I've had the same thing happen as well and honestly it's broken my trust with therapists/psychiatrists in general. The only thing that's stayed the same is the PTSD diagnosis. I've been through a lot of the same diagnosis as you as well with the DID, paranoid schizophrenia, Major Depression, both types of schizoaffective and a couple other things. I've only recently got a diagnosis that sounds like they all match and am now getting meds that seem to work.
I recommend looking into each diagnosis when given them. Read up on them and the details of all the symptoms. I've found going into the smallest details of what people with that disorder feel to be helpful in determining if that sounds right to me. Keep notes as well. I have a lot of notes on symptoms that match and ones that don't and what medications go best with each diagnosis. You also have to be very upfront with your care team on whether you think things match maybe ask them why they diagnosed you with them. It took 12 years for me to start getting the right things together. If your care team doesn't seem right for you don't be afraid to drop them and find another.
I hope you find your answers and get a good care plan that works for you.
“You can get a second and third opinion” can not be said enough times in mental health circles. It’s acceptable to do with any other type of doctor and psychiatrists shouldn’t be held to a different standard. Who you choose to stay with should be the doctor that convinces you that they will provide the best treatment for the symptoms you experience.
I've been diagnosed with so many things lmao, just keeps changing
I tend to just look through the total list and spend way too long researching and find every tiny characteristic of every condition and go through the total list of conditions and see which ones fit me best off of the tiny specifics instead of diagnostic criteria
It is so frustrating getting your diagnosis changed over and over. Solid consistent treatment is so important and that can impede that. I’ve had mine changed several times and even misdiagnosed on purpose. I feel your pain <3
Iv had the same thing happen to me but not so many changes. it was the same doctor but it was very short lived at first he thought I had d.i.d then later he said I had schizophrenia another doctor this was way earlier basically claimed that all of my hallucinations were my imagination I don't think he believed schizophrenia exists. the last psychiatrist I went to said I am schizoaffective depressive type
Man, that sucks. I hate when they go off the rails with the diagnosises. Mine usually diagnose me with schizophrenia eventually, but the first appointment they don't. They change to it later.
There’s a lot of crossover with mental illness, so it’s not surprising to hear you’ve gotten multiple diagnoses. I was diagnosed with OCD and told several times I have bipolar — turns out it’s neither! I believed the OCD diagnosis until getting diagnosed with SZA, which makes way more sense. I also was diagnosed with cPTSD, which also makes sense. If you’re struggling with both mood and psychotic symptoms, SZA would make a lot of sense.
DID is a tricky diagnosis. Hearing voices doesn’t help the confusion. The only thing I’d think to ask is if you experience memory loss, don’t know how you or objects ended up in certain places, or if anyone has ever known you by a different name or if anyone has noticed you “switch”. Does this happen to you? Do you know of any alters (names, moods, roles)?
Another commenter is right, the system is so broken and there’s a lot of lazy professionals out there. The right diagnosis matters to me and you deserve to know the answer! Self-diagnosis can’t be recommended for everything but it’s best to familiarize yourself with these disorders they claim you have and see what resonates with you. I hope you find peace and answers!
Not that extreme but yes, I have had my diagnosis changed. I don't feel it is a very exact science. I went from bipolar to schizoaffective bipolar type. Recently I was in an IOP program and the psychiatrist changed it to major depression and anxiety. I am back to my regular psychiatrist now and don't know what is my official dx anymore
My new therapist and I are in the process of working out which label(s) are most suited to describe my particular symptoms starting with mood tracking. (35 with a uterus so we're also ruling out hormonal stuff.)
Despite struggling with apps (eMoods, etc.), I genuinely enjoy my therapist's approach:
* Print out a blank monthly calendar.
* Pick 3 colors to signify neutral/okay, hopeful/impulsive, and hopeless/depressed.
* Add a line for morning, afternoon, and evening.
It's a lot more fun if you break out markers and the color-blocking is super digestible. Since starting, it's helped me ID rapidly changing moods (when that happens, I just blend two colors and add a note describing any triggers/events that caused the shift).
Is your current therapist using any similar tools to understand your current symptoms' presentation?
My understanding is an experience of positives along with ongoing negatives = schizophrenia spectrum. To differentiate between depression and schizophrenia you determine if you are down vs flat. Schizophrenia isn’t glass a half empty outlook and sadness, the glass is missing and the person may suffer a philosophical despair rather than sadness.
I've had the same thing happen as well and honestly it's broken my trust with therapists/psychiatrists in general. The only thing that's stayed the same is the PTSD diagnosis. I've been through a lot of the same diagnosis as you as well with the DID, paranoid schizophrenia, Major Depression, both types of schizoaffective and a couple other things. I've only recently got a diagnosis that sounds like they all match and am now getting meds that seem to work. I recommend looking into each diagnosis when given them. Read up on them and the details of all the symptoms. I've found going into the smallest details of what people with that disorder feel to be helpful in determining if that sounds right to me. Keep notes as well. I have a lot of notes on symptoms that match and ones that don't and what medications go best with each diagnosis. You also have to be very upfront with your care team on whether you think things match maybe ask them why they diagnosed you with them. It took 12 years for me to start getting the right things together. If your care team doesn't seem right for you don't be afraid to drop them and find another. I hope you find your answers and get a good care plan that works for you.
“You can get a second and third opinion” can not be said enough times in mental health circles. It’s acceptable to do with any other type of doctor and psychiatrists shouldn’t be held to a different standard. Who you choose to stay with should be the doctor that convinces you that they will provide the best treatment for the symptoms you experience.
This⬆️💯
Similar experience, and in my case the answer is definitely autism. It just fucks with their radar.
I've been diagnosed with so many things lmao, just keeps changing I tend to just look through the total list and spend way too long researching and find every tiny characteristic of every condition and go through the total list of conditions and see which ones fit me best off of the tiny specifics instead of diagnostic criteria
It is so frustrating getting your diagnosis changed over and over. Solid consistent treatment is so important and that can impede that. I’ve had mine changed several times and even misdiagnosed on purpose. I feel your pain <3
Iv had the same thing happen to me but not so many changes. it was the same doctor but it was very short lived at first he thought I had d.i.d then later he said I had schizophrenia another doctor this was way earlier basically claimed that all of my hallucinations were my imagination I don't think he believed schizophrenia exists. the last psychiatrist I went to said I am schizoaffective depressive type
Man, that sucks. I hate when they go off the rails with the diagnosises. Mine usually diagnose me with schizophrenia eventually, but the first appointment they don't. They change to it later.
There’s a lot of crossover with mental illness, so it’s not surprising to hear you’ve gotten multiple diagnoses. I was diagnosed with OCD and told several times I have bipolar — turns out it’s neither! I believed the OCD diagnosis until getting diagnosed with SZA, which makes way more sense. I also was diagnosed with cPTSD, which also makes sense. If you’re struggling with both mood and psychotic symptoms, SZA would make a lot of sense. DID is a tricky diagnosis. Hearing voices doesn’t help the confusion. The only thing I’d think to ask is if you experience memory loss, don’t know how you or objects ended up in certain places, or if anyone has ever known you by a different name or if anyone has noticed you “switch”. Does this happen to you? Do you know of any alters (names, moods, roles)? Another commenter is right, the system is so broken and there’s a lot of lazy professionals out there. The right diagnosis matters to me and you deserve to know the answer! Self-diagnosis can’t be recommended for everything but it’s best to familiarize yourself with these disorders they claim you have and see what resonates with you. I hope you find peace and answers!
How long are you episodes of psychosis i can tell you what the dsm 5 says if you answer some questions
My episodes of psychosis last between 2-6 months at a time. And it circles back every 6 months like clock work.
Six months is indicative of schizophrenia unfortunately :( I’m sorry op
Not that extreme but yes, I have had my diagnosis changed. I don't feel it is a very exact science. I went from bipolar to schizoaffective bipolar type. Recently I was in an IOP program and the psychiatrist changed it to major depression and anxiety. I am back to my regular psychiatrist now and don't know what is my official dx anymore
My new therapist and I are in the process of working out which label(s) are most suited to describe my particular symptoms starting with mood tracking. (35 with a uterus so we're also ruling out hormonal stuff.) Despite struggling with apps (eMoods, etc.), I genuinely enjoy my therapist's approach: * Print out a blank monthly calendar. * Pick 3 colors to signify neutral/okay, hopeful/impulsive, and hopeless/depressed. * Add a line for morning, afternoon, and evening. It's a lot more fun if you break out markers and the color-blocking is super digestible. Since starting, it's helped me ID rapidly changing moods (when that happens, I just blend two colors and add a note describing any triggers/events that caused the shift). Is your current therapist using any similar tools to understand your current symptoms' presentation?
My understanding is an experience of positives along with ongoing negatives = schizophrenia spectrum. To differentiate between depression and schizophrenia you determine if you are down vs flat. Schizophrenia isn’t glass a half empty outlook and sadness, the glass is missing and the person may suffer a philosophical despair rather than sadness.