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Hello, So I Have Been Seeing A Psychiatrist For About

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Posted on Wed, 15 Apr 2020
Question: Hello,
So I have been seeing a psychiatrist for about 3-4 years now and she hasn't given me a diagnosis yet. I'm trying to get a second opinion so I can now whether or not I can eventually join the military or not due to either my old or current mental health. I'm 22 years old and I have had a truamatic event when I was 18 years old relating to a car accident I witnessed that led to multiple deaths, (for example one man was crushed by a car right in front of me). I have tried using various symptom checkers online to get a basic idea of what I may have or had but most of them lead to either Bipolar Disorder, Clinical Depression, or Borderline Personality Disorder, and/or PTSD. Currently my doctor believes I had Major Depressive Disorder but she has also cycled between Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Psychosis, and a mood disorder of some kind. In the past I use to have sleeping problems, excessively long crying when I did cry, feelings of doom, some hallucinations, avoidance of driving, about 3 or 4 panic attacks. One of them I was hospitalized for). I also was sent to mental health services a few times. Once was for a suicide attempt. I use to swap between feeling overwhelmingly sad to the point I would lay in bed and do nothing, to a level of hapiness that worried some people around me and then would switch to excessive anger then back to the others. Currently most days i dont quite feel emotions that are easy to determine. which I'm mainly pertaining to the more basic emotions. But I also dont feel like a sensitive or emotional person. Even in more understandable cases of it.I do get anxiety that is mainly tied to when I drive that switches between mild feeling to more severe feeling. Sometimes its triggered by other drivers but typically it's over something that doesnt seem to have been truly troubling when I get out of the car or random. Anyway that's just about everything I can think of that covers it. If someone could get back to me that would be great.
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Hello,
So I have been seeing a psychiatrist for about 3-4 years now and she hasn't given me a diagnosis yet. I'm trying to get a second opinion so I can now whether or not I can eventually join the military or not due to either my old or current mental health. I'm 22 years old and I have had a truamatic event when I was 18 years old relating to a car accident I witnessed that led to multiple deaths, (for example one man was crushed by a car right in front of me). I have tried using various symptom checkers online to get a basic idea of what I may have or had but most of them lead to either Bipolar Disorder, Clinical Depression, or Borderline Personality Disorder, and/or PTSD. Currently my doctor believes I had Major Depressive Disorder but she has also cycled between Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Psychosis, and a mood disorder of some kind. In the past I use to have sleeping problems, excessively long crying when I did cry, feelings of doom, some hallucinations, avoidance of driving, about 3 or 4 panic attacks. One of them I was hospitalized for). I also was sent to mental health services a few times. Once was for a suicide attempt. I use to swap between feeling overwhelmingly sad to the point I would lay in bed and do nothing, to a level of hapiness that worried some people around me and then would switch to excessive anger then back to the others. Currently most days i dont quite feel emotions that are easy to determine. which I'm mainly pertaining to the more basic emotions. But I also dont feel like a sensitive or emotional person. Even in more understandable cases of it.I do get anxiety that is mainly tied to when I drive that switches between mild feeling to more severe feeling. Sometimes its triggered by other drivers but typically it's over something that doesnt seem to have been truly troubling when I get out of the car or random. Anyway that's just about everything I can think of that covers it. If someone could get back to me that would be great.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Diagnosis can vary with time

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Ask a doctor panel.
I have gone through your details and understand your concerns.

I would like to tell you that, the psychiatric diagnosis can vary from time to time and doctor to doctor. As the symptoms tend to change from time to time.

Many a times, symptoms do not fit into a single diagnostic category.

From whatever details you have mentioned, I think your symptoms mostly likely fit into spectrum of mood disorder. It could be Bipolar Disorder with mixed features. However, one to one interview is important for reaching to a conclusion.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Diagnosis can vary with time

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Ask a doctor panel.
I have gone through your details and understand your concerns.

I would like to tell you that, the psychiatric diagnosis can vary from time to time and doctor to doctor. As the symptoms tend to change from time to time.

Many a times, symptoms do not fit into a single diagnostic category.

From whatever details you have mentioned, I think your symptoms mostly likely fit into spectrum of mood disorder. It could be Bipolar Disorder with mixed features. However, one to one interview is important for reaching to a conclusion.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (39 minutes later)
Is it possible I still have what you have mentioned or is that what I may of had in the past?
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Is it possible I still have what you have mentioned or is that what I may of had in the past?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Can resolve and relapse

Detailed Answer:
You might have had this condition in past. It can have a variable course of progression. It can resolve in some time and may not recur for long. Or, it can be persistent with changes in Severity of symptoms.

But the treatment at present would depend on the current symptoms.

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Can resolve and relapse

Detailed Answer:
You might have had this condition in past. It can have a variable course of progression. It can resolve in some time and may not recur for long. Or, it can be persistent with changes in Severity of symptoms.

But the treatment at present would depend on the current symptoms.

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (2 hours later)
symptoms such as what? or is that something you could go over with me?
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
symptoms such as what? or is that something you could go over with me?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Whole spectrum of symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
You have mentioned that you had episodes of crying, feeling of doom, sleeping problems, suicidal ideas.
You have had mood swings ranging from extreme sadness to happiness to anger.
Currently you feel anxious at times, ranging from mild to severe. And sometimes you don't feel emotions.

In my opinion, you have experienced a whole set of symptoms suggestive of a mood disorder.
The precipitating factor must have been the car accident which you witnessed in the past.

Do you have any more symptoms at present? Any mood fluctuations? Sleep issues?

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Whole spectrum of symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
You have mentioned that you had episodes of crying, feeling of doom, sleeping problems, suicidal ideas.
You have had mood swings ranging from extreme sadness to happiness to anger.
Currently you feel anxious at times, ranging from mild to severe. And sometimes you don't feel emotions.

In my opinion, you have experienced a whole set of symptoms suggestive of a mood disorder.
The precipitating factor must have been the car accident which you witnessed in the past.

Do you have any more symptoms at present? Any mood fluctuations? Sleep issues?

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (3 hours later)
Most of the time my moods typically are nuetral or empty feeling. Sometimes occassionally I get irritable. I don't really ever feel hungry or thirsty unless if I didn't eat the day before. Usually I either sleep to little intentionally but wake up still feeling refreshed even if I consistantly get little sleep but I usually swap between that to getting to much sleep even after multiple nights of getting 7-9 hours of sleep. I tend to loose interest in things like entertainment or going out if I haven't had a very productive week at home or if where I work is having a slow week or month. I may have other symptoms that I can list but I don't quite know if they are considered symptoms.
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Most of the time my moods typically are nuetral or empty feeling. Sometimes occassionally I get irritable. I don't really ever feel hungry or thirsty unless if I didn't eat the day before. Usually I either sleep to little intentionally but wake up still feeling refreshed even if I consistantly get little sleep but I usually swap between that to getting to much sleep even after multiple nights of getting 7-9 hours of sleep. I tend to loose interest in things like entertainment or going out if I haven't had a very productive week at home or if where I work is having a slow week or month. I may have other symptoms that I can list but I don't quite know if they are considered symptoms.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (24 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Cognitive behavior therapy

Detailed Answer:
Any state of mind which hinders with your activities of daily living, is persistent and is bothering you or your family, can be a symptom of psychological disorder.

You have had medical treatment in past but had limited benefits.
I suggest you simultaneously go for cognitive behavior therapy. Even if the symptoms do not fit into any particular diagnosis, the therapist can help you to deal with those feelings.

A trained CBT specialist should help you in this.

Hope this helps.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Cognitive behavior therapy

Detailed Answer:
Any state of mind which hinders with your activities of daily living, is persistent and is bothering you or your family, can be a symptom of psychological disorder.

You have had medical treatment in past but had limited benefits.
I suggest you simultaneously go for cognitive behavior therapy. Even if the symptoms do not fit into any particular diagnosis, the therapist can help you to deal with those feelings.

A trained CBT specialist should help you in this.

Hope this helps.
Thanks
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2144 Questions

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Hello, So I Have Been Seeing A Psychiatrist For About

Hello, So I have been seeing a psychiatrist for about 3-4 years now and she hasn't given me a diagnosis yet. I'm trying to get a second opinion so I can now whether or not I can eventually join the military or not due to either my old or current mental health. I'm 22 years old and I have had a truamatic event when I was 18 years old relating to a car accident I witnessed that led to multiple deaths, (for example one man was crushed by a car right in front of me). I have tried using various symptom checkers online to get a basic idea of what I may have or had but most of them lead to either Bipolar Disorder, Clinical Depression, or Borderline Personality Disorder, and/or PTSD. Currently my doctor believes I had Major Depressive Disorder but she has also cycled between Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Psychosis, and a mood disorder of some kind. In the past I use to have sleeping problems, excessively long crying when I did cry, feelings of doom, some hallucinations, avoidance of driving, about 3 or 4 panic attacks. One of them I was hospitalized for). I also was sent to mental health services a few times. Once was for a suicide attempt. I use to swap between feeling overwhelmingly sad to the point I would lay in bed and do nothing, to a level of hapiness that worried some people around me and then would switch to excessive anger then back to the others. Currently most days i dont quite feel emotions that are easy to determine. which I'm mainly pertaining to the more basic emotions. But I also dont feel like a sensitive or emotional person. Even in more understandable cases of it.I do get anxiety that is mainly tied to when I drive that switches between mild feeling to more severe feeling. Sometimes its triggered by other drivers but typically it's over something that doesnt seem to have been truly troubling when I get out of the car or random. Anyway that's just about everything I can think of that covers it. If someone could get back to me that would be great.