- Username
- Jen22
- Date posted
- 5y ago
I also haven't been officially diagnosed yet as I see a private therapist who cannot diagnosed me so whilst they have told me I definitely have it, I need to wait to be diagnosed by the NHS. Don't feel ashamed though, it is something that you experience and a diagnosis will not change your experience. At the end of the day, it is just a label ?
I mean...I've been diagnosed with compulsive behavior but not OCD yet because I've not seen an OCD therapist. However I still call it OCD because that's easier to explain. I would go to a therapist that specializes in this illness to get a correct diagnosis. And don't feel ashamed! This is just a part of who you are :)
diagnosis is actually kind of a weird concept. having an “official diagnosis” can mean a lot of things, and there’s not always a strict guideline for it. for example: my partner has adhd, and has struggled their whole life with schoolwork and focus. so much so that they were pulled from school by their parents and homeschooled until college. adhd ruled their life, and a therapist of theirs diagnosed them as a young teen using the DSM-5 (google this if interested). they had a diagnosis from a therapist and a lifelong history documented, but when they got to college, they were denied academic help for adhd because they had not been given one specific test. but because they had already been diagnosed, the university mental health system wouldn’t perform this test on them. seems backwards huh? i guess what i’m trying to say is that “official” diagnosis is a concept that is used to withhold resources from people who need them. sure there are people out there who may fake having something or be wrong about their diagnosis, but it doesn’t sound like you are one of them. and even if your counselor and doctor are wrong/unqualified (i doubt it though) your symptoms are still something you face. many with ocd start as self diagnosed because our obsessions can be to shameful to discuss even with a doctor, and that’s ok! what matters is that coping mechanisms for used ocd help us. ok i’m done! sorry for the long response!!!
Thank y’all so much. That was really helpful. I just didn’t want to make people think I’m one of those people who are just throwing ocd around when she hasn’t been diagnosed. Then again, I know that’s my ocd talking. I’ve struggled with 8-10 themes. I know I have it but I advocate on twitter a lot and don’t want to be discredited because I haven’t been diagnosed if that makes sense
@Jen22 I wouldn't think you would be discredited, I used to talk quite a lot about OCD on Twitter too. I ended up coming off Twitter because it became a compulsion! I'm sure the people on Twitter will realise that your experience with OCD is valid, usually people will be able to tell if you are just throwing the term around and you definitely don't sound like someone who is! I wouldn't worry about that ?
But how do you know you have been diagnosed? Do you know the process of that?
I’ve never been formally diagnosed but my counselor was adamant in telling me that I have OCD. Are there any of you who are in similar shoes as me? It seems like the fact that I haven’t been formally diagnosed makes me more prone to obsessions over whether or not I actually suffer with OCD.
To anyone who has been professionally diagnosed with OCD: how were you diagnosed and what was it like?
Hey I'm feeling pretty hopeless right now. Before I get to the main point I'm gonna give some background info: I'm going into my third year of University and it took years of constant denial to get treatment . I originally came in for my skin picking but after multiple appointments I was told I have OCD. I never thought I perfectly fit into having it because I was never organized nor am I a "germaphobe". I later learned everything made sens From being afraid to interact with little children (afraid I would assault them just from staring too long), all the way to staying up all night convinced someone would kill me if I didn't hide all the knives in the house. It took me just one month ago to sleep in my bed alone (after I stopped my rituals with my stuffed animals as a kid I was convinced they will harm me when I least expect it, and sleep beside my mother). It even explained why I had somatic rituals when I was a child (constantly balancing the right and left side of my body with repetitive touching until it felt right). Finally, after switching from cipralex (did not help) to Zoloft (currently on 150mg) I feel as thought my life is coming back. The reason I'm feeling distressed is that my main psychiatrist referred me to a CBT waitlist in a hospital. Well I just had a virtual meeting with him today... And he basically asked if I have cleaning rituals. I said no, I told him about my previous compulsions the first time I talked to him and told him the medication has SIGNIFICANTLY reduced my anxiety and compulsions that I only do two rituals a day (~3 hours). At the end of the appointment he told me that I DON'T HAVE OCD or anxiety and suggested I go off my meds. Now I'm doubting if I have OCD to begin with, even though I fully know I do as my main psychiatrist has been so caring and making sure I recover. It really sucks because I feel pretty invalidated?? Am I overreacting or in the wrong? I don't know how to feel right now. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you
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