist said to me that if she were to go through the DSM-IV (that's the manual of mental health disorders) she would actually fit into a number of different illnesses, even though she's well and doesn't have a mental illness. It's very easy for people to be diagnosed. 🙂

I also think it would be helpful for you and your psychologist to talk about what each disorder means to you; does it bother you that you've been diagnosed with it? Is there anything that concerns you about it? Ultimately the name of the condition doesn't change you - it's not your identity. The fact that your psychologist has these goals in place of working and moving out of home is a good thing. It means that the priority and the focus is not on these 'labels' but instead on your life and how to move forwards. Also just because these goals are big and seem too hard doesn't mean that you have to jump and leap. The right psychologist will help you move step by step. There is no reason to have to rush into anything.

🙂