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DimitySenior Contributor
When we fall back on self-diagnosis - as is increasingly happening when access to professionals is difficult and/or expensive, and social media seems to provide all the answers - we are making decisions about how we see ourselves and the future trajectory of our lives. It could be more limiting than we expect.
In response to: Reflections on self-diagnosis
The-red-centaurSenior Contributor
I find there is a lot of invalidation given to self diagnosis. Diagnosis, especially of neurological conditions is practically impossible to get. I saw an article on the abc today that waitlist for specialist can exceed 5 years, especially in areas like neurology.
I was lucky enough to have a large amount of savings and got my formal asd and adhd diagnosis this year. I had long suspected asd and was oddly surprised with my adhd diagnosis, even though now I see how my adhd adversly effects me on a day to day basis.
Self diagnosis usually will lead people to help and understanding. It should guide us into an awareness of our difficulties and ways to work through them, not an excuse not to do something. I see the authors point about becoming a label, making it who we are, instead of a way to explain the help we may need and ways we differ from the norm.
I dont see the same arguments for self diagnosis of depression as self diagnosis of adhd in modern societ. But to me they are the same, why should we validate someone's self diagnosis of major depression without listening to someone who struggles with their attention and working memory. As long as both lead the person owning their struggles and finding ways to manage it. Both are chronic illness, and needs to be treated and managed.
I usually tell others, most medical diagnosis start with the patient saying this isnt right, or I struggle with xyz, they go to their doctor, who does some test, and gives diagnosis, then treatment and management. So why should a self diagnosis be invalidated, if it leads the person to help and support, especially if most cannot attain a formal diagnosis.
A diagnosis, self or otherwise, should lead a person to finding help and support tailored to their needs, it leads to greater understanding of one's self, and should help the navigate a better life post diagnosis.
Diagnosis arent our identity, and never should be. They can help explain why something is such a struggle, and as long as other arent an excuse, but an explanation i will always listen to when someone says they have a condition (physical, mental, emotional, etc) because if they identify with it, who am I tell them they are wrong. No one should fight to be acknowledged or heard.
Im lucky I fought so hard to be heard and receive my diagnosis, but it shouldn't be so hard to get acknowledged and heard about what I struggled with.
In response to: Re: Reflections on self-diagnosis
SleeplessRavenSenior Contributor
Yeah - exactly this.
No one knows what’s going inside your mind except maybe you, and even a medical diagnosis is still at best an interpretation of what one person thinks might be wrong based on what they can see in a short amount of time, and how you’ve described your symptoms.
Doctors are still essentially guessing - they could misinterpret what you’re trying to say, or they could have already made their mind up about you based on a couple of previous notes or biases. People present differently, some handle themselves better or worse, some can cohesively describe things better than others, some can’t talk about what’s actually wrong and instead of probing doctors assume they’re fine. Diagnosing mental illness isn’t an exact science - a diagnosis can be wrong, it can change over time, it can be just a partial picture. What matters is whether treatment is actually forthcoming and helpful.
I’m sure a lot of us have experience invalidation at the hands of medical professionals…
In response to: Re: Reflections on self-diagnosis
DimitySenior Contributor
I really appreciate all the comments and insights on this thread.
I don't altogether identify with my formal diagnosis. Personally I think there's not clear demarcations between some diagnoses. I've also self-diagnosed c-ptsd, which isn't a thing in DSMV. But I do find my heavy-duty med helpful when titrated appropriately.
I think there's social and cultural dimensions to why some of us end up with poor mental health, it's not just some mechanistic play of genetics and biochemistry. And so much diagnosis seems predicated on pattern recognition with thoughts and behaviours, there's no definitive tests in many cases.
In response to: Reflections on self-diagnosis
AppleblossomSenior Contributor
@Dimity Loving your thoughtful take on this.
i just found the discussion. Really appreciate it.
Can really relate to the bit about how a diagnosis of schizophrenia can impact us. Cos of my parents dx I was curious about it from quite young. In a weird way doing the research also helped me make adaptations to avoid going down the same paths as them and seek help early. I move in and out of using clinical language. Clarity can help, but pinning down things that are more fluid has its drawbacks.
Re the costs... eeeeeekkk.... yep! Kept us poor. People wonder why I never got to have a cappuccino habit!
I decided it wasnt worth getting a neurodiverse dx for me.
Re the shifting nature and politics behind the DSM.... eeeeek
If the dx helps access to support. good.
if it limits our sense of our capacity to thrive. bad.
Yes there are advantages to having more information generally available, but I also gently discourage social conversations where people tend to diagnose others.
its a mad mad world we live in.
@Oaktree @DogMan79 @RatDiva @FearofUnknown @Kashmina @SchizOttie @Eden1919 @The-red-centaur @SleeplessRaven
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
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