Hi everyone. I live in the UK and suspect that the anxiety I have been dealing with for the past 20 years may actually be OCD.
I went to the GP, I was super nervous because I don’t have the visible kind but tbf he was lovely, patient and kind, i didn’t feel dismissed at all and he took the time to listen to me.
I had kind of expected to get dismissed when requesting a referral for diagnosis which is kind of what happened, obvs, but based on what he told me, now I’m not sure whether pursuing a diagnosis is the right way forward.
Essentially he was kind of saying that from what I told him, my way of thinking did sound obsessive. But to him, relying on a diagnosis as a label may be counter productive when it comes to neurological or MH issues because there’s so much overlap between all the conditions and their symptoms and that satisfying my need for certainty with a diagnosis may not be helping me and that I’d be better off dealing with the symptoms without focusing on a diagnosis.
I kind of get his PoV and now I’m doubting myself… am I shooting myself in the foot by trying to access a diagnosis? Should I push further? I don’t know if he’s politely fobbing me off. We have a follow up appointment next week where we may discuss medication and further options. He was kind of saying that I’m not bad enough for a psychiatric referral.
I do feel kind of guilty and self indulgent for requesting a referral for diagnosis because I’m coping on the surface but it’s becoming harder and it’s impacting my mental health. I also hate that our health system is so f*cked that I feel bad for simply wanting to access support for the issues I’m dealing with.
I’m just wondering if others have had similar issues in the UK recently? Or has anyone got any opinion or views on whether seeking a diagnosis may be counter productive for recovery?
I feel like such a fraud that I’m not feeling brave enough to fight for it when the result might come back negative. Which would prove the doctor that he was right - it’s not OCD and I was indeed being a drama queen 🥲
I was told when I asked for a diagnosis of a mental health condition that my local community mental health team didn’t give diagnoses, it seems to be really difficult to access in the uk through the nhs. I think the best you can hope for is asking for a therapy referral, but it’s not bad to try and push for a diagnosis
I did the Yale brown ocd test. Took it to my Doc and said.... I scored 15, but I have no outward compulsions (pure O here). They referred me no questions asked.
I still freak out that I "cheated" and don't really have ocd. Then I spend 10 minutes chatting to folk with ocd and I go wow yes these are my people.
I've found getting a diagnosis explained so much. I had been told I have anxiety and depression. I have cptsd and ocd. I'm much more compassionate towards myself now. I'm in therapy and making good progress.
It’s your health, I think you should push for a diagnosis. I’m in the US so I can’t comment on the NHS side of things. I got a diagnosis and it has helped me a lot. I will say that getting the diagnosis has caused me to similarly fixate on whether I’m faking it or not. OCD about having OCD as my therapist says. But I’m very glad I have it. It has helped me understand myself and what I experience so I don’t feel like I’m just mysteriously anxious anymore. I can put words and form to this thing and have a clearer path forward. And whether my OCD is severe enough that it’s “real OCD” or not doesn’t really matter in the end. But I like the tools that learning about OCD has provided me.
I regret getting my diagnosis on my medical record. They haven’t been able to do anything to help me other than offer some fairly basic CBT therapy which didn’t work. But now, because it’s on my record I’ve been denied life insurance 3 times because of it.
I’d think twice. If you can get therapy or any other kind of help like that without getting it on your record, that’s what I wish I’d done.
I hadn’t thought of this, are you in the UK? I didn’t think insurers had access to your medical records?
Yep UK.
They do, they can contact your GP and request your medical records. Happened to me and then I got denied once and then it stains your record and you have to wait another year to apply again. Denied 3 years in a row all because OCD is on my history.
Ugh, that’s not good. Thanks for sharing.
It might have been worth it if the NHS were actually able to help me enough make up for it, but the sad reality is that they will probably just offer you a handful of CBT sessions, that may or may not help you.
Sorry to be a downer, but you just have to weigh up the pro’s and cons.
I know it might not be attainable for everyone, but if you can afford it, then getting a private therapist who you can see longer term and can provide specialist help is the best option.