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Self Diagnosis- Asking my GP
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hey guys
Basically, I was looking up different forms of counselling etc. and stumbled across information about Borderline Personality Disorder.
I've been reading a lot about it, and it really describes how I am. I know self diagnosis is dangerous, but I really am worried I could have BPD.
How do I bring this up with my GP? I saw her last Tuesday about my panic attacks and self harm, and she said she'd contact me about the possibility of counselling without parental permission. Should I go back to see her and bring up BPD or should I just leave it and wait for her to call?
Thanks!
Basically, I was looking up different forms of counselling etc. and stumbled across information about Borderline Personality Disorder.
I've been reading a lot about it, and it really describes how I am. I know self diagnosis is dangerous, but I really am worried I could have BPD.
How do I bring this up with my GP? I saw her last Tuesday about my panic attacks and self harm, and she said she'd contact me about the possibility of counselling without parental permission. Should I go back to see her and bring up BPD or should I just leave it and wait for her to call?
Thanks!
0
Comments
Your right self diagnosis is danagerours, there are lots of aspects and some interlink but you have to be careful.
Have you thought about calling the doctor to chase up your counselling appointment and seeing how that goes first? This may give you a chance to look at other avenues.
Keep us posted
I don't think a diagnosis is what you need so much as appropriate support, which it looks like you're trying to get. Well done.
my advice would be to talk about the individual symptoms of BPD that you think you have, rather than looking at the overall package, and see how the doctor feels about each of them. i know it's hard but try not to get too hung up on disorders that you think you could have because labels aren't always helpful.
This is what I was trying to say!
I know it isn't normally diagnosed till adulthood, but I read some stuff about people younger than me being diagnosed. I just want there to be a reason for me feeling and acting how I do, because there are some things I just really don't understand and can't explain, I just feel if I could give how I feel a name then it wouldn't be so scary.
My GP still hasn't phoned, if she doesn't by the end of the week I think I might go back. Also, a close friend of mine has been very worried about the amount of pills I am taking, she thinks I could have liver problems because of it. Should I mention this to my GP as well?
Tbh, diagnoses are only helpful for deciding whats the first line of treatment, and very often you'll have to try several different options before you find something that actually works. BPD is a very stigmatised personality disorder, and its been a very fashionable diagnosis. Being told that you do or don't have it isn't really going to make a huge difference, unless they decide you need a new care plan, and if you aren't getting the support or treatment you need then you should have a care plan review anyway.
Does that make sense?
I don't really know where to go from here. I want help, but if I can't have it without parental permission then I can't have it at all. I don't even really know what help I need, I just know that I don't feel safe and that I can't keep going how I am.
If you don't feel safe you can always present yourself to A&E and try and get help through those channels, but its not always easy!
I find it odd that your mother allows you to have all sorts of medication but not counselling.
I'm under 16, school doesn't offer counselling, and even if it did I don't think it'd help. The GP didn't think that the children's service counselling thing would be beneficial to me, not really sure why, but she said she'd look into other things if she could.
I used to take over the counter and prescription painkillers to block out what I was feeling, and I've ended up being allergic to a whole host of medication because of over exposure to them, which in future could put my life at risk as its upped the risk of me having more reactions and more severe reactions. I'd really advise against it, a combination of over the counter medication can be fatal, and could leave you with permenant damage to your liver, kidneys, brain, nervous system, digestive system etc.
Have you spoken to anyone at school you trust about how you feel? I think you should go back to the GP and push that you want to be referred to childrens services.
GPs sometimes seems to act like gatekeepers to other services and prefer to push the problem away or medicate.
I have a mentor at school, he knows most things, but if I told them everything I think they'd probably tell my mum and I really don't want that. It wouldn't help at all.
My GP said the children's services wouldn't help as my problems were not what they normally deal with or something, didn't really understand. But she said she'd look into it. Really hope she gets back to me soon!
Tbh, I don't think your GP knows what she's talking about! Children's services deal with all sorts of issues. I'd call her and talk to her about it all.
I think I might go back and see a different doctor, there's quite a few at my local practice.
I can understand them having to inform your mother if you harm yourself at school - its the same as if you had a accident at school, they'd have to let her know. But asking for further help and telling them how you feel shouldn't be treated the same.
I might speak to my mentor tomorrow, I think I've been referred to anger management by the school so need to speak to him about that anyway.
I really wish my doctor had been more helpful, I was so scared about going and had a panic attack in the waiting room and she hasn't even been in touch
if BA tells any member of staff at school that she is harming herself, whether or not she is doing it at school, they have to call her parents as part of their duty of care. telling staff how she feels is fine unless she tells them something that suggests she may be in danger, at which point confidentiality has to be broken. so it can be difficult to speak to teachers about problems if you want it kept from your family.
i think you should move away from seeking diagnosis and concentrate more on finding the help you want. use your mentor as someone to talk to as far as you can. if you liked the GP you saw before then make another appointment and ask what has been done since your last visit - if she said that she was going to organise more help for you then you have a right to find out what progress has been made. if you're not happy with the response then see a different doctor. by 'children's services' is she referring to CAMHS or some other external agency? i think you said you'd been to CAMHS before, was that in the same town? if it was then i don't see how you could fit the criteria before but not now. if it's something other than CAMHS then their resources might be more limited. if you need long-term support then i would have thought that community-based CAMHS would be the most appropriate referral, so you need to ask your doctor why that isn't being made. if there are no suitable services in your area then your GP should make contact with an appropriate service in a neighbouring NHS trust.
keep trying chick x
I was told before CAMHS would be good because they can offer medication, but I don't know how I feel about that really.
Do you know if my dad would be able to give consent for me to go to CAMHS or other counselling? I don't live with him but I think I'd be more comfortable in talking to him about it, and he has joint custody of me with my mum x
i'm not 100% sure about the consent issue, i could try and find out for you if you would like me to? i would think that if your dad has joint custody then his signature would be fine because he has the same responsibilty for you as your mum, but i'm not certain. again it might be worth asking the doctor. but don't take no for an answer - if the children's services (whatever they may be) are not suitable then you need to find out what the alternative is, and if that alternative is CAMHS then you need to find out whether they will make a referral, and if not, why not.
If you can find out that'd be great thank you but I'll ask my GP when (and if) she phones. If she hasn't rung by the end of the week I think I'll book another appointment with someone else. I know if I don't get it sorted soon I wont get it sorted at all, I'm trying to stay positive about it all but I am gradually losing hope.
I do want to be okay, but it's so scary and it was so hard to admit something was wrong in the first place I don't want to have to go through it all again.
A diagnosis is nowt, really, when it won't lead to a particular course of outcome and there aren't specialist personality disorder services for young people so continuing to address your problems as a collection of symptoms / issues that need to be resolved is for the best.
I hope this all works out. As hard as it is to do, you really do need to keep being as honest as you can with your GP to make sure she is referring you appropriately.
When I go back to the doctors I'll ask her about CAMHS, haven't booked an appointment yet though, still hoping she'll phone
Mum got told, as did Dad.
Hospital wanted to admit me and give me loads of jabs to stop infections, but I refused both of those things. There were 2 nurses and a doctor treating me, and they asked loads of questions. CAMHS worker came to speak to me, I told him I didn't feel safe in hospital and he understood and told the doctor I'd probably be safer going home. He's ringing me tomorrow... or so he says... to arrange an appointment and to check if I'm still safer at home rather than hospital.
Honestly regretting my decision to be at home, everything's just getting so much worse and I can't cope. Don't feel safe anywhere any more.
Oh, and I have an appointment with a nurse on Friday to get my bandages changed.
That's about it really, just thought I'd let you know what's happening
Thank you for checking into the site and letting us know how your doing.
Monday night must have been a tough one for you. *hug*
Its encouraging that you have finally got to speak to a CAMHS worker as some people on here do seem to have had a positive experience with them. It's a good start that he listened to your concerns about staying in hospital and acted on your behalf.
Let us know the outcome of how things go if he does indeed call tomorrow.
They're sending me a letter (addressed to me so my mum wont open it) about going for an assessment, and he said if I don't respond they'll phone me and if they can't get through to me they'll phone school... he thinks it's important I go for the assessment and get help.
In all honesty I'm quite scared. In a way I didn't want him to be phone, but I know I need help... and now everyone else knows too so I don't really have a choice x
Great news that you spoke to your CAHMS worker and will be offered an assessment.
Its understanding that you will feel scared and apprehensive about going for an assessment but just think of the peace of mind and clarity you will have when you get feedback from this and a possible diagnosis !
Please try not to worry about it too much and keep posting and using the boards here at the site! We are always here to listen, help and advise..
Tc
B:thumb:
sort of a new problem but thought I'd post here to keep it all together... My mood swings have become really bad recently, I was so hyper the other day I was shaking, I had to leave my lesson. I went to see my mentor and he asked me in all seriousness if I'd taken coke or speed... And then I just crashed, and was crying and in a total mess. It's been like this pretty much every day for nearly a week, I'll keep going from extreme up to extreme down, and there's no reason for it, and I really really don't like it advice would be welcome please
could it be possible you have bi-polar disorder? I have a friend who has that and can go from "oh-my-gosh-I-can-do-anything" to "crap-what's-the-point" and back again over and over again. I am pretty sure that's what she got diagnosed with.