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Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

_42_Contributor12 Apr 2025, 1:40 am AEST

Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

So just under two months ago I did something stupid and ended up in a mental ward, it was an actual nightmare but I did get diagnosed and put on medication, the idea of having control of my emotions and not being so overwhelmed ALL the time was such a beam of hope.. unfortunately I was diagnosed with cptsd, bpd and “autistic traits” in the psychiatrist words “ we can’t diagnose you autistic because it falls under a different billing “ so I went on to get more help and look further into getting fully diagnosed and was met with wall after walls and lots of “it’s complicated” until one therapist finally told me the truth, it’s not complicated it’s just expensive like around $5000.. after a long discussion she asked what difference it would make if I were formally diagnosed with autism given it’s kind of obvious I am and that I should just follow the help for Neurodivergent people unless I’m trying to get on ndis, I had mixed feelings on that. As much as ndis would be helpful it wasn’t why I was seeking the diagnosis, I wanted to understand if the mood stabilisers will actually help ( thus far almost 2 months in they are just making me very depressed although this conversation was at week 2 ) I have autistic brothers and I’m aware that over stimulation = anger issues.. I honestly just wanted her to tell me that all of my emotional dis regulation was because of my other diagnoses.. she did not, she merely told me it was a great question that time would tell.. two months later and I’m laying in bed trying not to lose my shit in general because I’m overwhelmed and I can’t sleep, I don’t even understand my diagnosis even after almost 2 months of intense therapy and living in a ward I am still no better off, if anything my depression is worse and the medication gives me headaches and makes me dizzy but I don’t want to give up the hope that I could function like a normal person.. I just wish I knew if this was the problem and understood what was wrong with me.
i still have another two weeks till I’m at full dose of my medication so I’m hoping that works but I have my doubts.
@Diagnosis @BPD @CPTSD @autistic

3 replies

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In response to: Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

tymeModerator12 Apr 2025, 9:47 am AEST

Re: Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

Thanks for sharing @_42_

I can relate to much of what you have shared - from the lens of being diagnosed with BPD.

I was placed on mood stabilisers for YEARS... and I mean about 10 years. But during a hospital admission, the psychiatrist said this is not what I needed and took me off them - cold. Instead, I underwent 18 months of intensive mentalisation based therapy + other therapy. All up, it was about 3 years of intensive support.

And you know what? I couldn't be in a better place now. I have my ups and downs in life, but nothing to keep me down.

Please note that the above is purely my experience. I am not saying that you should/shouldn't take the mood stabilisers - this is definitely something to speak to your treating team about, espcially if you don't feel the best taking them.

Oh, and back then, my emotional regulation was out the door. I had severe anger issues. One psych even told me to go to anger management. But in retrospect, it all boiled down to the emotional dyregulation that came with BPD and CPTSD.

I hope the above provides some insight.

I'm open to answering any questions you may have

In response to: Re: Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

AppleblossomSenior Contributor13 Apr 2025, 10:33 pm AEST

Re: Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

@_42_

Sorry it has been a rough ride.

I hope you get some relief and the circumstances of your admission do not repeat.

I actually identify as autistic, but did the research and cannot justify the expense. My son was diagnosed so I know the steps etc...

Do what you need to do. Welcome to the forum and take care

Apple

In response to: Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

AuntJobiskaSenior Contributor13 Apr 2025, 10:51 pm AEST

Re: Finally diagnosed but things aren’t better

Hi…

I’m surprised you got both a cptsd and bpd diagnosis - usually it’s one or the other! And the public system doesn’t diagnose autism, if that’s where you were… (I don’t know about private, I’m unimpressed if they didn’t)

if you want the diagnosis, Carers Gateway (if you can play a carers card to your siblings, please do) can provide $$$ to the assessment, and there are places that will do it for under $2000, especially if you see an autism psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan so they already know you prior, it’s not just a one-off; Variety also provides $ towards the assessment though I don’t know what the criteria is, …if you have a Level 2 diagnosis you’ll probably get NDIS support which will be helpful

for what it’s worth, if you’re autistic, the meds probably won’t do much and unless you’ve got a psychiatrist who’s a specialist in autism I wouldn’t bother with that diagnostic profile, I’d think autistic psychology is what you need asap, unfortunately that’s crowded with all the NDIS funded services, be very aware that Medicare doesn’t fund autism psychology that’s what the NDIS does, what Medicare will fund is BPD (ironically it won’t fund cptsd either!) psychology under a MHCP so that’s what you tell the GP you will be doing therapy for… then in practice all you do is manage autism. There are BPD group programs but I don’t know how autistic friendly if at all they are, and I also know that autistic women can get misdiagnosed as bpd so another thing to think about…. Psychiatric diagnosis is rarely set in stone, it’s more like jelly.

(my daughter is autistic) All the best.

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