Posted by Racer on May 31, 2005, at 13:36:17
In reply to labels » thewrite1, posted by Shortelise on May 30, 2005, at 14:20:11
I have had a very hard time with labels, having had dx used a club to pummel me in the past. Now, though, it's a little easier for me -- primarily, I think, because I've been collecting a better treatment team around me to apply those labels.
The first time I saw Dr CattleProd, my current pdoc, he diagnosed me with depression -- which I expected -- and with anxiety, which was overwhelming to me! I struggled so much against it, no way, that couldn't be me, uh uh, no way, no how, not a chance.
Of course, once I got over that panic attack, I did realize that it did fit, and that I had known that it would fit better than pure depression. I guess I just needed to see someone whom I could trust a bit more. With Dr CattleProd, I feel safe -- mostly -- and his diagnoses feel safe, they fit me. I've got three dx's now, on my insurance paperwork: 296.32, 300.00, and 307.10. Major Depressive Disorder, Moderate, Recurrent; Anxiety Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified; and Anorexia Nervosa, Restricting Subtype. They fit, they make the insurance company as happy as they ever are when they have to pay out, and I don't feel as though I'm wearing a sandwich board saying, "SHAME! SHAME!!"
On the other hand, my own personal diagnosis of myself has long been Irregular Polygon Syndrome: I'm not a round peg trying to fill a square hole, nor a square peg trying to fit a round hole. I am an irregular polygon, and need my own, custom made niche.
And the most profound thing I've ever heard on this subject was from a friend whose autistic son had just had his official evaluation at five years old: it came back severely austistic. He had expected Moderate, rather than Severe. But he said, "You know, though, he's the same kid he was yesterday, and he's got the same strengths and weaknesses he had then, too. The only difference now is that there's an official diagnosis, which means that we know better what we need to work on. And, of course, now we get more services from the school district, too."
So, we're the same after diagnosis as before.
As for the BP diagnosis, and the mood stabilizer, depending on which mood stabilizer is prescribed, it may work as an augmenting agent for the antidepressant, as well as a mood stabilizer. My well liked Dr CattleProd was talking to me about non-anti-depressant choices for my depression, and brought up meds like Lithium, Lamictal, etc. He said that they may work well for unipolar depression, as well as mood stabilization. I guess the bottom line is, if they help, they help -- regardless of the Official Diagnosis.
Of course, if they don't help, it is always worth a second opinion.
Hope something in there made sense...
poster:Racer
thread:505207
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050528/msgs/505803.html