I can understand why you feel that way. The place that diagnosed you... what is their next plan of action? Therapy? Medication?

You could try to look at this as, it's good to know what is wrong, so that you can take your power back, and be proactive in treating your conditions. Better to know than not know.

I have had severe anxiety for over 20 years. You can and will still be able to pursue any dreams and plans that you have for your life. Get going with actions, and educate yourself and empower yourself to take the next steps toward treatment. Millions of people suffer with this, and you are going to be okay!

Thank you so much for your quick response.
Well, I have been attending therapy at my university's health center. My therapist is a doctoral intern with no prior therapeutic experience, so I don't entirely trust her diagnosis or judgment on this.
My depression came on after a particularly bad breakup from a toxic relationship in which I was abused - so I wonder if it's truly a depressive disorder or actually trauma. I also developed the anxiety disorder during the abusive relationship, so I wonder if the symptoms are not an actually disorder but trauma-related again. I also live in a toxic environment and have a traumatic family history. I'd also say that I'm burnt-out to the core from school, quite honestly. I would love to have just a relatively mentally stimulating part-time job at this point.
In this case, would typical antidepressant meds even help me?
So I have been very hesitant about starting any meds and don't feel comfortable with something messing with my neuro-chemistry, as I suspect that my neuro-chemistry is reacting normally to abnormal and stressful circumstances.
So we're just proceeding with talk therapy and the disability accommodations right now until I graduate. But like I said, my therapist is an intern, and she's kind of clueless in my opinion, to be honest.

Are you able to go see a doctor outside of the university? Maybe you are on your parents' health insurance perhaps? Oh, I agree, the intern might not be able to accurately diagnose you. So, try not to take the name of the diagnosis to heart.

If you are able to see a psychiatrist (they are MDs), I think that doctor can point you in the right direction as far as referring you to a therapist/psychologist for talk therapy. And they will also decide if you need any medication. I take anxiety meds every day. You may or may not need them. They can be an every day thing, or an "as needed" dose.

Keep writing here, and also start your own journal... it's a great way to get your thoughts and feelings out of your head and on to paper.

No matter what, you are going to be okay! There are literally millions of people going through similar things and so you are not alone!

First, take that diagnosis with a huge grain of salt. A diagnosis is NOT a 'name', nor is it a "one size fits all".

It takes a lot of office visits, evaluations, and working with symptoms actively to find ways to help reset your balance.

A doctoral intern is "learning", just as you are "learning".

My experience with a doctoral intern was devastating, until I asked her how she came to her conclusion of what was happening.

Turns out it was a misunderstanding of the symptoms and my way of coping.

Medicine is a temporary treatment to give your body and brain a chance to reset and get into sync.

Anxiety is natural. It is a part of you, and you are stronger than it. Learning how it affects you as it works to "help" you in distress is best done by writing it out, using a private journal to help you see the pattern of thoughts.

Focus on your tasks. Focus on what you need to do to accomplish your tasks. Put that first in your list each day. Mark off what you do. Be kind to yourself.

Separate the words, depression, trauma, toxic, relationships, abuse, and write about your feelings on each of these. Put it aside, in a private place, and then look at it later. Once you see how the pattern of your thoughts work, you can begin to change how you react, respond, say, or do to each of those words.

The more you take over the way your brain processes these words, the easier it will be for you to find what works to help, what works to make it more comfortable to stay calm even when you "feel" those sensations, and relax the tensed muscles with even breathing, relaxing the shoulders.

Best wishes. Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

I like to remind people that a diagnosis serves the following functions: 1) Billing to insurance companies so that therapists, doctors, etc. can get paid for their services and 2) To clump symptoms to allow for easier discussion between professionals an the like ie- "Client presents with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder" rather than "Client has persistent nightmares, flashbacks, periods of disassociation, exaggerated startle response etc. in relation to trauma." -This is just my way of saying to please not take the label on as your identity because it simply isn't.

I'm glad your school is working to accommodate your needs. Finding a therapist who is a good fit is really important when struggling so if I could give you a little nudge in that direction? Seeing someone who lacks in experience, who you don't feel is seeing your full picture? To be blunt? Is not going to help you move forward as quickly. I know finding a therapist right now is difficult with Covid-19- many are booked and almost all at least in my own area are only doing sessions through telehealth (computer/ phone) but if I could encourage you to find someone who is a better fit I'd like to do that.

You may need meds short term you may not- that's not my place to judge. Some people do better with some chemical help, some do just fine without. Me? My body hates psychiatric medication- it's just too sensitive to it across the board. In the end, it just wasn't worth it for me to keep trading my mental health for my physical health and I stopped trying medication. I've learned to cope with self-care and a good support system- but, that's my own experience.

I've been to grad school- it is a really, really tough experience! And I- too- was pushing through some very tough stuff while still going to school- death in my immediate family as well as some very intense struggles with my relationship. I really do hear you!

Know that whatever non-self destructive means you need to use to cope right now is okay and I wish you the very best in your studies and your healing!

Thanks for sharing Broken Angel,

I can agree with what someone else said in the comments: they shouldn't be a label that you permanently carry around with you. I work in healthcare closely with doctors, so I know what kind of stuff goes on. Sometimes, a diagnosis is simply chosen because they can't figure out what's really wrong, so they go with the closest thing.


In my personal experience, I was misdiagnosed as having Bipolar disorder and was on meds that were not working at all. Then I went to a different practitioner, and they said that based on how I presented, that diagnosis was entirely wrong, and my correct diagnosis was generalized anxiety disorder.

Medications have worked for me personally, but my real "break through" point was when I attended a few therapy sessions and was introduced to the concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).


I am always plugging CBT on this forum because it was a turning point in my life. Yes, the anxiety meds (Buspirone 15 mg twice daily) helped to stabilize me, but looking at root causes for irrational thoughts using CBT techniques are what really increased my quality of life. Questioning irrational thoughts and ultimately silencing them have helped me make a huge headway in sleeping more at night and in separating the "real" problems and risks from the irrational ones.


I contemplated graduate school while I was still an undergrad but back then my anxiety got the best of me. The school I wanted to attend was in another state and the mental burden of relocating, trying to figure out a job and living accommodation proved to be too much for me to handle. If I was in the mental place I am now back then, I may have been able to make that a reality, but such is life.


Hope you can clear your mind on these forums and good luck with your therapy sessions!

Broken Angel,

Do not view this diagnosis as a lifelong condition.

You are not doomed to this "diagnosis" for the rest of your life.
Dr's have to come up with a diagnosis for insurance payments and prescribing medications. Do not get hung on this diagnosis. Most people at some point and time in there lives could be diagnosed with this condition if they met the criteria of a diagnosis. These are symptoms you are experiencing at this time. You may not always meet the criteria for this diagnosis.
I recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT)- is a short-term, goal oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind people's difficulties, and so change the way they feel.

The goals of cognitive therapy: include - the promotion of self-awareness and emotional intelligence by teaching clients to "read" their emotions and distinguish healthy from unhealthy feelings, helping clients understand how distorted perceptions and thoughts contribute to painful feelings.

They have CBT books and workbooks on Amazon. If you can't afford to do regular therapy.

I would caution you to try to avoid any anti-anxiety medications known as benzodiazepines. If you do decide. limit your usage. You can become dependent very quickly on these. In a short time you can experience withdrawals and dependence and require an increase dosage to combat the withdrawal effects. Read :"The Ashton Manual" information on benzodiazepines.

EMDR Therapy: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to relieve psychological stress. It is an effective treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.
During EMDR therapy sessions, you relive traumatic or triggering experiences in brief doses while the therapist directs your eye movements. EMDR is thought to be effective because recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when your attention is diverted. This allows you to be exposed to the memories or thoughts without having a strong psychological response. Over time, this technique is believed to lessen the impact that the memories or thoughts have on you.
They have books on EMDR on Amazon also.
I watched a Youtube channel today called: "Therapy in a Nutshell"
I particularly found the video called: " How to stop Catastrophising" very useful and enlightening. So many useful videos on that channel.

Best Wishes.