How can you diagnose someone over the internet?
Question:
I looked this 'condition' up and I display one of these symptoms (on the NIMH http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bpd.cfm... of recent onset (since I've had reactions) but not any of the others.
If someone's never seen me before, or had any contact with me outside the internet, and never even had a conversation online, how can they tell someone what illness I have?
Answers:
Actually, you pose a good question.
Most therapist and psychiatrists usually need several sessions to come up with a "definitive" diagnosis. And that is after listening to your symptoms and watching your behaviors and actions.
Just because you "cut" does not mean you have Borderline Personality Disorder ~ although many laypeople that are not familiar with other disorders think that because Borderline is the only diagnosis in the DSM that lists cutting behavior (besides mental retardation issues) but cutting is found in other disorders such as depression and Bipolar disorder.
The person that stated you were Borderline was probably basing his/her opinion on the cutting.
Only a trained person who actually MEETS with you face to face can make a diagnosis.
Criteria are criteria.
There is nothing magical about diagnosis.
Although there is SOME clinical judgment involved (e.g., the extent to which someone is exhibiting a certain symptom or the extent to which it is interfering with day-to-day living), the bottom line is quite simple:
If you meet the criteria, you are diagnosable with the condition. Meeting someone face to face (or not) won't change that one iota. People can lie/misrepresent themselves online as well as in person.
Psych diagnoses are multi axial. The folks here (in the mental health section of YouQA.com s), generally speaking, are interested mainly in dx'ing Axis I and II. When you boil it down to its most base elements, dx'ing is about being able to properly read and interpret the DSM-IV-tr.
One has to be careful what one ASKS for---if you ASKED --WHAT DO I HAVE, or DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR or whatever, you leave yourself open for every personal opinion of what you "have"..it's TRUE, only a DOCTOR can diagnose any medical conditions but I think people ask medical questions to get OPINIONS before they go SEE a doctor---that is why WHENEVER I answer a MEDICAL question I alway say it COULD be this or that but the BEST thing would be to GO SEE A DOCTOR. you aren't going to find too many doctors who spend all day on here answering medical questions.I would think they would be very busy being DOCTORS.
I hardly call saying that it sounded like Borderline Personality Disorder as it being a definitive diagnosis. However, according to the DSM IV-TR, which provides the guidelines for diagnosing it sounds like there is a high probability that this is what is going on, in addition to the lack of benefit you are getting from your medications.
I don't quite understand why you seem to be getting defensive, it was only provided in a way to help you get the appropriate treatment that will help you cope with your negative feelings. Best of Luck to You.
You are on an internet site where any one is open to any type of comment. Do not take them seriously.
First of all what was the question.
If it was anything like i have these symptoms and blah blah blah... what could be wrong with me than i guess the answerer was wrong to say YOU HAVE.. instead of it could be..
Than i guess that yes it is wrong to diagnose someone over the net. But shame on the person asking if they don't want a answer..
not me
They just can't diagnose someone over the internet. That person is just blind guessing and probably has not medical training.
Of course we can diagnose someone over the Internet. It does not mean that we are correct, but I see people do it all the time. ;)
ADD: If I remember correctly, to be diagnosed with borderline personality you need to meet at least 3 of the criteria.
It is actually a fairly common diagnosis especially in women (no offense); it is a common copping mechanism, and 1 out of 4 women were abused as children.
More Questions & Answers...