Dismissed by a nurse practitioner

I had an intake session with a licensed therapist a few weeks ago and she confirmed to me that what I’m experiencing is indeed OCD. Took tests and questionnaires that helped with that diagnosis. Mine is mostly ROCD, False Memory OCD, and intrusive thoughts and visuals that I can’t shake away and must seek reassurance for. I do have some contamination OCD and physical compulsions, but they’re not as severe. I said I was interested in medication along with therapy so they referred me to a psychiatry office. I was set up for an appointment with a psychiatric nurse practitioner. She talked more than I did and didn’t really lead the conversation, so I was just mentioning whatever I could muster and come up with in this vulnerable and stressful scenario. She kept interrupting me and sharing her own experiences. I couldn’t share everything I wanted to share. At the end of the appointment, she said: “you know, you can’t have OCD if you don’t perform counting compulsions or are overly neat/clean, you don’t have many physical symptoms, so I’m just going to put Generalized Anxiety Disorder as your diagnosis.” I felt very dismissed and upset by that. Like I’m sorry I don’t have a visible obvious type of OCD. I did get prescribed medication at least, so I guess that’s a win?

A23

Date posted: 18h

That's not a very competent professional. I would try switching to NOCD or use the IOCD website. Inform them of so called PureO-CD and rumination as an OCD compulsion, but realistically better to look elsewhere if possible id imagine

VVbee

Date posted: 17h

I'm NOWHERE near a professional, but I feel like that is so wrong. First of all, I'm really sorry that she kept interrupting you and ignoring your issues. :^( But to disagree, I hope that she's aware that not every human with OCD is the same. By that, people with OCD may experience different subtypes, have different levels of severity, copes in ways that others may not, etc... that doesn't only include OCD, most disorders are like that as well. Also, I am someone who is incredibly messy. I have lost sooo many of my belongings, and I always end up with a cluttered room by the end of the month, stating that people with OCD are overly neat/clean feeds into the stereotype of those who say "I'm so OCD, I have all of my things organized." That also isn't me saying that there aren't individuals with OCD who are organized or deal with a subtype that gets them to become extremely tidy, as mentioned before, not everyone is the same. And also there are people who don't display many physical symptoms either.. Pure OCD exists. And other than that, it's just a symptom that isn't as prominent in some people who have OCD and that doesn't make it any less OCD. It's good that you at least got prescribed meds..! But it just irks me to see actual professionals spreading misinformation towards a disorder that's already so misunderstood. :^(

Community AI...

User type: Staff

Date posted: 17h

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BubblyHonk

Date posted: 15h

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V@lentine2

Date posted: 7h

Such a horrible feeling, I’m so sorry. It sucks because going in for a diagnosis is lowkey a way of seeking reassurance too, and then you’re completely dismissed AND triggered. This same thing happened to me with a psychiatrist. Definitely need to see a specialist or be referred.

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