Undiagnosed Disorders Tropers, UNITE!

For people who exhibit many symptoms of a particular disorder, but for some reason have been diagnosed otherwise or simply undiagnosed.

For example, I strongly believe that I have ADD (not Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!, but sit-very-quietly-and-get-lost-in-an-entirely-different-train-of-thought-while-someone-is-talking-to-you ADD, among other symptoms), but my friends and family keep saying otherwise. I have to wonder, though. Then there's things like the fact that I wash my hands every few minutes without even realizing that I'm doing it, an intense need to make sure things are even or 'finished,' if not necessarily clean, inability to let a topic drop until I'm satisfied that I've said what I was trying to say, etc. I'm not sure how many of these are actual symptoms of ADD or OCD or anything like that, but I can't help but wonder sometimes. The people who say I don't have either of those disorders don't know what I'm thinking, after all, and none of them are exactly trained psychiatrists.

So, if you think you might have some kind of disorder, but you haven't been diagnosed, speak up! You're not alone!

I've been diagnosed with ADD. I've not been diagnosed with Asperger's, but I believe I have it — I might also be bipolar.

edited 21st Jul '11 5:43:14 PM by Aleksei

I don't foresee this going anywhere good . . .

People who meet me tend to think that I have Asperger's Syndrome. Three separate psychological tests have told me I don't. I sometimes wonder if this means I have something that they've never bothered to test for.

I know I have SOMETHING, but I refuse to see anyone who can diagnose it because I don't trust them. I think I have some degree of depression, possibly Asperger's but idk on that one.

I'm exhibiting a lot of symptoms of schizophrenia. I've also been depressed for 1.25 years... maybe more. My doctor is still trying to be sure what it is.

Anosognosia. I don't know why nobody believes me, it's pretty obvious

Diagnosed with: Bipolar disorder.

Exhibit every symptom of: ADD.

In addition, ADD runs in the family.

I'm pretty sure I have mild ADD. My entire family has it, and I exhibit some symptoms.

A friend of mine thought I had Ass-burgers or "some-kind-of-autism" when we were younger, before he knew me very well. Don't suppose it helped that, at that stage of my youth, I was very quiet and outshone pretty much everyone in maths lessons, or that my father is a mathematics professor. Yeah, he changed his mind, and I only found out that he'd ever thought that because he brought it up to say how ridiculous it seems in retrospect.

Otherwise, there was this kid in high-school who tried to tell me that I have Ass-burgers as an insult. Doesn't really count for much seeing that he's got a reputation for being manipulative and callous, has been caught shoplifting several times, and was almost expelled. I pointed these things out.

I think I've perhaps illustrated a bit in my anecdotes, but I'll put it simply: saying "I think there's something seriously wrong with my brain" is not a good thing, let alone a reason to group up like this. If you think you might have some mental-health issue, seek professional help.

Kudos to Tzetze for making me Google, and then making me giggle.

edited 9th Aug '11 3:53:18 AM by ekuseruekuseru

@ Tzetze: I get it!

edited 4th Sep '11 4:51:57 AM by Myrmidon

So why bump it?

If you haven't been diagnosed, you probably don't have it. If you honestly believe you do, see an actual psychologist/psychiatrist instead of self-diagnosing on the internet.

Oh, sure thing! I'll just get the hundreds of dollars I have lying around and my unused free time and go see a therapist! Sorry for the sarcasm, but really, not everyone CAN afford to get an official diagnosis. I sure can't. I don't trust therapists anyway though... It's also not a self diagnosis thing (aside from the misanthropy). Other people in my life comment that I have depression and/or anger issues, my mom is ALWAYS saying I behave strangely, and then there's my previous thoughts on committing suicide... so yeah.

Without a diagnosis you don't have any special entitlement to treatment or benefits (if your country offers such), so it's absolutely futile (as I illustrated just now) and stupid (you're alienating yourself by identifying as mentally ill without actually being able to do anything about it) to talk about having such-and-such disorder unless you are going to go and get diagnosed. Bad thread, let it die.

Also, "my mom", "Misanthropic Wiccan Nerd", "I don't trust therapists"... Just stop, please.

edited 5th Sep '11 2:44:10 AM by ekuseruekuseru

^ What exactly is it that you have a problem with?

Also: some further details on my behavior. I don't move my arms when I walk, which is apparently "normal." I react strongly and violently when I am touched and do not want to be. I rarely smile, unless I'm nervous (I sometimes smile and/or laugh when nervous). I hold pens and pencils at an odd angle, despite my parents, teachers and those stupid pencil grip thingies trying to fix that. I don't like looking people in the eyes, it makes me uncomfortable. I don't have very good social skills. When I hurt part of myself by accident, I often hit that same part of my body on the opposite side to "even it out." I don't have good posture. I struggle greatly with fixing these things. I haven't tried self diagnosing, but I am aware that my behavior is abnormal.

edited 5th Sep '11 8:39:23 AM by randomguy123

I too can read the wikipedia page on aspergers and cherry pick things that apply to me. Your mum is not a therapist, neither are your friends, and there's probably nothing wrong with your personality that spending a little time off the internet won't solve.

Regardless of whether or not you trust them, these people are professionals who are trained to diagnose this stuff. Without them saying "you have x disorder" you're just alienating yourself by worrying that you have a thing that you most likely don't.

Most of your things can be attributed to shyness and having no idea how to interact with other people, classic symptoms of a guy who spends most of his time on online interactions instead of out there making friends. Sometimes you will be rejected and hurt by people, but that's part of the learning process too.

edited 5th Sep '11 11:11:22 AM by namrepes

It feels like you're only paying attention to half of what I'm saying. I did NOT go to wikipedia or any other website looking for symptoms that I have. I'm just basing this on what people who live with me notice. For all I know, I have a dozen other symptoms- or none at all. When I was younger I undertook some tests and in-school counseling for my problems, the results were inconclusive. And again, I DON'T HAVE MONEY OR TIME to see a therapist now. I personally don't think I have autism, my mom does, but I'm pretty damn sure I have depression issues of some sort. Example: The best day I ever had at my job, I also figured out the perfect way to commit suicide- drinking bleach. And that actually made me feel BETTER, since I've been wondering how I could ever kill myself for about 4 years now. Lastly, I do have a reason for sharing this here: empathy/sympathy and interaction with other people who feel they have some mental issues, but haven't figured out for sure yet. It's not all "ooh, I have aspergers so I'm special!" and crap like that.

I think I have Münchausen syndrome.

Interesting. Why?

Because it makes for a good (if obvious) joke.

edited 6th Sep '11 6:44:02 PM by ggfd

I hate having to own up to mental disorders but I bet I have quite a long list of them. They tried to put me in special classes since Kindergarden, but why? No idea lol. My social skills have always been unspeakably poor. Could be Aspy, could be ADD, who knows, but whatever I have... I'm me, and I'm old enough now to be comfortable with who I am and I'm managing myself for the most part.

My anxiety is the only thing that I'd definitely like to get a diagnosis and maybe meds for, because there's a very high chance I might end up hospitalized if it goes unchecked. I stop functioning completely for days, extremely paranoid, go into fits of terror, etc. I'm not 'me' when I have these episodes.

I don't think I have any disorders other than the occasional thoughts that I may have synesthesia. Not entirely sure on that though.

Everyone experiences synaesthesia to some extent. If things always smell blue or taste fluffy, then perhaps it's more of an issue - but if so, it's usually co-morbid with (or a symptom of?) something on the Autistic Spectrum.

I think I have extreme case of ADD, but never got proper dignosis.