Should I ask for a diagnosis?

I've worked in insurance, so I know what certain diagnoses can bring to your ability to get insurance. Most of my problems have gone undiagnosed officially, with my therapist mentioning things I have features of. Should I push for an official diagnosis or leave it alone?

I don't think it matters much to me to have one, but I just wondered if there would be a situation where it would actually benefit me to have a diagnosis. Maybe I could go on disability? That, combined with my autoimmune disorder, might get me disability. I can't keep a job to save my life

Well, do you feel as if you're borderline, or are you just looking for a diagnosis in order to help obtain disability?

I mean, you didn't say anything about your symptoms, so I don't feel as if I'm armed with a lot of information here.

Having a diagnosis will NOT guarantee you disability, but you can talk to your therapist and see a psychiatrist to be tested to see what you come out as. I would bring it up, and see what your professional's thoughts are on it, but I don't necessarily think that you should merely pursue disability, UNLESS your mental problems are keeping you from being able to continue working.

AMP

I don't see a good reason to ask for a diagnosis.
I don't believe that a real Dx is handy for disability unless you feel you are unable to do your job, and at any point your Pdoc could help you with the paperwork for such things and whether you need a Dx for that.

Personally, I'm not an advocate for disability due to mental illness. I have never been so out of it that I couldn't go do my job, and I've been pretty out there. Perhaps, though, that's because I was raised in that mentally.

You should, if you're going to pursue this, talk to your shrink about needing to go on disability, and they should be able to help you with things from there.

Thanks. Mostly, I have trouble with disappointing people. Perceived disappointments = me no call, no showing. I've had around 50 jobs, and I'm 24. I don't know if I can attribute this to the mental illness, or what. They say I have no coping abilities. As for my borderline stuff, I have a fear of abandonment, no clear sense of self in all of my fluctuating emotions, self-destructive patterns (I will stop eating when I am distressed. In part because I get afraid the food is going to kill me, but also because I don't want to continue trying to maintain). I have trouble establishing patterns of self-care. If something hurts me, I have no real way of knowing how to cope. I hide all of these things from everyone around me so that they don't think I'm weird or run away from me. The result is me quitting jobs rather than facing disappointing my bosses and coworkers.
My relationship troubles interfere with my jobs. My sexual problems interfere with my jobs. My inability to figure for any length of time out who I am, what I am good at, and what I want to do with my life interferes with my jobs. Right now, I'm lucky to be able to live off of the excess financial aid. But I don't know what to do when that runs out. I also don't have health insurance. It's been a rough time.

I asked her to tell me. She told me that she has enough information now that yes, she can make a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and PTSD. I'm relieved. I feel like I have a place to start, now. Something that could explain these issues I have. I know that the road ahead of me is not going to be easy, but I don't want to let this thing control my life anymore, I want balance. I want it so much.

I am glad that you received a diagnosis. I feel really strongly that clients deserve to be diagnosed correctly. Knowledge really is power. There are so many things that make sense to me now that I know I have BPD, which allows for me to have more compassion for myself. Also, I can completely relate to have difficulty maintaining a job. Some of us do better at work, and the rest of us find work to be particularly triggering.
I lived off of student loans for years, and still have dreams that my loan money is about to run out. If you ever want to talk about making it through school while struggling with BPD, please feel free to contact me. It was a huge struggle for me, but I made it through.
I hope that this is a positive new beginning for you.

Shayea wrote:I asked her to tell me. She told me that she has enough information now that yes, she can make a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and PTSD. I'm relieved. I feel like I have a place to start, now. Something that could explain these issues I have. I know that the road ahead of me is not going to be easy, but I don't want to let this thing control my life anymore, I want balance. I want it so much.

I'm glad u got a diagnosis, but I'm also sorry u got one, if you know what I mean? But yes, it is a relief isn't it to know what you've got. It's the act of naming that starts you on the journey, and it's less scary because it's got a name. Well, welcome to the journey

moomin wrote:I'm glad u got a diagnosis, but I'm also sorry u got one, if you know what I mean? But yes, it is a relief isn't it to know what you've got. It's the act of naming that starts you on the journey, and it's less scary because it's got a name. Well, welcome to the journey

Thanks, yea I know what you mean. It sucks, but at least it gives me some options now.