Has anyone been diagnosed with a MH condition then had it overturned?

[Wadingthroughshit]

Hey everyone.

I don't know if overturned is the right word...but given a diagnosis and then been told that you do not have a MH condition?
I was in crisis for the third time about a year and a half ago, and really sought out a diagnosis as it seemed to make what was happening more abstract, more controllable. I was told I have boderline personality disorder. Since coming out of crisis I have asked several health professionals if they feel this is correct and haven't had a straight answer. I saw a private counsellor and she told me she didn't think I had any condition.
Many thanks for any of your stories

I had similar. A psychiatrist diagnosed me with BPD (amongst other things). I totally accepted the other diagnoses but never felt like I ticked enough of the boxes for BPD. I've seen another psychiatrist subsequently and he is very confident that I don't have BPD. I have some of the characteristics (as does almost everyone at times) but certainly not enough for a diagnosis.

Thank you for sharing. So your diagnosis has been overturned? I've asked to see a psychiatrist, but this hasn't happened, I am currently having Cognitive Analytical Therapy, but he doesn't like to diagnose.

I guess so! I'm not sure it was ever an 'official' diagnosis (this was all done privately rather than NHS so I don't know that it's recorded anywhere) and I basically just ignored it. I think a psychiatrist is the only one who can diagnose or otherwise though - therapists etc can't because they're not medically qualified.

I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in my very early 20's, the diagnosis wasn't revealed to me until I seen another psychiatrist years later for anxiety. He laughed and said I most certainly did not have Borderline Personality Disorder andbthat I had very clear cut OCD. He says that psychiatrists misdiagnose this all the time when they are at a loss for anything else.

I was totally mortified at the time after googling it but laugh about it now. I often wondered why the hell they went through so much medication including antipsychotics which just didn't work! A year of cbd and fluoxetine and I was managing better. I have heard a few people who have been misdiagnosed with it.

I attended a course for healthcare professionals (mainly psychiatrists) about diagnosing ADHD in adults. The professor of psychiatry running the course was of the opinion that some people diagnosed with MH conditions such as BPD actually have undiagnosed ADHD.

Thank you for the other stories, sorry I'm only just getting back to you now. I read on the Mind website that there are controversy around diagnosing BPD. How bizarre and awful you were diagnosed plump and no one even told you.

I was diagnosed with BPD as a teenager but was diagnosed with Autism last year. The BPD never really 'fit' yet autism (aspergers) really does.

That’s interesting what the previous poster said about adhd! I have just had a bipolar diagnosis overturned and it looks very likely that I actually have adhd! I am just in the process of being assessed. I had no idea
that adhd was so commonly misdiagnosed as other mental health conditions!

Many times. I have had all sort of diagnosis. It tend to change whenever I see new psychiatrist. I don't really know what my real diagnosis is.

It's awful really, to be diagnosed with a condition, then it to be wrong, it's obscene to have continuous new diagnosis, I'm really sorry to hear that bans.
Also, I think there may be a tendancy to live in a diagnosis once it's been said. I don't think BPD fits, I'm not sure what does. Ive noticed over the last few months I have increased social anxiety and forgetfulness, which really isn't helping at work!

My Dr suggested BPD and whilst i didn't fit all of the criteria (no childhood trauma) i fit a fair few. I am attending a group therapy course called "understanding emotions"

Its so interesting. I sit there agape most of the time as the other group members even though we are all quite different are just like me, its uncanny.

So whislt i don't have an actual diagnosis, knowing why i am like i am helps me to control it.

The label isn't important but the treatment is

I have ADHD, which presents in a similar way to BPD.

Oops didn't mean to post- so perhaps you had something like Depression/Anxiety alongside Attention-type ADD?

You're right, it's the treatment that matters, but a diagnosis can help you access the right treatment. So pleased that the group work helped. BPD is a controversial diagnosis. i know someone who has adult ADHD, and I can see the similarities, I think a lot of people think of children having trouble at school, whereas as I understand it it can cause issues regulating your emotions?

The psychologist I see as part of cognitive analytical therapy told me he doesn't think I have BPD, he said that at one time (when in crisis) I probably presented as such, but that it is pervasive and I can go periods without much going on. Instead it's a trauma reaction. He explained it as complex PTSD without the PTSD (no flashbacks), so issues with relationships and negative self image...and my work just told me I need to work on my confidence!!!

I was diagnosed about 20 years ago with BPD by a psychiatric team. I took it on board and worked with it. However in the last couple of years I've questioned the diagnosis because i) it was done in a foreign language in which I wasn't fluent - and emotions are hard enough to explain as it is - without stumbling over language!, ii) the team in question did a lot of research into BPD so I think had a gravitational bias and finally iii) I got on to a DBT programme last year - looked around the room at these "socially challenged" (barely literate, drunks, shoplifters, brawling in the street types - sorry if that offends) and walked. Told my GP and the psychologist running the programme that I was a million miles away from that "type".

It was actually here on MN I learned about women with Autism presenting in a more complicated way - and have asked my GP to be referred for a potential rediagnosis. In lieu of my reasons why I was questioning it, he was happy to do so.

Yes, I can be bonkers and yes - I've had breakdowns. Each and every one has been triggered by a man with whom I was in a relationship and my biggest trigger seems to be "dishonesty" - I absolutely cannot fathom a lie - which perhaps would be labelled as "black & white thinking".

I had a bit of a ramble to my GP about my potentially wasting NHS resources asking to be assessed because actually it wouldn't change the way I feel inside. But he was all for it because of the stigma of BPD and agreed I wasn't "typical" of BPD.

zigzag the issue of lying may not be related to black and white thinking or BPD, it may just be a boundary. Lots of people of boundaries they are not willing to cross or accept, and you don't automatically think oh they must have boderline !!

I've had three breakdowns, each worse than the last. First two were postnatal, the second one I was admitted to a mother and baby unit. Third was brought on by a very intense and turbulent relationship. I've had three relationships, a breakdown in each laughing through the pain!

I don't think you are wasting NHS resources asking for to be diagnosed at all. I have often felt like a diagnosis offers something tangible, abstract almost, a tidy reference to what you are feeling, like being able to name it gives you some power over it.

I see it in my eldest son. He gets very upset with dishonesty and just doesn't understand why people would lie - even when the truth is "harder" - I guess it's just the way some people are.

I don't think I do overreact or "act out" - I am absolutely the opposite of disordered - I thrive on order and responsibility. We shall see what comes of it. I've had a letter to say I'm on the waiting list for diagnosis, but I suppose if it drags on too long I may look at going private as I believe that's an option.

This is me and my son in a nutshell:

zig the world needs people like you and your son, and I don't think its a sign of pathology. I hope you're appointment for a re-evaluation on diagnosis goes well.

I was diagnosed with BPD in 2010 but by 2012 it was obvious that I had Psychosis.
I didn't initially get the help I desperately needed because of the stupid BPD diagnosis.

Now I've got the diagnosis of schizo Affective Disorder (Bipolar type), also depression & just some 'traits' of BPD.