Home Health & Wellbeing
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.

Self Diagnosis- Asking my GP

Former MemberFormer 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!
«1

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd wait for her call and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist if you are really worried.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi Broken-Angel :wave:

    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
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You can ask, but Borderline is not usually diagnosed until the early twenties.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    a GP wouldn't diagnose a personality disorder, they would refer you to a psychiatrist for assessment. and as i understand it, it is very rare to diagnose a PD in a person under 18, because it's a long-term condition and there are loads of changes going on when you are a teenager - if you were showing the same symptoms after your hormones had settled down, say at 18/19, then they might look at a diagnosis. also, diagnosing PDs is usually done with great caution and often a psychiatrist will imply it without saying it, because they can be very sticky labels to get off and can (wrongly) impact on the treatment you can get.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    omg hi wrote: »
    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!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    jinx! :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Thanks guys :)
    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?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Again it might be worth asking. It sounds like a referral to a psychiatrist for a meds review would be a good idea.

    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?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I only went to my doctors last week, before that I haven't really had help. I went in the holidays as well, and they sent a letter home about counselling, but my mum said no (don't really want to go into this, but she wont give me permission to have counselling or anything) so I went back to see if I could get help with out her knowing. The doctor said I probably couldn't, but that she'd ring me.
    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If you're under 16 then your school should offer councelling and your parents don't need to know about it (or at least they didn't when I was at school). If you're over 16 you can do what you like. Have you gone to see the GP with your mother so the GP can explain why its important?

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    No, the pills are just normal pills in the medicine draw... like nytol, paracetamol etc. etc.
    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ok, have you been in contact with your local connexions or youth service? They will provide free counselling.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I haven't, but I'll have a look thanks :)
    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!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Mentors have to keep all information confidential except when theres a child protection issue - such as someone harming you , another child, or you doing something that put you at risk. In which case they wouldn't go to your mum nessecerily first, they'd talk to people who could provide help (i.e. if you were being abused they would talk to social services and the police first before your parents). Talk to them about what there rules are. I told my school counsellor about being abused when I was younger, and it didn't go any further than my head of year, and we just had a talk about it).

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My mentor is a teacher though, I don't know if that makes it any different? They've said before to me if they see my self harm they will have to ring my mum so I'm being careful about what I do and don't say.
    I think I might go back and see a different doctor, there's quite a few at my local practice.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think seeing another dr is a very good idea.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't harm myself in school, people don't know apart from a few close friends and some teachers. I'd rather it stayed that way.
    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 :/
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Miss_Riot wrote: »
    I think seeing another dr is a very good idea.

    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.

    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
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I think the children's services is different to CAMHS, I was referred to CAMHS when I tried to kill myself but I never went due to my mum, she had to sign letters and never did. I did have a few sessions of counselling a while ago at another doctors surgery but she stopped taking me.
    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
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    did she say anything else about the children's services? if it's not related to CAMHS then i'm really not sure what it could be. possibly related to social services? or maybe the in-house counselling you had before. it's best to ask her to clarify exactly what these services are and then you can decide whether you think you want to push for them or not. if you did end up going to see someone at CAMHS then they cannot pressure you into medication, in fact if you are stable enough to try something else first then they would almost certainly go for that option. specialist psych services should only offer meds as a last resort, such as if you are too distressed to engage in any other treatment. your parents would have to agree to you taking medication but even if they did, if you didn't want it then you wouldn't have to have it, so i really wouldn't worry about that side of things.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't really know what it is, I think it's the normal counselling thing for under 16s, it probably is what I had before. She didn't really tell me much, she just went on about my mum and when I refused to let my mum be involved she didn't really know what to say.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd talk to your dad and see if you can get a referral to CAMHS through the GP. I went to CAMHS and found it really helpful - they have a huge range of things they can offer talking therapies, art therapies, medication, all sorts. If he's got joint custody, your dad can sign things for you.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    For what it's worth, I agree with the others.

    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.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Thanks guys :) Still haven't heard from the doctor. Stuffs been going okay recently, but I know it wont stay like this for long.
    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
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Thought I'd give a bit of an update... spent Monday in A&E. Not going into details but what I did was fairly bad.
    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
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi Broken-Angel

    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.

    :heart::heart:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    He phoned... I was quite shocked. I really thought they'd just forget about me and I could go back to how I was. But obviously I can't, which is a bit scary.
    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
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi broken angel:wave:,

    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.:heart:.

    Tc
    B:thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hey guys,
    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 :heart:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    *hug*

    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.
Sign In or Register to comment.