How can someone on Y!A think they can diagnose you with a mental disorder or personality based on 1 question?

Question

Based on a brief question, 1 lady called herself, trying to diagnose me with Cluster B personality traits & narcissistic. No one has ever called me that before!

& I know I have low self-esteem & I'm depressed all the time, so how can she say that? She told me that just because I mentioned about how I don't like my mental health case manager being so intrusive in my life. I have a case manager because at our mental health clinic, everyone has to have a social worker (case manager) in order to see a psychiatrist.

Answer 1

This person CAN'T diagnose you. To reach a diagnosis it requires a great deal of information and history. It also requires training that would include understanding it is unethical to even attempt to diagnose someone in a forum like Y! answers. Maybe she was just throwing out some thoughts without actually thinking! A professional would be able to make those diagnoses after an extensive interview. (Even then it is still very subjective!) Obviously this person is not a professional because she is throwing out some serious conditions w/out adequate information. Ignore it!! And besides, who wouldn't dislike a case manager being intrusive in their life?? Even though it is your case manager's job, and even though it may be useful for you in the long run, it certainly doesn't mean you will or should like it. The fact that you don't seems to imply more about your having normal thoughts and responses than about some form of dysfunction. Good luck. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Answer 2

I'll play devil's advocate here and go against all the "She doesn't know what she's talking about...ignore her" replies.

Maybe she DOES know what she's talking about, and maybe the asker DOES display certain traits and symptoms of a condition. Maybe she was giving genuinely good advice, but has been slammed down by somebody who cannot take constructive criticism or opinion. I'm not saying that's definately what's happening here, but without knowing the asker personally, who can tell?

I've seen many askers get hissy on here when they get a reply that they didn't want to hear, and that's just too bad. People have a right to answer, just as much as people have a right to post a question, so don't get all offended and defensive if you hear something to don't want to hear.

And, to be brutally honest, by beginning this thread as a way to get people to refute what was said about her in a previous thread does come across as a little narcissistic.

Answer 3

There are a lot of people who think that because they have experience with a particular issue makes them an expert and that gives them the ability to diagnose people. If you have a psychiatrist than you already have a diagnoses therefore unless you disagree with your doctor you shouldn't care what others think especially others that you don't' know. As for your case worker if you really don't get along you can request a change in case workers in fact you can insists on it. See if you can find someone who's personality meshes better with yours.

Answer 4

some people think they are super smart. i only base my answers on what i have personally been through or seen family and Friends go through.
there are people that go through some college course, or high school course and think they are Dr's.
i think this site is good to a point, but when it comes to real problems individuals should really go to pros and not some strangers on the net.
i know psychiatrist have to be a bit intrusive in your life to properly help u but i dont know about the case manager. dont they just make a case, u know the wrapped up in a nutshell (no pun intended) and then the dr gos in deeper?

just take it with a grain of salt.try getting another case worker or finding out how much s/he should know about you.
i was in the home heath service and had a client that had a psychiatrist. she turned out to be a good Friend of mine.

Answer 5

I guess sometimes it matters what the one question is. Often, I see questions asking, "What is wrong with me?" or "I have (such and such) symptoms, what does it mean?" They ask simple questions that often have very complex answers. Some people try to answer these questions as fully as they can, using whatever expertise they believe they possess. Sometimes a question, while appearing simple, may have so many nuances to an answer that people just can't get a grip on it. So don't be too critical. Maybe that woman was actually giving it her best shot. Maybe not. Either way, don't let it get your goat. You did, after all, ask the question. And it is, after all, just one of many "answers" from us out here who don't have all the answers.

Answer 6

Most people having mental health issues on long term
have case workers, its a safety issue

usually to protect you
and help MANAGE your CASE

I wouldn't take what that woman said to heart , its obvious shes a wanna be,

wants to be a doctor but isn't
Wants to diagnose you but didn't
WANTS to manage your life because hers is unmanageable.

this is typical of people exposed to the mental health industry
we are all there for a reason, we either have had, are livinging with, are some how exposed to

MENTAL ILLNESS.

So don't let her fool you, she is a KOOK just like the rest of us.

trust me

Meg

Answer 7

People who do this typically have some schooling in psychology and like to throw it around. The fact is that when I see mental health questions I try very hard to be generic and suggest that the individual do what you are doing and seek out help individually. The fact is that unless a counselor has spent a few sessions with you it is unlikely they can come up with that level of detail. There is NO way to do it based on one question.

Answer 8

Why would you put so much value on something a total stranger says? Just take the answers that are helpful and ignore the rest.

As far as your intrusive case worker, only answer the questions you feel comfortable answering. Make sure you are more open with your therapist and psychiatrist though.

Answer 9

Yes, it IS hard to answer based on a brief question. But by the same token, why would anybody throw questions like that out on this forum? People usually have good intentions, and answer with the information they have at hand. There's no room for discussion, and for asking you more detailed questions in return. It's not a professional diagnosis.

Answer 10

Be thankful thats all you've been diagnosed with .. I was told I was a real sicko who needed to be put away before I started sending people computer viruses and bombing places .. Now don't you think I knew how to do either of those that person would have disapeared after that message? People are just stupid ignore them .. I do.