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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tina on July 6, 2001, at 13:32:49
What if you want to diagnose yourself? I have seen 5 different psych's and one social worker in my 12 years as a panic/depression sufferer and NONE of them have diagnosed me with ANYTHING. I ask them what I have and they say I'm depressed and too tense and then just "talk" to me or just sit there and "listen" like marble busts. I'm wondering if there is a website where you can answer questions or fill in a form and get SOME idea of what you've got wrong with you? Anyone know of anything like this...salarmy4me perhaps?
thanks
tina
Oh, and don't tell me this kind of "loose" dxing is dangerous ok. I just want to get some kind of idea where I fit in. I'll go to a 'real' doc for meds and stuff but I want to know what the hell I have wrong with me. I'm tired of being "fallen between the cracks girl"
Posted by Willow on July 6, 2001, at 22:47:45
In reply to Okay, got a stupid question..., posted by tina on July 6, 2001, at 13:32:49
Tina
Just don't go near the personality disorders, we all fit them! :) You probably need a third impartial party for them.
Good Luck!
It may just say that you are CANADIAN. hee hee
Whistling Willow
Posted by Adam on July 7, 2001, at 12:15:32
In reply to Okay, got a stupid question..., posted by tina on July 6, 2001, at 13:32:49
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out "what I was" exactly, some of it on this site. My guess is my form of depression is a bit atypical, and there's also the other DX to tack on, an OCD-spectrum disorder I won't dilute the issue with here.
I think the sad truth is, especially when it gets to the spectrum of affective disorders, specific diagnoses aren't always that helpful in finding specific rememdies. Individual variance in response to drug and talk therapies of sundry kinds can confound the best efforts to classify, often rendering the classifications of dubious importance. It seems to me, in my own experience, and from what I have heard from many others, outside of the most broad forms of catagorization (e.g. affective, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, bipoar disorders), it's not easy to be sure of much. The diagnostic tools just aren't that powerful.
Hopefully in the future that will change. Again, to use myself as an example, given my dual diagnosis, I could come up with as many reasons or more NOT to take selegiline as to take it. That high-dose selegiline has largely rid me of the effects of a depressive disorder, and that I can augment it with CBT to deal with other issues, are now the only relevant facts before me.
> What if you want to diagnose yourself? I have seen 5 different psych's and one social worker in my 12 years as a panic/depression sufferer and NONE of them have diagnosed me with ANYTHING. I ask them what I have and they say I'm depressed and too tense and then just "talk" to me or just sit there and "listen" like marble busts. I'm wondering if there is a website where you can answer questions or fill in a form and get SOME idea of what you've got wrong with you? Anyone know of anything like this...salarmy4me perhaps?
> thanks
> tina
> Oh, and don't tell me this kind of "loose" dxing is dangerous ok. I just want to get some kind of idea where I fit in. I'll go to a 'real' doc for meds and stuff but I want to know what the hell I have wrong with me. I'm tired of being "fallen between the cracks girl"
Posted by geekUK on July 7, 2001, at 20:06:22
In reply to www.mentalhealth.com, posted by Willow on July 6, 2001, at 22:47:45
right on the PD section the program was unsure if I had the entire(almost)DSM chapter!!
MC
> Tina
>
> Just don't go near the personality disorders, we all fit them! :) You probably need a third impartial party for them.
>
> Good Luck!
>
> It may just say that you are CANADIAN. hee hee
>
> Whistling Willow
Posted by tina on July 8, 2001, at 8:30:32
In reply to www.mentalhealth.com, posted by Willow on July 6, 2001, at 22:47:45
I've been to mentalhealth.com and according to their questionaires, I don't have ANY mental disorders. So then what the hell is wrong with me?
Guess I've just been kidding myself? It's frustrating to KNOW there is something wrong but not know what that something is. What do I do now?
It can't just be that I am Canadian can it?> Tina
>
> Just don't go near the personality disorders, we all fit them! :) You probably need a third impartial party for them.
>
> Good Luck!
>
> It may just say that you are CANADIAN. hee hee
>
> Whistling Willow
Posted by geekUK on July 8, 2001, at 19:40:12
In reply to Re: www.mentalhealth.com-Willow GeekUK, posted by tina on July 8, 2001, at 8:30:32
yep, thats it. your canadian!
whell an online trst is more of a game than a diagnosis, but then again I don t think much of using criteria (dsm style) to determine a 'disorder'. {I am planning my row with my pdoc)
I think everyone must say that the dsm criteria dont accuratly discribe exactly and concisely whats wrong. In my opinion the criteria more paints a picture of a problem.
Posted by stjames on July 8, 2001, at 22:07:57
In reply to Re: www.mentalhealth.com-Willow GeekUK » tina, posted by geekUK on July 8, 2001, at 19:40:12
I can't hepl but feel many spend too much time worrying about what dx they are while avoiding using this energy to get well. If given a dx, then many will spend too much energy wigging out, trying to prove this dx is wrong, or ect, again avoiding the real task at hand, getting well. In terms of meds, all that needs to be answered is if the condition is a thought or mood disorder as the medical treatments do differ. Amoung the mood disorders BP and depression do differ in the use of AD's. Other than that, who cares ? The meds differ too much amoung each person within the same condition for a specific dx to do any good.
Every doc I have asked says the DSM code they use has everything to do with me and the doc getting paid and little to do with the real condition. My present doc has me as ADD NOS, Depression NOS, and Learning Disibility NOS; NOS means Not Otherwise Specified. This gives him the freedom to perscribe whatever with few questions, so I get the best treatment.
I don't think pinning down the dx improves the outcome.
James
Posted by Kingfish on July 9, 2001, at 16:08:01
In reply to Okay, got a stupid question..., posted by tina on July 6, 2001, at 13:32:49
Tina:
I understand your frustration completely. I also understand James' point. We can focus on something that is going to change anyway, too much.
However, a diagnosis was very important to me, too, and I had to pull teeth for it (of course I had already decided what it should be ;) ). You really can't do your own research without a starting point, and to me that's what a diagnosis is.
I would try another pdoc and explain upfront how important this is to you. You may have to try a few before you find someone who "gets it." But you certainly deserve to have their opinion about the diagnosis.
- K.
Posted by susan C on July 9, 2001, at 17:42:35
In reply to Okay, got a stupid question..., posted by tina on July 6, 2001, at 13:32:49
http://www.psycheducation.org/index.html > and it has a 'mood disorders questionaire' I have hunted and hunted and this is a site where I have gotten some very good solid info, in addition to Dr. Bob, of course. I was with my 1st pdoc for 12 years, it is hard to figure out what to do when you aren't mentally doing well. Fortunately, i have a good friend who referred me to her son's pdoc. He had been really helped. I could see the change. Education is good, if for no other reason than to understand the $25 words the doc uses.
> What if you want to diagnose yourself? I have seen 5 different psych's and one social worker in my 12 years as a panic/depression sufferer and NONE of them have diagnosed me with ANYTHING. I ask them what I have and they say I'm depressed and too tense and then just "talk" to me or just sit there and "listen" like marble busts. I'm wondering if there is a website where you can answer questions or fill in a form and get SOME idea of what you've got wrong with you? Anyone know of anything like this...salarmy4me perhaps?
> thanks
> tina
> Oh, and don't tell me this kind of "loose" dxing is dangerous ok. I just want to get some kind of idea where I fit in. I'll go to a 'real' doc for meds and stuff but I want to know what the hell I have wrong with me. I'm tired of being "fallen between the cracks girl"
Posted by tina on July 10, 2001, at 11:24:56
In reply to Re: Okay, got a stupid question..., posted by susan C on July 9, 2001, at 17:42:35
that was a great link susan. Lots of information. thank you very much.
According to the questionnaire, I DO have bipolar(II) tendencies so why hasn't any pdoc talked to me about this and/or given me medication to control THAT? Do they think that if they just don't tell me, no news is good news??
I've only been treated for the depression and I've been on benzos for 12+ years. why don't I get dx'ed the right way and properly treated for this instead of sweeping it under an "unspecified mental disorder" rug?
I'm kinda angry about this NON-treatment.> http://www.psycheducation.org/index.html > and it has a 'mood disorders questionaire' I have hunted and hunted and this is a site where I have gotten some very good solid info, in addition to Dr. Bob, of course. I was with my 1st pdoc for 12 years, it is hard to figure out what to do when you aren't mentally doing well. Fortunately, i have a good friend who referred me to her son's pdoc. He had been really helped. I could see the change. Education is good, if for no other reason than to understand the $25 words the doc uses.
>
> > What if you want to diagnose yourself? I have seen 5 different psych's and one social worker in my 12 years as a panic/depression sufferer and NONE of them have diagnosed me with ANYTHING. I ask them what I have and they say I'm depressed and too tense and then just "talk" to me or just sit there and "listen" like marble busts. I'm wondering if there is a website where you can answer questions or fill in a form and get SOME idea of what you've got wrong with you? Anyone know of anything like this...salarmy4me perhaps?
> > thanks
> > tina
> > Oh, and don't tell me this kind of "loose" dxing is dangerous ok. I just want to get some kind of idea where I fit in. I'll go to a 'real' doc for meds and stuff but I want to know what the hell I have wrong with me. I'm tired of being "fallen between the cracks girl"
Posted by stjames on July 10, 2001, at 18:33:32
In reply to Re: Okay, got a stupid question... » susan C, posted by tina on July 10, 2001, at 11:24:56
> that was a great link susan. Lots of information. thank you very much.
> According to the questionnaire, I DO have bipolar(II) tendencies so why hasn't any pdoc talked to me about this and/or given me medication to control THAT?James....
Filling out a web questionnaire form in no way makes a diagnosis.
james
Posted by tina on July 11, 2001, at 8:04:06
In reply to Re: Okay, got a stupid question..., posted by stjames on July 10, 2001, at 18:33:32
> > that was a great link susan. Lots of information. thank you very much.
> > According to the questionnaire, I DO have bipolar(II) tendencies so why hasn't any pdoc talked to me about this and/or given me medication to control THAT?
>
> James....
>
> Filling out a web questionnaire form in no way makes a diagnosis.
>
> jamesWELL, D'UH! I was seeking answers to the fact that bipolar gets missed or misdiagnosed James but thanks for the condescending remark.
Posted by Willow on July 11, 2001, at 22:06:06
In reply to Re: Okay, got a stupid question... » stjames, posted by tina on July 11, 2001, at 8:04:06
and Canadians are habitually polite.
Print out the questionaire, preferably with your answers, and bring it in to your psych to discuss. I'm not a professional, but from my experience with people bi-polar can be hard to differeniate from schizophrenia. Even if your psych doesn't agree with the results of the questionaire it will be able to open up areas that are distressing to you. Sometimes we aren't able to communicate this in such a way that the another person really knows where we are coming from.
Willow
(with proud maple roots)
Posted by susan C on July 12, 2001, at 10:57:29
In reply to Tina remember you are Canadian ..., posted by Willow on July 11, 2001, at 22:06:06
Eh? not quite CN but close, Eh? I was bent out of shape when i got diagnosed after 12yrs chronic depression with treatment with prozacwhich resulted in my pdoc thinking I was doing GREAT, when in reality, I was manic. After I crashed, big time, and got several opinions, one from a 'world famous' pdr at reseach univ, that 'wrote the book' and defined bpII, I happened to trace back when bpII first started showing up as a defined dx...it looks like late 1990's. Anybody else notice this?
> and Canadians are habitually polite.
>
> Print out the questionaire, preferably with your answers, and bring it in to your psych to discuss. I'm not a professional, but from my experience with people bi-polar can be hard to differeniate from schizophrenia. Even if your psych doesn't agree with the results of the questionaire it will be able to open up areas that are distressing to you. Sometimes we aren't able to communicate this in such a way that the another person really knows where we are coming from.
>
> Willow
> (with proud maple roots)
This is the end of the thread.
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