Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.

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dual diagnosis, concerned

happynaz
happynaz
I saw my case manager yesterday to see whats causing me not to progress. I am diagnosed or labeled as severely mentally ill, come to find out I have four diagnoses such as bipolar, ptsd, ocd, and borderline. This concerns me. I was doing research and found out that ptsd and borderline are related.

I was traumatized back in 2012 and since then I have been questioning who I am and what I am becoming. I read that borderline and ptsd cause identity issues, that's scary because does that mean I really am a bad person. Nothing in life is making me happy anymore, I used to be happy. I found out if I don't stay on my meds or medications that I can be court ordered and petitioned that's even scarier. how does one get over a trauma and find out who they were before the trauma. Every day is a struggle for me and it used to not be. I'm just concerned that mental illness is going to beat me. I cant find meaning in life whatsoever. ugh, i'm frustrated, and losing hope
LeoX3
LeoX3
My dx is PTSD with some depression involved as well, and yeah, it's hard to figure out who/what I am---what I was told by the abusers, or what I have tried to beor....

Soft support. It's a tough battle. For what it's worth, be screened by more than one psychiatrist and more than one therapist---they have their biases too, and it can affect how they "read" people.
LoveAlice
LoveAlice
Hey. Just because someone diagnosis you with something doesn't mean you necessarily have it. They tried to diagnose me with borderline once, and according to a lot of other docs and therapist I am not borderline at all. Some people just look at your symptoms and match them up which issues that people could have and use that to bill your insurance.

Regardless of what you have, you are not a bad person. Having a mental illness does not make you bad.

Also, borderline is different from DID. And if you have any form of DID that would make sense why they would think that you were borderline because a lot of docs who do not have experience tend to jump to conclusions and misdiagnose.
LoveAlice
LoveAlice
Even docs that DO have experience jump to conclusions and misdiagnose. Sometimes it take a while to find a decent doctor who genuinely cares.
Tusitalo
Tusitalo
I would not be too concerned about the diagnosis you were given. Diagnosis overlap and there is a spectrum from low to severe and at least you know it not you.
You are not a bad person for having a mental disorder due to trauma.
You are right BPD and PTSD have similar symptoms but symptoms apart you are a person with a diagnosis.
You are not the diagnosis itself.

About the take your med or being court ordered. That is crap...
That is why I fear some states and did not like to put myself at gov's hands. No way..I have similar diagnosis but those diagnosis are not like schizophrenia and only those you are a threat to others should be mandated by the courts to take them.
DeliAnnem
DeliAnnem
Awww, I can feel your pain.

If you were traumatized in 2012 and now you have some issues, of course that does not make you a bad person.

I don't think you can all of a sudden "get" BP... Sounds more like PTSD to me. How they are related? The episodes may look the same to others and may feel the same to the person, but they have different underlying issues.

The words "case manager" concerns me. You did NOT say psych. Some CMs like to play these roles, but may not have the training.

Did you have proper after care post-event? What are you doing now?

There is hope, and I think you know that deep down, or you wouldn't have posted here. I think you will find a lot of comfort with us.

Hugs.
Community Leadermujicaptsd
mujicaptsd
I can see how concerned you are, but this is the right place to come to with that concern. Others here have multiple diagnoses here, and some are Community Leaders on Daily Strength. Our diagnoses are helpful in getting us the right meds, the right treatments. But as someone has already said, we are not our diagnoses, we are people.

Often those identity issues you mentioned people with a certain diagnosis have are helped in the context of others who know what it's like. Eventually, the issue is how high functioning we become in pursuing the goals of happiness and purpose we also deserve, no less than anyone else out there. Glad you're here.
arfie
arfie
Reminder: There are still no physical proofs of any psychiatric diagnosis. At best, they are educated guesses based on surface symptoms. In my strictly personal case, there is obviously something wrong and I need names to call it while I sort through it all, but I still trust my personal senses more than the academic guesses.

My most problematic trauma sets happened in the 1950s and 60s. My first therapy appointment was in 1972. I don't even want to guess how many different dxes are in my case files... My mental illness has changed names more times than a Cosmetic Product Line. The names are not what I take seriously. For the name game, I am okay with the original label of, WTW (White Trash Whore). The Happy Days crowd was so innocent off-stage...
drangonflylady
drangonflylady
You are not a bad person. Everyone has said pretty much everything I wanted to say but I wanted you to know I am here and supporting you too. Also you might only have borderline traits which is very different that borderline itself.
I took and overdose at one point in my life and as a result they were going to diagnose me with that even those I never had that diagnoses before and no other parts that matched that diagnosis. Try not to let it get you down. They are just labels nothing else and you are still ok especially to all of us here at D.S.
spacepony
spacepony
Try not to let those diagnonsises overwhelm or scare you. I have multiple diagnonsises, too, and felt so confused and defeated by all of it. I mean, how many types of anxieties can one have.? Suffice it to say, I simply have a lot of anxiety! Please try and get rid of the idea the you have 'severe' mental illness. I think that's an unhelpful idea. Your situation sounds difficult being court ordered to take medication and having different people evaluate you. You can get out of this system eventually, and most of all, you can heal! I absolutely know this to be true. I have emotiomal instability, and personally will always have, but I am soooo much better. Have faith, okay?
min63
min63
your not a bad person i cant rember what it feels like to be me whoever that is , it a daily struggle things in life change you but trauma changes you in ways most would not think possible , if i feel happy i feel uncomfortable out of my element ,

this is learning to except the new you , you see right this very min you statred to path t o healing and your not alone , i lose hope too hang in there maby second opinion for your dx hugs min
bluedragon41
bluedragon41
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_post-traumatic_stress_disorder

Check that out, might help?
...You are not a bad person unless you start doing bad things to people. So don't do that.
EMDR is often a good therapy for people who have one trauma episode, it is worth a shot, but does not work for everyone.

Other than that, therapy with a trauma therapist is really useful.
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