Just wondering how many of us have been bamboozled by the litany of diagnostic labels applied to us over the years? In fairness, I can't say it's been too bad for me, but I am conscious of it. And having previously worked in MH, I know of some patients that have more labels than they have teeth in their head!
Self diagnosed: depression (query bi-polar) and body dysmorphic disorder (once upon a time), then stress and anxiety.
Professionally: depression, possibly bi-polar type II, most recently treatment-resistant depression. Stress and anxiety confirmed. And now someone has thrown emotionally unstable PD traits into the mix, which I begrudgingly have to accept may be the case.
Hopefully, I think that's going to be it. But so many others have been far more unfortunate. And while we shouldn't get hung up on labels, for the sake of clarity, understanding ourselves and our conditions, it can be helpful just to know what the score is.
There is a city in West Yorkshire with an overwhelming prevalence of the lessor known condition "West Leeds bi-polar" because one of the most active consultants in the West of Leeds seems somewhat obsessed with diagnosing every patient with bi-polar disorder, because that's his special interest! And once upon a time I worked with a consultant who could have diagnosed a potato with a personality disorder given half the chance. He then issued every secondary diagnosis under the sun and had his patients on such a cocktail of drugs, they virtually rattled as the walked down the street. Other consultants just love to overturn one another's diagnosis in a way that seems to be based more upon professional arrogance than clinical judgement. That just seems wrong on every level.
I know by definition, mental health is a grey area. But at the same time the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and statistical manual) and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) codes seem to give fairly prescriptive guidelines for diagnosis. But what the hell do I know? I'm just a patient.
What are other people's experience?
Self diagnosed: depression (query bi-polar) and body dysmorphic disorder (once upon a time), then stress and anxiety.
Professionally: depression, possibly bi-polar type II, most recently treatment-resistant depression. Stress and anxiety confirmed. And now someone has thrown emotionally unstable PD traits into the mix, which I begrudgingly have to accept may be the case.
Hopefully, I think that's going to be it. But so many others have been far more unfortunate. And while we shouldn't get hung up on labels, for the sake of clarity, understanding ourselves and our conditions, it can be helpful just to know what the score is.
There is a city in West Yorkshire with an overwhelming prevalence of the lessor known condition "West Leeds bi-polar" because one of the most active consultants in the West of Leeds seems somewhat obsessed with diagnosing every patient with bi-polar disorder, because that's his special interest! And once upon a time I worked with a consultant who could have diagnosed a potato with a personality disorder given half the chance. He then issued every secondary diagnosis under the sun and had his patients on such a cocktail of drugs, they virtually rattled as the walked down the street. Other consultants just love to overturn one another's diagnosis in a way that seems to be based more upon professional arrogance than clinical judgement. That just seems wrong on every level.
I know by definition, mental health is a grey area. But at the same time the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and statistical manual) and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) codes seem to give fairly prescriptive guidelines for diagnosis. But what the hell do I know? I'm just a patient.
What are other people's experience?