undiagnosis
so i've been waiting for months and months to see an autism specialist here in Bristol, and i finally got to see one for three sessions a few weeks back. i get called back in for a third about a week ago, only to find that they've undiagnosed me - that is to say, these specialists (and they're pretty much the experts) are sure i don't have a developmental disorder. so "what's wrong with me" has now gone from Asperger's Syndrome, to Borderline Personality Disorder, and now to nothing at all according to these ladies (apart from major depression.)
not really sure what to think of that. i trust their professional opinion, and their diagnosis was based on a pretty comprehensive test battery plus a massive arseload of history - interviewing me and my ma, pages on pages of questions about my life and my development (my ma's questionnnaire about me was 18 pages long) - so i don't think it's likely they've got it wrong. but if there's nothing wrong with me, officially, that sort of screws with my access to mental health services outside of severe depressive episodes. so i don't know if this is good or not.
anyone else run into anything like this? ever end up with a diagnosis that stuck?
L
8 comments:
Well that seems like good news to me. There doesn't have to be anything "wrong" with you. You can just be who you are and try to work on what's bothering you (like depression).
It sucks that the NHS makes mental health care so difficult, though. As always, if there's anything I can do, you know where to find me.
Diagnoses are helpful but the diagnosis does not alter who you are. A diagnosis is the map, not the territory.
I know both Aspergers and BPD are varied, even within the same "types", so it is quite possible you simply have characteristics matching these, rather than a "disorder". Like Usul said, there does not have to be anything wrong. I think Aspergers (and the autism spectrum) are very interesting ways of looking at the world, and only become disorders when people refuse to accommodate or otherwise tolerate the otherwise-harmless behavioral aspects.
I re-read your post and realized I not only failed to discuss the main point but I also rambled away from it.
Do you have the option of another doctor's opinion?
I am not familiar with how the health system works but is it possible to not notify others of the "undiagnosis", allowing you to still be treated? It's bs that one can have problematic symptoms matching a disorder but needs to "have" the disorder (i.e., jump through the hoops of getting a sympathetic doctor's diagnosis) to receive treatment.
Glad to see you still posting, by the way!
Maybe the criteria are no longer met. I think this is good news. Maybe you're not ill anymore.
I hope, and think, this is a good thing in the long run. I guess it's probably confusing to have the diagnoses change. If there isn't an underlying hardware type condition then seems positive. Did they have constructive advice on the symptoms you have/are experiencing?
Has there been any news about the designated degree or similar?
As always, best wishes.
My diagnosis has gone from BPD to Schizophrenia to Schizotypal. Psychiatry is not a very accurate science yet. Although I am happy with Schizotypal, since I believe that also describes Willy Wonka.
I found the most useful thing the NHS can do when you have mental health problems is sign you off work for a bit so you don't have to deal with a clusterfuck.
But then again I was never a fan of my meds.
It sounds like you are doing better! I am doing okay too. I have a lady friend now. We have a scary amount in common.
My company is starting up. It's doing okay! Got a few clients. As it grows I am going to try to poach all the hackers I know, so expect (more) annoying spam from me.
P.S. As per your advice I didn't hack into that corporation and instead quit my job. :D
I got a Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis as well. I had an depression for at least a decade. When I finally beat the depression. The Asperger's "Symptoms" went away as well. For longterm depression without acute suicidal tendencies it seems to be a typical (miss-)diagnosis. I know of someone else with the same 'undiagnosis'. I live with someone with Asperger's Syndrome and I can see some of her struggles are similar to the struggles of the depressive me ;).
Major Depression is your main enemy! always, no matter what other diagnoses you "get".
Your depression will make you think it's not...
glad to see you post again!
Our life is forever moving, perpetual motion is the human experience, so things change, people Change, hopefully for things that are better, a life thats easier... Warm regards. Best wishes.
Sincerely
Jf
Diagnoses are strange things - coming from an individual that both has plenty (many of which from mental health workers that have contradicted eachother) and that works in mental health. I know here in the U.S. we use the DSM-V to diagnose mental disorders, and they recently shifted to the idea of autism spectrum disorder. That being said, I'm unsure of how mental health services work over there, and whether ASD is recognized or not.
If you've any questions, I might be able to help.
-Daniel Van der Mallie, QMHS
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