do/have you suffered from a psychological disorder

[DramaQueen]

and by that i mean have you ever been DIAGNOSED.
as shelby mentioned on the phobia thread and i followed up, a lot of people sometimes tend to think that if they have one very small symptom of a psychological disorder that they have it. a couple friends of mine recently have been going on about it, so that along with the phobia thread inspired this thread.

and this is somewhat of a rant, because being someone who was diagnosed with severe separation anxiety that completely ruled my life for 4 years, i get kind of irritated when people throw the terms around.
suffering from a psychological disorder is a terrible experience and is nothing that should be glamourized or anything like that (as i often find it's 'cool' to be 'different' / have a disorder) it ruined my life for 4 years to the point that there were days where i couldn't sit through a day of school without having an anxiety attack, let alone go to b-day parties, sleepovers or anything like that. </rant> hehe

anyways, i just wanted to create this thread so that you guys could share your thoughts/experiences/expertise about psychological disorders. it could be you, someone you know, or just any thoughts you have.

disclaimer: i am in no position to judge whether or not you have a 'real' disorder or not, and i'm not doubting anyone who says that they have one, my rant was simply regarding some people in my RL who have irritated me by thinking that having a psychological disorder is 'cool'.

(also, i've worked through my separation anxiety with the help of minor therapy and a few councilors. but i do have the occasional lapse when something triggers me.
i'll talk more about my experience if anyone has questions/is interested.)

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

Nope, not diagnosed, though my best friend used to threaten to get me help...

I'm sorry for what you've been through, and I definitely agree it shouldn't be thrown around.

But, kids will be kids, and some will never really know what they're implicating. Like jokes about suicide or self-harm. (and I'm not talking about the playful "Shoot me!", etc.)

 

[::Snow_White::]

My mom said the doctor told her I had seperation anxiety. It was the worst time of my life, EVER. 1-3 grade. I totally understand where you are coming from, I remember once I had a panic attack on the playground at my regular school and I couldn't breathe and the teacher had to call my mom.

Later on I think I developed other anxiety from it (Never diagnosed, but it also dictated my life for a good few years). I was having these irrational fears & I could never sleep. I would be so ridiculously tired at school because I'd only get 2 hours of sleep. I also think I was a hypochondriac, I freaked out when I noticed my ankle bone and cried for a good few hours thinking I was going to die. My mom asked what was wrong, I tried telling her and I couldn't. Mostly because I didn't even understand, it was an automatic response. This was even worse than my seperation anxiety.

There were times when I was 11-13 that my heart would drop and I'd suddenly feel like crying. I felt like there was this huge death cloud over me and that nothing could make me happy. I'm not sure if it was depression or just an after affect of the anxiety, this was never diagnosed either. My mom never took me to the doctor so I could've very well had it but I'm not 100% sure. There is this video game, that I can't play anymore because when I do I get this lump in my throat, my eyes tear up and the feeling comes back. Even though I love(d) the game, it was usually when I was playing it when the sadness took over so it's too overbearing to play anymore because I don't want it again.

I've luckily gotten over all of it, mostly. Right now is the BEST time of my life ever, I'm so happy that I'm not held down by it anymore. I get really emotional when I talk about it because it was just horrible and ruined my childhood. I never went to therapy, although I believe I might have when I was in school, only a few times because I hated it.

My friend had/has depression. She's gone to counseling for it just a few months ago and she has stopped going because she feels so much better.

That was long, my bad.

 

[imabrat]

During the time I was on chemotherapy, I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and depression. I had no history of those prior, and only a small amount of anxiety remains. I was officially diagnosed by this lady - http://www.womensmentalhealthassociates.com/helen.html . She's a good person but we didn't connect, so I saw someone else. I still go see someone, mainly just to vent. Between the anxiety and survivor's guilt, I just need to vent to someone who has an unbiased opinion.

 

[cindys_castle2011]

My sister has or HAD depression.

It started her senior year of High School. I guess just all over the stress of, about to leave home, being on her own, separating from the friends she's known since kindergarten.

She was diagnosed with depression. I'm not sure what kind or anything. She was just sad, it seemed like she was never happy, she was always kind of in a bad mood. She's been taking her 'happy pills' as we call it, for about 4 or so years now.

I've actually been realizing that I'm starting to get more like her when she was my age. I don't really like going out with my friends anymore. I seem to be pushing them away. She was always the kind to stay home with a friend or her boyfriend or just her family. She was never the kind to 'go out'. I use to always want to GO GO GO.

Now I rarely want to go somewhere with my friends. I'd much rather sit at my house spending the night with my family. Or going to my boyfriends house just to hang out with him and his family.

She use to have panic attacks. Her senior year, summer before college, and her freshman year of college.

I always thought they were just like you feeling sad or stressed out ya know.

I had one in July and it was HORRIBLE!

It was after my bestfriend got in her bad wreck. I sat on her left side for about 20 minutes, before my mom told me to some over to her other side. Her right side. There was still blood all over that side of her face. Her eye lid was all cut up. She broke her nose, so her nose was bleeding.

Just seeing my BEST FRIEND like that.. I just couldn't take it anymore.

I felt really nauseated all the sudden. I looked at my mom and was like I have to walk out.. I have to get out of the room real fast. So we walked out into the hall and i kept getting really short of breath, my mom was digging through her purse for some money to buy me a Sprite. All I could here was her digging in her purse, like someone had put a microphone in her purse and an ear piece in the ears. It was so loud, I couldn't hear anything but that.

We walked out of the ER. I went to sit down on a bench and i just leaned over and put my head on my knee's. Then everytime someone would pass. I would hear the footsteps blaring in my ears.. I'd look up and they'd be WAY down the hall.

It was terrible. I felt so scared and helpless. I hated knowing thats what some people go through everyday.

It's just little stuff that I do, or feel now, that reminds me of how my sister would talk about. I'm just scared that I'm getting to that point that she was at.

I have one year left before college so I'm praying, I'll be okay and not have to go through all of that like she did.

 

[Sparx]

I have phobic disorder. Its a specific phobia. There are several kinds of phobic disorder, social phobia (social anxiety) mild forms of this are a fear of crowds, but a true social phobe would rarely leave their home. Agoraphobia is another that results in people hermiting themselves into a house for years or months on end. the third type of phobic disorder is a specific phobia (specific verses the others where the individual is afraid of the mass of the outside or the unknown, the individual is afraid of one specific stimulus.)

the reason so many people feel that they have phobias are that its hard to describe our fears from the first person, if you're afraid of it, you're really really afraid and that is a valid emotion. but, its hard to tell from your perspective that you're JUST afraid, and not suffering from the anxiety disorder.

Phobias aren't over diagnosed, though. if you go to a professional and you don't REALLY have a phobia, just a fear, they would be able to tell you the difference, where you might not be able to distinguish for yourself.

the most over diagnosed(mis-diagnosed) disorders right now are bipolar disorder and ADD/HD. But the most common disorder is depression, usually biological depression. (this means it can be treated by medication)

 

[Sparx]

My sister has or HAD depression.

It started her senior year of High School. I guess just all over the stress of, about to leave home, being on her own, separating from the friends she's known since kindergarten.

She was diagnosed with depression. I'm not sure what kind or anything. She was just sad, it seemed like she was never happy, she was always kind of in a bad mood. She's been taking her 'happy pills' as we call it, for about 4 or so years now.

I've actually been realizing that I'm starting to get more like her when she was my age. I don't really like going out with my friends anymore. I seem to be pushing them away. She was always the kind to stay home with a friend or her boyfriend or just her family. She was never the kind to 'go out'. I use to always want to GO GO GO.

Now I rarely want to go somewhere with my friends. I'd much rather sit at my house spending the night with my family. Or going to my boyfriends house just to hang out with him and his family.

She use to have panic attacks. Her senior year, summer before college, and her freshman year of college.

I always thought they were just like you feeling sad or stressed out ya know.

I had one in July and it was HORRIBLE!

It was after my bestfriend got in her bad wreck. I sat on her left side for about 20 minutes, before my mom told me to some over to her other side. Her right side. There was still blood all over that side of her face. Her eye lid was all cut up. She broke her nose, so her nose was bleeding.

Just seeing my BEST FRIEND like that.. I just couldn't take it anymore.

I felt really nauseated all the sudden. I looked at my mom and was like I have to walk out.. I have to get out of the room real fast. So we walked out into the hall and i kept getting really short of breath, my mom was digging through her purse for some money to buy me a Sprite. All I could here was her digging in her purse, like someone had put a microphone in her purse and an ear piece in the ears. It was so loud, I couldn't hear anything but that.

We walked out of the ER. I went to sit down on a bench and i just leaned over and put my head on my knee's. Then everytime someone would pass. I would hear the footsteps blaring in my ears.. I'd look up and they'd be WAY down the hall.

It was terrible. I felt so scared and helpless. I hated knowing thats what some people go through everyday.

It's just little stuff that I do, or feel now, that reminds me of how my sister would talk about. I'm just scared that I'm getting to that point that she was at.

I have one year left before college so I'm praying, I'll be okay and not have to go through all of that like she did.

from what it sounds like, your sister's depression is medical, and sometimes that can be hereditary through families. but, you probably don't have anything to worry about.

having one panic attack every few years isn't anything to worry about, when they become a problem, people are having them on a monthly, or weekly basis. kwim?

if you're really worried, go see your sisters psychiatrist and talk to them. they should be able to figure out if you're at risk. good luck!

 

[Mandy91]

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from sexual/physical abuse.
I hate the flashbacks and guilt.

 

[pigletgirl]

Not me personally, but my sister who is 9 just got diagnosed with bi-polar (manic depression). It has pretty much put our family on a roller coaster ride. She still isn't controlled on her meds. It is affecting schoolwork.

So, yeah not me, but it does affect me.

Its definitely a hard to thing to watch my parents go through. She (my sis) is can be AWFUL!

 

[imabrat]

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) from sexual/physical abuse.
I hate the flashbacks and guilt.

Guilt sucks, but since I've never felt yours I'm going to say it's 10000000000000 times worse than mine. We are always here for you.

 

[Sparx]

Not me personally, but my sister who is 9 just got diagnosed with bi-polar (manic depression). It has pretty much put our family on a roller coaster ride. She still isn't controlled on her meds. It is affecting schoolwork.

So, yeah not me, but it does affect me.

Its definitely a hard to thing to watch my parents go through. She (my sis) is can be AWFUL!

sadly, medication for that disease is typically administered in a trial and error, so they will have to try a lot of different things before they find what works for her (especially she being so young. her body is constantly changing.) but they will find out what works for her, and everything will get better. bipolar disorder can be managed. but to you and your family.

 

[DISKATER69]

I don't know whether or not you would consider this to fit into the psychological category but I have a small tourettes twitch. I should probably learn how to spell that also, lol. It's nothin big, just a little twitching my head to the left. Some people can't control what they say or hurt themselves, so I am just happy to be where I am right now.

 

[Axel]

Never diagnosed, but I have suffered from bouts of depression in the past. I still have many of the clinical symptoms. At first they thought it was just my anemia, but the symptoms of energy loss and tiredness stayed even after I started taking an iron supplement. I have also struggled with suicidal tendencies and I still self-harm if I get over stressed or something causes me to become over-emotional.

 

[pigletgirl]

sadly, medication for that disease is typically administered in a trial and error, so they will have to try a lot of different things before they find what works for her (especially she being so young. her body is constantly changing.) but they will find out what works for her, and everything will get better. bipolar disorder can be managed. but to you and your family.

Thanks shelby!
Yeah, its definitely been a trial by fire and its hard to remember that this is a clinical condition and not some underdisciplined child. They do have a good pediatric psychiatrist and in the process of getting the psychologist underway. Its just really sad and frustrating to see her suffer, and she can't comprehend why she acts the way she does.

I know it will be a lifelong struggle, but knowing that other families have gone thru this, is super helpful. I've been doing tons of reading.

 

[Mandy91]

Guilt sucks, but since I've never felt yours I'm going to say it's 10000000000000 times worse than mine. We are always here for you.

Thank you so much.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

Never diagnosed, but I have suffered from bouts of depression in the past. I still have many of the clinical symptoms. At first they thought it was just my anemia, but the symptoms of energy loss and tiredness stayed even after I started taking an iron supplement. I have also struggled with suicidal tendencies and I still self-harm if I get over stressed or something causes me to become over-emotional.

If you ever need to talk, please please please don't hesitate to PM me... I'm about to enter my 7th month of being self-harm free and its still an every day struggle.

 

[xCourxCorex]

I was diagnosed with clinical depression about 6 years ago (holy smokes it's been that long..). With anti-depressants and therapy, I have overcome it thank goodness.

@Axel, I also used to self-harm, but I have not in 4 1/2 years, and just a PM away if needed

 

[LUCiD]

I've been diagnosed with OCD and ADD. (Obssesive-compulsive disorder and attention defficit disorder).
@Axel: I know how you feel.

 

[Raven_the_Bird]

OCD...Post I made some months ago...: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30640956&postcount=38

Somethings have gotten worse, like sometimes I'll wash my hands with really hot water (like burning hot) for more than half an hour...Telling myself to shut up doesn't work anymore so I have to pinch myself really hard to stop. I worry about nothing a lot more than I used to...


My sisters have said that our oldest sister is bi-polar...I don't really know. They've also said that her school sent her to a mental hospital...

 

[LUCiD]

Same here, Zoloft helped me a whole lot. I didn't realize what was wrong until I suffered from extreme panic attacks to the point where I couldn't function at all.