I have had a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder since childhood, and a diagnoses of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) after a brief stay in a psychiatric inpatient unit.
While I absolutely agree that I am Autistic, I believe the Borderline Personality Disorder label is wrong. I feel I was labelled without having a proper screening from any professional.
Since having been labelled with this diagnosis, I have felt absolutely stigmatised by the mental health services in Fife. I called NHS 24 recently because I had self-harmed and had a plan to end my life, which I don't feel was taken seriously by the out of hours mental health team. The call handlers at NHS 24 were excellent, but the Out of Hours team in Kirkcaldy who phoned me back were patronising and told me, a suicidal individual, to have an early night and that I should try watching television. My call lasted 7 minutes and no further action was taken. I was very shocked by their lack of empathy.
I also keep being sent to therapy, which I feel hasn't worked as well for me because I believe I am misdiagnosed with BPD. I still have intense emotional dis regulation, which therapy hasn't helped me as much with because I still feel chronically suicidal despite learning coping skills. Also, I feel my GP is trying to say me feeling chronically suicidal like this is my fault, because they keep telling me that I need to find what makes me happy in life, the thing is, I do try many things to keep me happy.
Because of their attitude, they aren't offering me any alternative medications to antidepressants. I've been on a number of antidepressants for years and it's only now my GP has come to the conclusion that they don't work for me. I believe it's worth trying alternative medications, but I feel my GP is not interested. I'm currently tapering off an antidepressant for sleep, with no alternative in place, which I believe is wrong.
I am aware that there is no fix or cure, which I accept, but I honestly think I should be offered the chance to try alternative medications.
At the heart of it all I believe is stigma, as I feel BPD is a diagnosis which is poorly understood amongst professionals and is commonly misdiagnosed in Autistic individuals.
I believe health professionals are not taking my Autism into account when it comes to my mental health. Also, I believe that I might have another mental health condition going on instead of BPD. In all honesty I believe I have never had BPD and that it should never have been diagnosed in an Autistic adult due to the high rate of misdiagnosis of personality disorders amongst Autistic adults, and in particular, Autistic women.
Lastly I feel very reluctant to seek help in a mental health crisis because of the stigmatising attitude of health professionals, who constantly make me feel like I am to blame for why I am so mentally unwell. I would like the chance, if possible, to speak to someone higher up to discuss having my BPD diagnosis looked at and changed, and a chance to seek alternative medications, as I think this is caused me more harm than good.
Honestly, I feel very misunderstood and let down by the mental health services in Fife.
"Unhappy with mental health support."
About: Fife Community Services / Community Mental Health Fife Community Services Community Mental Health KY7 5PQ General practices in Fife General practices in Fife KY7 5LT NHS 24 / NHS 24 (111 service) NHS 24 NHS 24 (111 service) Victoria Hospital / Out of Hours Victoria Hospital Out of Hours Kirkcaldy KY2 5AH
Posted by omegagc68 (as ),
Responses
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Update posted by omegagc68 (a service user) about a year and a half ago
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