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So, I did a phone interview for some studies on depression and insomnia that are going on at Stanford. I figured since therapy is costing me so much and sent me into such an emotional tailspin, I might as well make some money off of my issues. Razzer

Anyway, one of the questions was if I was in treatment, so obviously, yes. Then immediately after, "How long?" And I said, "Since late August." Then she asked, "What diagnosis have you been given?" And I was like, "Um...none?" I mean T has mentioned I dissociate (sometimes thrown out the word "dissociative") and put labels on certain behaviors I do as codependent, etc., but he has never diagnosed me or discussed whether he believes I have an actual disorder of any sort. She repeated the question, "No diagnosis since August?" The way the interviewer was talking, she seemed to think it was strange that I have gone seven or eight months without a diagnosis.

Is it really that strange? It has sounded to me like it's common for some Ts to avoid labels with clients, whether or not they have a sense of a particular diagnosis. I am thinking about asking T about it, but I don't want think I'm questioning his competence or anything. I'm just really curious...
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Hi Yaku, I don't think it's strange at all. As a matter of fact, I think not labeling might in some cases be preferable to labeling. I think that labeling everything may result in other factors (not labeled) being overlooked/ignored.
My T never gave (told) me a diagnosis until I asked for one, and even then I hardly heard what she said.

So, if you really want to know, just ask T, but if you're willing to keep working on stuff, that is - I think - far more important.
Yeah, my curiosity is more about him than it is me. That is, I am more curious about whether he HAS a diagnosis in mind than what exactly it is. Of course, if he says yes, I will be curious and want to know. But, knowing if he operates from that sort of perspective or not would be interesting, considering we're paying completely out of pocket and he does not need to label me for insurance reasons. Though, next January we might switch to a PPO which will hopefully cover some of it and he may have to label me.
What is "adjustment disorder"? Just some sort of generic this-person-has-life-issues thing? Or is it something specific?

I could probably pick a couple of different diagnoses that would make sense, but I wouldn't be surprised if with my previous level of functionality he hesitated to label me with either of those. I don't know if I hope he does have one or doesn't. I guess I'd like him to be working from a theory, even if it's just a working theory.
My P definitely hesitates to label his patients with a diagnosis. He always gives me the diagnosis code on my bill as some sort of adjustment disorder.

"What is "adjustment disorder"? Just some sort of generic this-person-has-life-issues thing? Or is it something specific?"

Yes, yaku, that's exactly what it is. I know for a fact that he uses it on a lot of his patients so that patients are not labeled in the insurance world with a "pre-existing condition" that would prevent them from getting insurance in the future.

As for me, He avoided a diagnosis as long as possible but I eventually got him to tell me what he thought mine was. (Dysthymia, 2 episodes of major depression, characteristics of BPD, anxiety disorder) For some reason I felt some sort of relief when he finally told me. I was able to research and try to figure out how I got to where I am. Still searching Smiler
My current Dx is Anxiety and moderate depression (know this cause of the insurance codes.) Thought I know right now we're working through a lot of PTSD crap, too, but that's not been coded for insurance. I don't really think it needs to be, either, really.

I think that the Dx is not nearly as important as the work itself, and am kinda glad that my T and my P are using the general codes for insurance. Keeps things simpler, I suppose?

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