Posted by Noa on May 9, 2000, at 18:42:14
In reply to to Noa, posted by tina on May 9, 2000, at 18:33:10
Don't get so hung up on the diagnosis perse. Diagnoses as they currently are conceptualized are only uself as long as they're useful. The theories and ways of grouping symptom clusters is not a perfect science, just an organizational tool. I agree with Janice that keeping a log of symptoms is a good idea. The meds go after symptoms more than diagnoses. And being so preoccupied with what dx you are seems to be causing more anxiety for you. Myself, I might be double depression (dysthymia plus recurrent major depression), I might be atypical depression, I might be Bipolar III. Who knows? Different docs have their pet dxes. To the extent that thinking of my problems through the lens of each of these dxes helps to suggest possible treatment options, they are helpful. But I don't think there is AN answer to which is the RIGHT dx for me. Ten years from now all of these might be in the archives or might be subsumed by another way of looking at this illness, because right now, there is still so much more to learn about what is actually going on in the brain anyway. Finding the right med is, unfortunately, still very much a trial and error process, although you can start by narrowing down possiblities based on your symptoms. Unfortunately, it means for many of us, we have to go through several meds or combinations of meds until we find one that really works for us without causing annoying or distressing negative effects. It can be demoralizing, but it helps to come to this place and commune with others in the same boat. Good luck.
poster:Noa
thread:32910
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/32947.html