Getting A Diagnosis

What should I do after a diagnosis and what does it have to do with treatment?

The day has come! After all the questions of “what’s going on with me?” , “Am I crazy?”, and “Maybe I should talk to someone,” has led to a final answer about your symptoms. You finally have a name to pair with your experiences. A face to the name. 

Now comes a whole new question….. “So now what?”. 

Although I am a licensed Master’s level social worker, this post and all other posts are not meant to be utilized as professional services. You are unique and although posts are helpful for guidance and suggestions, they are not intended as a substitution for traditional services. If you need a professional, do find one!

You see, we often think that diagnosis is a key to understanding our ailment. However, you know your ailment most. After all, you have been living with it for this long and getting to know the symptoms intimately.

What we’ve done through diagnosis categorized it. 

The name specifically, provides you with the closest estimate based on your cluster of symptoms. Yet, context means more than anything. Often, the information given to a clinician is only a small piece of the puzzle. As you engage in treatment, more awareness and insight may lead to a differential diagnosis.

Most importantly, recognize that the diagnosis is simply a method of classification utilized to simplify the cluster of symptoms you experience. Diagnoses are also heavily focused on due to insurances requiring them to justify compensation for treatment costs. The diagnosis is also there to guide a clinician in understanding which treatment to select and how to taper the experience to your needs. 

But, what the diagnosis is often misunderstood as a new understanding of an “identity”. A diagnosis does not change who you are after getting it. You can continue to understand your world through the same eyes as before the diagnosis. Because all that has changed is the name of your symptoms. 

Some diagnoses are more stigmatized than others by media and society. For example, you may have experienced them being absurdly portrayed in films. Please know, most of these stereotypes are atrocious and are much more manageable in real life with proper treatment. 

As you move towards treatment , I want to encourage you to stay true to yourself and focus on your favorite qualities instead of getting wrapped up in the diagnosis and google searches. Start working on you and skills taught by your counselor to begin improving your life. 

If you haven’t started working with a clinician yet and want a few coping strategies, you may find this blog post helpful. 

Don’t get distracted by the descriptors, your experience is enough! You are valid. 

Congratulations on starting your journey to recovery.