Triggering: Diagnose me?

[0akly]

(I'm new, sorry if this doesn't deserve the triggering prefix, I don't want to hurt anyone)

Hey.

Ok, I'm going to cut straight to the change. I'm worried about my mental health and I find that when I know what's wrong I can deal with it better. I know that a lot of you on here will not be proffesionals but I would love it if you could tell me what you think I have. You don't have to know. I just want an opinion.

So:

• I self harm (cut, scratch, bite, burn)
• I occasionaly starve myself or eat to much on purpose, however I don't do this for long periods of time, I have THOUGHT about throwing up, TRIED it but never been able to do it. I'm VERY worried about how I look and I DO NOT think I'm pretty no matter what people say.
• I feel the need to be perfect in order to please everyone
• I often have nightmares about being rejected/hurt/not accepted. In these nightmares usually everyone I love turns against me and it snowballs from there.
• I get very nervous when I have to call people. I get nervous in groups of people I don't know because I feel like they are judging me.
• Despite the previous point...I feel the need for people to notice me, I like to be centre of attention but I do NOT like negative attention
• Rarely (and I mean, like once a month minimum, once a week maximum) I'll hear voices telling me I'm not good enough and insulting me
• I have very "high" moments and very "low" moments. The ratio to high to low is 1:1 but time scales can vary. (Lowest time scale: 1 week. Highest time scale: 4 weeks)

It would be great for someone to give me their opinion on my mental health.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[Pandamonium]

We could give you so many different possibilities, it would ultimately be of no benefit to you at all.

The symptoms you've described fit multiple different facets and only over time and consultation with a professional would you ever reach any kind of diagnosis. Plus, many of those things, such as being nervous in groups, are just every day fears and nerves some people have, it doesn't mean it's anything that needs to be diagnosed. The severity of it will usually determine whether it needs to be examined or not.

Hope this helps a bit.

[0akly]

Thanks, that does help me. I guess I'll have to talk to someone if I really want to get it sorted but it's probably just a part of my personality...

[Jennifer]

I agree it would help to talk to someone it would help to get a professional answer.

[Thirteen]

Star,

Everything you've described is so broad, that it could be anything from hormones, to symptoms of various mental health issues.

Basically, if you're concerned (which, with the self-harm, sounds like you should be), I suggest you see a counselor, who would possibly be able to help you with what to do to seek any professional help you may need. Many of these things can even be explained by hormones, so it might not be a mental health issue, meaning the counselor would have enough training to help you themselves if that's the case.

[0akly]

Thanks Julz I don't know if I'm confidant to go to talk to a professional though :/ I guess I'll call it hormones and wait to see if it gets worse :P

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by 0akly

Thanks Julz I don't know if I'm confidant to go to talk to a professional though :/ I guess I'll call it hormones and wait to see if it gets worse :P

Well, if you're not feeling like you need professional help, take a look at the Self-Harm Alternatives Thread, at least.

[0akly]

I'll have a look now

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

As previously mentioned, your list of symptoms is incredibly broad and in order for a professional to diagnose you, part of it will include the reasoning behind the symptoms. In particular, the self-harming and the desire to starve yourself and vomit. Psychosis does cause a drastic change in the treatment you would receive via psychotherapy, pharmaceutical and socially. Also, diagnoses are not based simply on presence or absence of a particular symptom, instead, they're based on intensity, nature, duration and other factors pertaining to the symptoms.

I can suggest a very long list of possibilities, however, it will do you no good for three reasons. First, you have to look up the disorder on something more than just Wikipedia. Ideally, the DSM, either online or hard copy, otherwise you will misunderstand it. Second, assuming you do get your hands on the DSM, there is a risk of self-diagnosis, that is, you may select a disorder you believe best represents your symptoms and think it applies to you, which can cause problems when a professional assesses you. Last, I would base my extensive list of possibilities from extremely limited information you provided, resulting in many not being applicable to you but I would not know that and there's a strong chance you wouldn't either. For these three reasons, I see no beneficial reason in providing you with such a list.

[0akly]

Thanks guys, I suppose being diagnosed isn't going to help me unless it's done my a proffesional, thanks for your input

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by 0akly

Thanks guys, I suppose being diagnosed isn't going to help me unless it's done my a proffesional, thanks for your input

A diagnosis alone will not help you, instead getting psychotherapy and pharmaceutical treatment will help. The diagnosis is a component of getting help but it is not help, try to not get those two ideas confused.

[millerdancer15]

Yeah, sounds like it could be a mix of things!

Even if you don't feel confident enough to go to a professional and talk to them, I would suggest trying it anyways. There are things called "play therapists" that are really good (Even for teenagers!) to get their emotions out without having to speak. When I first started therapy, and even now, this is what I have done. At the beginning, I would speak nothing more than to squeak a little "done" when I was done with whatever activity I was doing. But it definitely helped me, and it helped my therapist and psychiatrist get a diagnosis of OCD and anxiety for me, which in turn helped my doctor prescribe me a good anxiety medication to help. You never know, it could work for you.

[Artistic Soul]

That are some assorted symptoms! I suggest you to talk to someone-family, friend(s), or a counselor. He/she will be a professional and could really help yu. All the best! xx

[.TJ.]

Originally Posted by The Man And XX Master

A diagnosis alone will not help you, instead getting psychotherapy and pharmaceutical treatment will help. The diagnosis is a component of getting help but it is not help, try to not get those two ideas confused.

I diagnosis actually helps a lot of people. They then only have to fight one thing instead of 7.

[PSY]

Originally Posted by .TJ.

I diagnosis actually helps a lot of people. They then only have to fight one thing instead of 7.

Yes, a diagnosis can be helpful - but the idea is that a diagnosis alone won't mean much. For example, let's say you had bipolar disorder, but you didn't know it at the time. You were suffering from mood swings, but you had no idea why, or if it was even abnormal. One day, you went to a doctor and received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. You read about the symptoms, and realized that you now have a name for your symptoms. Congratulations! But... what now? That's what Nick was trying to say. Being able to say, "I have bipolar disorder," is just the beginning. What's important is what you do with that diagnosis. There are standard ways of treating illnesses, both physical and mental. Once a doctor knows you have cancer, they can begin to treat you with radiation/chemotherapy. This treatment is widely accepted by doctors around the world - a consensus has been reached across the medical community. Knowing you have cancer doesn't mean anything - what's important is knowing how to treat that cancer with scientifically-proven techniques. So with bipolar disorder, every psychological professional will have a general sense of what to do for treatment. The diagnosis, the "label," isn't a "cure." It is, however, a way of deciding what should be done next (ex. medication, therapy).

[0akly]

Thanks guys, I re-searched counselors in my area and I realised our school has one! So I think I'll drop her an e-mail and talk to her over the internet till I'm confidant enough to talk to her in person...thoughts? Anyway, I'll keep you guys informed if you want Thanks for all of your help

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

Originally Posted by .TJ.

I diagnosis actually helps a lot of people. They then only have to fight one thing instead of 7.

True, a diagnosis does take a lot of the plate but it does not alleviate or reduce the symptoms because a diagnosis does not provide treatment. It leads to treatment but by itself, it cannot treat. The OP was focused on getting a diagnosis, whether from anonymous online people or a professional as though it would be a cure-all.

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by 0akly

Thanks guys, I re-searched counselors in my area and I realised our school has one! So I think I'll drop her an e-mail and talk to her over the internet till I'm confidant enough to talk to her in person...thoughts? Anyway, I'll keep you guys informed if you want Thanks for all of your help

Thoughts? Sounds like a good idea, as long as you don't put anything too specific in the e-mail. But yeah, definitely keep updated, like posting a thread about how things go with the counselor.

[0akly]

Hey, she replied saying how feelings were normal etc etc. Essentially it wasn't much help, she told me to talk to someone or go to see her, but I can't pluck up the courage. I don't think my problems are that serious. She also sent me some links to places about metal health and that didn't help because I started to self diagnose and I know that that isn't a good idea. So question now is, do I go to see her or do I just leave it? I mean, if I see her she could diagnose me (she said this) but I'm so scared of her judging me or people finding out I'm seeing her :/

[FillingWithHope]

I think you should go and see her. Believe it or not I had the exact same problems you are going through now not to long ago. I am seeing a therapist currently and it has worked wonders for me. I really encourage you to go and see her, despite the fear, try to overcome it. She is there to help you and make you get out of this stage.

[Thirteen]

Technically, she can't diagnose you. Counselors aren't medically qualified for that. But, if you see her, she probably could give you a better idea of if something is truly wrong or not. If she suggests you may have Depression (just as an example), I suggest seeing your family doctor for a 2nd opinion, so they can help you from there if you do have a mental health issue.

[PSY]

There is only so much a person can learn about you via telephone or e-mail. Eventually, you'll have to meet with someone in-person... and since you seem to be stuck on what to do next, I'd suggest meeting with her.

One thing I would ask her is what her credentials are, and what she is licensed as. Some school counselors do, in fact, possess the necessary degree/license to diagnose. Some, however, do not. I want to make sure that you are really seeing a psychological professional. Granted, there's nothing wrong with talking to someone about what's going on... but if she's going to start diagnosing and treating you, then it's important to make sure she's actually qualified to do so. If she's not, then you can ask her to give you a list of psychological professionals in the area.

[0akly]

Ok, well I e-mailed her back saying that I wasn't sure if I wanted to see her but thanked her for her e-mail and highlighted the fact that I want help but I'm scared. So far, no reply...But, if I get one back I'll ask if she can diagnose and even if she can't I think I may go and see her. I have to pluck up the courage sometime otherwise this could get worse :/

But she hasn't replies, does this mean she doesn't want to see me? Oh god, she probably doesn't want to. <insert long moan here>

[PSY]

Originally Posted by 0akly

Ok, well I e-mailed her back saying that I wasn't sure if I wanted to see her but thanked her for her e-mail and highlighted the fact that I want help but I'm scared. So far, no reply...But, if I get one back I'll ask if she can diagnose and even if she can't I think I may go and see her. I have to pluck up the courage sometime otherwise this could get worse :/

But she hasn't replies, does this mean she doesn't want to see me? Oh god, she probably doesn't want to. <insert long moan here>

First of all - calm down! Not everyone responds to e-mails in a timely manner. That's why I prefer to call people or see them in person. You don't have to sit around all day wondering, "Did they get my e-mail? Are they out of town? Why aren't they answering? Will I ever hear back?" I know you're not feeling up to seeing her in person, so why not consider a couple of phone calls? Try to reach her at different times of the day, and on multiple days (ex. call at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).

Secondly, while I understand why you are cautious, I'd like for you to consider this idea. As a prospective marriage and family therapist, I regularly encounter resistance when I try to offer support to others. I expect it, so it doesn't deter me from wanting to help them. People who don't have a specific training in the mental health field, however, may have a different response. They may feel upset when they offer to help someone, and that someone says, "Ehhh, no thanks." I know you didn't EXACTLY say that - but you are putting up resistance, both by sending an e-mail (which is an indirect and impersonal way to contact someone) and expressing your doubts about getting help at this point in time.

I'm not saying you did anything wrong. Like I said, this is a pretty typical response! What I'm trying to convey, however, is that people will pick up on your resistance. Some people will just want to try even harder, while others will say to themselves, "She's not really serious about this, so I'm not going to waste my time." Since this is a counselor, my guess is that she will at least take the time to respond to your e-mail; however, she may not respond AS QUICKLY because she senses your reluctance. If seeking help isn't a priority for you, then why should offering help be a priority for her?

Personally, what I would do is call her. This shows her that you have initiative - it shows that, although you're scared, you really do want to get help. The rest, unfortunately, is up to you. No one can force you to get help. Nothing can really make that first visit easier. It's up to you to say, "I want to take that first step. I'm scared, but nothing bad is going to happen if I see this counselor or someone else. I don't like how things are now, and this may change things for me in the future, so it's worth trying."

I wish you all the best, and I want to remind you that we are here for you every step of the way! =)

[0akly]

Ok, I'll wait till Sunday for a reply and if not then I think I'll ring her...Thanks for your advice, I'll keep you updated

[PutYourHeartsUp]

Originally Posted by 0akly

Ok, I'll wait till Sunday for a reply and if not then I think I'll ring her...Thanks for your advice, I'll keep you updated

I'd just like to point out that if this is a school counselor, she's likely to not check her email on weekends. So I'd give her a day or two after the weekend ends to respond.

[0akly]

Hey guys, just an update, she responded telling me to try ringing childline or using their chatroom to talk to someone if I didn't feel comfortable talking to her. If anything childline is worse, I already have a sort of connection with her, and I'm seriously considering seeing her. So, how do I tell her this without sounding weird?

[PSY]

"Thank you for telling me about those other options! I'd really like to see you in person, though. I feel like I've already developed a connection with you, and trying a hotline or chat room would be like taking a step backwards. I want to move forward and work up the courage to talk to a mental health professional who can assess and diagnose me."