do you think it is possible that a misdiagnosis can occur in a mental health assesment? is this commonplace?

Question

i was assesed last week by a child and adolesent pychiatrist and and a pychiatric nurse who both said that my problems were prob. pycological and that i was not suffering from any kind of pychosis.she also implied that she thought it could realate to a traumatic childhood,but i didnt have one(went to her bcoz i bin hearing voices since i was six n seeing scary stuff that sketches me out,ive not had a restfull night s sleep since it started can only sleep with headphones clamped 2 my ears duvet wrapped tight round me and the door barricaded) seems she cant do anything and im fed up with living like this what should i do (im 16 now)

not a gud idea 2 get parents involved the whole spiritualist idea sounds scary but cud b worth a try. often i see people that ask me for help so it fits better than nothin i always thought it was supposed 2 be an upplifting experiance tho. as long as its nothing 2 do with christianity(no offence 2 the god freaks out there) bad experiances there 2 more suggestions welcome will keep you all posted

Answer 1

Try Ephesians 6:11 in your Bible. I'm sorry you had a negative experience at church people should be caring and anyone should be able to verbally reach out for spiritual guidance. These days it's a chore to find a church that isn't dogmatic(which is secular practice). Churches like that create church orphans but don't let them turn you into a spiritual orphan.

Answer 2

Yes anythings possible but the diagnosis you've been given appears accurate. I would however be suspicious of being diagnosed by a "nurse".

Psychosis or Psychotic is a label given to extreme behaviour that can go from someone sitting in a chair to jumping up and smashing someone in the face for no apparent reason or even knowledge that they've done it. You dont appear to have this behaviour.

The "odds of a 6yo child developing a mental illness are very low" so for a child to say they are hearing voices (signs of a mental illness for adults) assumes the only other option which is something pscycological. This also states the obvious for diagnosis that theres a high probability its from some trauma induced experience around of before the age of 6yo i.e. being placed in the dark and being scared by a persons voice or even the tv. This trigger for the behaviour may not be apparent or even remembered by you.

Whats important here is that you give them as much information you can so they can diagnose this thing as best they can so they can give you the best help they can. Keep these professionals honest by "asking" eveything you can possilbly think of including "why they think what they think" to rest your mind at ease as far as a misdiagnosis is concerned.

Do as they say and if its not working for you then dont be afraid to tell them that - Take care and hang in there ;)

Answer 3

Tons of misdiagnoses abound, mental health management is an art as well as a science and each 'patient' is unique. The psychiatric staff are famous for mistakes that have allowed dangerous people into society and left millions unhelped.

See your Dr to see if you can be referred elsewhere. Psychiatric and psychological help are 2 different things. Psychiatrists tend to focus on medication, Psychologists on a range of communicated therapies and interventions and particularly on understanding your personality and behaviour. Your Dr is responsible for your health care, so focus there. You still have needs that you want help with, which the 1st 2 staff didn't do, apart from offering an idea or 2, that didn't seem to fit for you.


Good luck! Rob

Answer 4

At risk of enraging all the Christians - have you thought of visiting a spiritualist church? It sounds as though you may have the "gift". Also, have a look on the internet under cellular healing - I can't remember the name of the guy but he is American with white hair. They may possibly be able to help and if you are in the UK they will put you onto someone here. Don't be afraid - nothing has happened to you in ten years so nothing is going to. It sounds as though your childhood may have been similar to mine - it is very lonely as nobody around you can understand. Talk it through with you parents - don't try and do anything about this on your own. And you are not alone - it has taken a long time but over the years I have met many people with the same experience. I hope this is helpful.

Answer 5

What you should do my friend is really push for a second opinion. Mental health service are known for their misdiagnosis. I was told I had bi-polar disorder so took medication for that for the next nine months only to be told at a later consultation that they felt their initial diagnoses was wrong and that they had since decided that I only had a personality disorder. Didnt give me much reassurance that they knew what they were talking about! If you feel what they have said is wrong then you are entitled to a second opinion. Goodluck

Answer 6

No don't think like that. In Mental health assesment they ask you question on the basis of your fundamental & normal Human behaviour & then check how your Brain nerves react to those questions. It's like an exam in which result is in your hand.

Answer 7

I think you should check into the possibility that you may be psychic
You should check out some books at the library about it; Sylvia Brown has alot of good books out, and she talks about when she was a child she went through what seems like to be what you are going through now. But in her books she explains how she learned to kind of control the intensity of everything. And if I'm wrong her books are very uplifting and insightful, and offer alot of techniques on our minds and the powers the have.

Answer 8

A misdiagnosis might be possible but if you were psychotic you may not have the good insight into your problems you appear to have here. You may not even feel something was wrong with you - just everyone around you.
Misdiagnosis is possible - especially with mental health.

Answer 9

I agree with cavorim!

I don't know how old you are but it could be that you have second sight for the want of a better word. It would certainly not harm to go to a spiritulist church to see if do have these powersd, far less harm than letting someone misdiagnose you.



Whatever it is do not ignore it and all the best, thinking about you Nettie UK lass.

Answer 10

Get a second opinion. You obvioulsy have a problem and you have asked for help so someone should seriously start helping you in some way. Even if it's not psychosis, you still have something that needs attention.