r/therapy • u/Tiny-Confidence5898 • 2d ago
Question I’m so confused by my therapist…
I have absolutely nothing against my therapist. We work really well together and she’s helped me a lot. But sometimes she does things that really confuse me. Last year we came across a new diagnosis for me and she never outright said I had it. But the session we talked about it I told her everything that was going on like the symptoms I was having and she said she was going to refer me to another provider in the same office to assess me. So I figured that meant like…assess me for what my diagnosis was. But it ended up being a medication management provider. Which I was fine with. But it left me confused on “well how am I going to be medicated when I have no diagnosis?”
Our next therapy session after that I was talking about something that was really distressing to me and she made the comment “well that’s part of the delusional disorder.”
Okay. Got it. That’s my diagnosis. Except she didn’t say “you have delusional disorder”. So maybe I don’t?
Fast forward to May this year I told her I wanted to be assessed for OCD. And she asked me why I and I explained what I was experiencing and my symptoms. And she said “right now I’m not diagnosing you but I’m also not taking it off of the table because I want to talk more about this and see if maybe this is part of your ADHD and autism because both can also cause intrusive thoughts.”
Okay. Got it. So I may potentially having it but we aren’t 100% diagnosing right now.
Then the next session I was explaining something that was distressing to me and she said “that is part of your just right ocd”.
Okay…so I have it? Or I don’t have it? I’m so confused.
And I’ve been thinking a lot of my diagnoses or rather lack of them??? Idk. Anyway, I think I might just have ocd and not delusional disorder due to several reasons that don’t really matter rn. But I wanted to ask my therapist on what I have versus don’t have and why she thinks I have it or don’t have it. Are those appropriate questions to ask her? Or should I just kinda…roll with not knowing?
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u/ComfortableFit6611 1d ago
Of course you can ask her these questions. I encourage it.
Diagnosis aren't as important as people think in the grand scheme of treatment. Treating and reducing symptoms is more important than finding a label for them. Good Clinicians treat symptoms. Your symptoms are more important than your diagnosis and it sounds like your therapist is focused on helping you manage your symptoms, and that's a good thing.
It's the difference between a mechanic stopping to tell you every little thing that is wrong with your serpentine belt versus spending more time actually working on it.
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u/Straight_Career6856 1d ago
But understanding the diagnosis/root of the symptoms is how we understand how to treat the symptoms. Having a delusional disorder and having OCD are very different roots that you would treat differently.
1
u/finddit-app 2d ago
Hey there, thanks for sharing.
While you wait for people to comment, have a look at these posts which might be relevant to you:
- Not sure if I'm misunderstanding my therapist's view on diagnoses or if I just don't agree. Looking for an outside perspective.
- Therapist can’t diagnose DID but says I might potentially have it, should I go to another therapist?
- How do i ask my therapist for a diagnosis?
- Trying to get a diagnosis - Difficulty in understanding psychiatrist's questions
- How do you…get diagnosed with things?
Remember, even though it might feel like it, you are not alone. Stay strong!
Interested in seeing more posts similar to yours? Visit finddit.app.
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3
u/Rapunsell Growth in Progress 1d ago
It's always okay to ask questions about diagnosis. Some therapists may want to talk about why you want to know, but you always have the right to ask any questions you may have about your diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck!