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Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

creative_writerSenior Contributor12 Sept 2025, 4:22 pm AEST

Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

I have multiple mental illnesses including Bipolar 2, cptsd, OCD, social anxiety. I’m also neurodivergent, ADHD and ASD. I already have tons of labels and a lot going on. I’m getting assessed for an ED on Monday during my psych appointment, I reckon I meet criteria so I am anticipating another diagnosis. I know it explains my how I’ve been feeling but it’s another label, I hate feeling so broken and feeling like I’m complicated. I know my disordered eating habits are adversely affecting my mental and physical health, I’ve just been in denial for so long and would also get defensive when people commented on my eating habits or asked about them.

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In response to: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

creative_writerSenior Contributor02 Nov 2025, 8:30 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@Jynx sure I did research, just not very thoroughly and overlied on AI. Don’t feel like reading research papers and figuring out the dosage they used. Does chat GPT count? In the scheme of things, it’s not the most impulsive thing I’ve done. Maybe she’ll suggest something else if it’s not appropriate. It’s a bit early to tell if it’s doing much, only thing it can do is mildly decrease anxiety early on, the other effects take a while to show. I’m sure it’s less risky than drinking tons of caffeine. I’m just frustrated. My mental health isn’t great right now, and I don’t want more antipsychotics to calm me, they can make you lightheaded (more so at higher doses). I’ve had multiple instances where I took them at night before bed, then I would get super lightheaded and my head would feel cold. At least I have my bed to go to.

I think the editing part does help. I can edit parts of my responses out, which I do so often. But in a way it gets stuff out, even the stuff that doesn’t get reflected in final post.

I do read posts, you caught me lurking 😂. I’m sure there are plenty of lurkers around

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

JynxModerator02 Nov 2025, 9:53 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

I'm not gonna say it was a good or bad idea to use ChatGPT @creative_writer 🤣 but some research is better than just flinging caution to the wind!!

That's actually really cool, that you still feel it 'gets stuff out'. Kinda like journalling in a way, but instead of burning or shredding pages as a cathartic process you just hit that delete button!! Bye bye! Love it 😋

It warms me to think that there's heaps of people who get a lot just out of reading others' stories. I think sometimes our members don't realise just how powerful it is for them to share 💜

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

creative_writerSenior Contributor05 Nov 2025, 6:59 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@Jynx I might need to get my bipolar adjusted, can't say I am not fully stable. I crash in the afternoon. SI on and off, but safe. I am also experiencing increased lightheadedness, might be med related. That increased weakness, lightheadness and fogginess feeling is making my ADHD more frustrating to manage.

It is like journalling, obviously can't say everything on here. I have to adjust my response after offloading.

It is pretty powerful to share, it can feel safer in a digital place where you can remain anonymous. I find it easier to post on here than talk in therapy. I think I do better in written form, my brain gets caught in loops when talking and I forget. I get executive function shutdowns.

I hope you are having a restful week 💜

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

JynxModerator07 Nov 2025, 6:09 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

It all compounds hey @creative_writer - even just being tired can easily take a day from bad to worse, cos my ADHD 'symptoms' all feel like they're turned up to 11.

I get what I call 'etch-a-sketch' moments - you know those little novelty toys with the little knobs you use to draw pictures, and then a lil shake and it clears? Well sometimes it's like my brain gets shook, and I'll literally be mid-sentence when my brain just goes BLANK. People are sometimes confused when I ask what I was just talking about. They will go back a topic or two and I have to be like 'no no, what was the first half of the sentence that literally just came out of my mouth?' 😅

How've you been feeling this week? Any more volunteer shifts?

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

creative_writerSenior Contributor07 Nov 2025, 6:51 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@Jynx maybe I need my meds adjusted. Will ask my pdoc if there is anything we can do to reduce side effects. My mood isn’t fully stabilised, I think blood levels of my meds fluctuate too much during the day. Might be worth seeing if the levels could stay more consistent, might help with crashes.

Sometimes I need to blurt it all before editing. I’ve said things without thinking. My full non censored vent doesn’t always make sense. I don’t always know how to make sense, I forget words and go blank. I need to write questions during interviews.

I’ve had one shift, I lost my language during one call. I got through it. Shift was okay. It was for two hours. I have another two hour shift on the weekend. How are you?

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

JynxModerator07 Nov 2025, 7:39 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@creative_writer for sure, consistency and predictability can go suuuuch a long way. Hope you find the right balance 🤞

Oh my venting can go in circles too 😅 think that's the nature of emotional-brain! Sometimes I notice how little sense I'm making and it can snap me off the spiral when I start chuckling at myself 😋

Totally legit. Honestly in my experience, people don't usually mind when we stuff up. Helps show we're human too 😊

I am okay! Been madly cleaning in preparation for movers coming Monday to drop off some of my late grandma's furniture - all the way from NSW!! Nothing motivates quite like a deadline 😂

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

creative_writerSenior Contributor07 Nov 2025, 8:26 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@Jynx consistency makes a difference. I hope I am able to find the right balance. Postural sensitivities haven't been so great. I also can't seem to function, it is super hard to do anything. Makes the brain spiral. Part of the reason why I am not able to move forward is because I can't seem to do much during the day.

I am guilty of a spirally brain. ADHD brains are louder, I feel like it makes it harder to not spiral. I get so narrow on my focus.

Sometimes it is hard to not lose words, we are all human.

It is true deadlines motivate, I leave tasks too close to the deadline. It brings up so much anxiety, but I am able to get it done.

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

JynxModerator07 Nov 2025, 9:55 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@creative_writer oh like POTS? Been working with a new physio, she reckons I got POTS too - even got myself some shiny new compression leggings lol

But yeah I'm hearing how much this has you feeling stuck. And the 'tunnel-vision' is so real. Our brains struggle with transitions - which can include transitioning out of a line of thinking I reckon 😅

The anxiety/panic-adrenaline... perfect motivator! Except, you know, the panic 🥲

Hope you get some nice rest tonight 😊💜

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

creative_writerSenior Contributor08 Nov 2025, 12:42 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@Jynx yes, my sometimes meds can make it worse if someone has that vulnerability. I got new compression leggings recently too. I haven't found non-polyester compression medical grade ones, I just got the activewear one. I am sensitive to synthetic fabrics, prefer that my clothing are at least partly natural fabric.

I find it hard to transition. Once someone disturbs what I am doing, I can't even refocus. Likewise if I am overly focusing on something, it is hard to focus on something else.

Adrenaline can motivate, but it does burn you out over time.

Had a very vivid dream today, but feel asleep okay afterwards. Maybe this sounds strange, but I actually can get all panicky even though I know I was no longer dreaming. You know the moment where you are looking for danger even though it doesn't exist. Feeling rather exhausted right now. It's hard living with chronic fatigue and pain. I feel like my body is broken. People may say I am crazy and be sceptical, but I actually found functional nutrition (alternative approach) way more effective for managing gut symptoms than a more traditional dietician approach. I guess we are all individual. I am on a break from the functional nutrition while I get my ED and stress under control since nutritionist doesn't want to trigger my ED. Gut issues sadly take time, and ED doesn't help.

I hope you slept okay last night 💖

In response to: Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

JynxModerator08 Nov 2025, 5:56 pm AEDT

Re: Mixed feelings-might be getting another diagnosis (ED)

@creative_writer oh true, that sucks that it's hard to find them in the right fabrics. Especially with the higher number of ND folks who have POTS, you'd think someone would have made em outta fabric for sensitive skin!

This is why I think that 'Attention Deficit' is incorrect - I don't lack focus, I simply can't regulate it/point it at what I need to be focused on!

Doesn't sound strange at all when you think about the fact that our 'lizard brain' can't tell the difference, really - like even if the source of distress isn't real, the distress still totally is. I am glad you've found some improvements with your diet though! Small wins all add up to big changes in the end 😁

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