Check in: Time to diagnosis?

It is often said that the average person with DID waits 7 years for diagnosis. That is based on data published many years ago. Is it still true today? This thread is a survey is for those who have a formal diagnosis of a major dissociative disorder, either DID or DDNOS/OSDD.

Year diagnosed?
Years from first contact with mental health services to diagnosis?

Me: 2011, 0.2

You?

2008
0.5

First contact with MH services 1998
First Diagnosed with a 'Dissociative Disorder' 2006
Diagnosis from NHS Psychologist 'Complex Trauma with DID' 2016

Don't know if formal diagnosis differs in UK from how it is in US?? You probably know more than me about that Una.

Writing that down felt a bit weird.

LittleMie wrote:First contact with MH services 1998
First Diagnosed with a 'Dissociative Disorder' 2006
Diagnosis from NHS Psychologist 'Complex Trauma with DID' 2016

Don't know if formal diagnosis differs in UK from how it is in US?? You probably know more than me about that Una.

Writing that down felt a bit weird.

Ouch! No, I don't think formal diagnosis differs much worldwide. It is about someone other than you being willing to go on record as saying you have ___.

So: 1998, 18

Self-diagnosed, Summer 1996, body-age 34, after over 20 years of seeing various MH "professionals" on and off.

If we'd waited for a professional to realize that we're multiple, we probably wouldn't still be around to write this.

MDs

first voluntary seeking of help with "inexplicable occurances" was 2000.

2000 misdiagnosed Bipolar. knew that was a #######4 Dx. refused their #######4 meds.
2013 misdiagnosed MDD. knew that was a #######4 Dx. refused their #######4 meds.
2014 panic disorder (more or less right I was losing my $#%^). didn't even get any damn meds!
2015 self awareness - competent clinician, correct Dx.
2016 competent treatment for comorbid anxiety disorder. life changer!

15 years.

wish I had been screened and offered treatment all those years ago. I have walked a long road since then.

wow, yeah..it's been a long, long road!
First hospitlized in 1985 and spent 7 years in hospitals, with multiple diagnosis: various forms of schizophrenia, personality disorders, etc. Got out and avoided everyone and everything for 6 years, got married and continued to avoid doctors of almost every kind - my marriage was in the tank and about to come to a crashing end when I agreed to see a counselor. I played "surface talk" with her for about a year, trying to convince her I was fine and the problem was with my husband, until she finally caught on and told me what I already know about being DID. I have been in therapy for almost 6 years and I wonder if I will ever get it "together". I am soooooo tired of it all!!

So, from 1st diagnosis to actual tx for DID - 25 years. wow

1993: First contact with MH services. Diagnosis: Depression with psychotic features. Evaluated as pre-schizophrenic. Traumatic inpatient experiences and forced treatment.
1996: Figured out we had DID, presented on several occasions to community mental health for treatment, was not believed.
2000: Attempted to find competent therapist with DID experience; no luck. Forgot about DID.
2004: Seen by trauma therapist who recognized symptoms of complex trauma and did do some parts work to help with dissociative episodes, but diagnosis was not made or discussed.
2008: Severe dissociative/anxiety symptoms emerge during pregnancy, sought treatment through university services. No diagnosis given.
2011: Sought treatment for moodiness, temper problems and issue with family of origin. No diagnosis, but childhood trauma triggers identified as problem.
2014: Self-diagnosed DID; diagnosis confirmed by DID specialist.

21 years from first contact to diagnosis.

I first got help at 13 and at 14 was diagnosed with dysthymia and panic disorder without agoraphobia. i had severe dissociation, depression, anxiety/panic, and struggled with self harm and related things. was in the hospital four times at 14 then not allowed back.

at 16/17, i was unofficially diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and then officially at 18 with it. was at a hospital for a month for an assessment. i also developed an eating disorder at 16 but wasn't diagnosed with it until 19.

between those few years, i saw different professionals, psychiatrists, therapists, etc.

at 19, i was unofficially diagnosed with DID (the psychiatrist saw it in me without me saying much about it in depth) with diagnoses of borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and OCD (still not sure how you can have all those as separate diagnoses).

i saw a psychiatrist for a second opinion in my 20s. they said i had a lot of traits of various things but nothing 100% so could not diagnose me with anything.

at 33, i got an official diagnosis of DID because i saw the same psychiatrist (not the previously mentioned one) on and off for a few years and didn't disclose more until i was ready/it was the right time/safe. i technically self diagnosed in my teen years but never told a professional.

i am now moving away from the borderline diagnosis and currently am diagnosed with DID, OCD, and PTSD but also have social anxiety disorder.

it depends on how you look at it as to how many years until i had an official diagnosis. it would be either 6 years or 14 years since first seeking help.

Been in MH services on and off our entire life as we were a ward of the state. Was diagnosed with PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder as a child. Forgot all about those Dx's till I looked through my binder. Did spme research and discovered that the BPD was a #######4 Dx.

2010 is when "my" mom and a family friend discovered "I" had DID. "My" mom told me in 2011. Jay Jay, the former host thought she'd gone 'round the bend and ignored her. Jay Jay never forgot what she said though.

March of 2014 is when the family friend confirmed it. The body was pregnant with the child that would be the first living child. Did some researching and found this site in July, and self Dx'd myself with DID as all the pieces fit. Been looking for a decent T or Pdoc since early? 2015.

It wasn't until CPS decided to insert themselves into my life that we ended up with a decent therapist. But, unfortunately she doesn't know how to deal with DID but has met Juri and talked to Marie. She's familiar with DID though.

It is now 2016 and the body is 25 and we still have no formal D'x. Circumstances dictate that we have to shove it under the rug for now, and pretend we are a singleton until this blows over, then continue our search for a Dx elsewhere... If it's even worth it at this point... We really don't want the children taken again.