Posted by Racer on September 8, 2004, at 15:28:02
In reply to Not to even mention the tons of books, posted by Dinah on September 7, 2004, at 0:02:29
My self diagnosis is Irregular Polygon Syndrome, with Feral Features -- although the feral features may constitute a separate diagnostic code. It fits me, and explains every symptom I experience. Nothing in the DSM ever has...
Back to your situation, which kinda parallels mine. Yeah, I think it makes sense to feel as if finding a name for what's going on with you is reassuring, because without a name it just feels as if we're just out of our minds and out of control. Having a name gives us a handle that we can come to grips with. And knowing that it's not unique to us also helps make it more bearable.
You know I'm resistant to diagnostic labels, right now, right? Well, my current dilemma involves whether or not to bring up my eating with Dr NoName and *ask* for a label! How's that for ironly? There're a couple of reasons for it -- one practical, one psychological. The practical reason is that Dr EyeCandy told me that, unless an MD had made an official diagnosis of an eating disorder, it wasn't relevant. Thus, when the Therapist From The Black Lagoon heard me say that I was frightened by how much I felt I was at war with food, it wasn't relevant, and she could dismiss it. If it had been in my chart, that might not have happened, and I might not have gotten so much worse. So, having him make it Official might protect me next time -- if, god forbid, there is a next time. The psychological side of it is that I can't bring it up with my therapist directly. I'm kinda hoping that having it made Official would allow me to receive treatment, without having to ask for it. (Trust me on this one, the worst part of this is the conflict between knowing how sick I've gotten in this one area and still not wanting to change. Sure, I'm 40+ pounds underweight now -- but I'm still too heavy, and *need* to lose more.)
As for the whole diagnostic criteria thing, Dinah -- fact is, they're using statistical models. Of the [x] thousand people we've diagnosed with [y] disorder, here are the features we've found to be most common. That means that, where I might fit the classic criteria for -- say -- depression, you might fit only half of it, with another half that looks more like, maybe, Green Jello Syndrome. You know? That's because this isn't as clearcut as the microbial diseases in medicine. You can't do a psychic ectoplasm panel and find out which disorders are really there, and which just appear to be the best label to apply to an individual. This is where psychiatry is more art than science.
Racer's Official Diagnosis of Dinah: Dinah Syndrome, with Self Doubt Features. (Deferral on an additional diagnosis of Irregular Polygon Syndrome -- which basically means you don't quite fit into any preformed boxes.)
Hope that helps, and that you find peace with this soon.
poster:Racer
thread:387451
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040905/msgs/388155.html