I'm currently struggling with diagnosed depression, anxiety, and Misophonia. Also, I am 99% sure I have Borderline Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder. I read the DSM-IV, taken college psychology, etc. I know it in my heart I have them. Is self-diagnosing okay with the right research?
Is self-diagnosing okay?
Sounds like you are really concerned about the things you are feeling and the way you are interacting with others.Self-diagnosing is not typically recommended since there could be a misinterpretation of the criteria even if you do seem to "fit the mold". How you interpret how you feel or how you behave can be distorted, no matter who you are. I actually did this to myself when I was in graduate school and it turned out to be wrong!With that being said, I believe people are the experts on their lives and know best what is happening for them. What is telling you that you have these diagnoses? What does it mean about you if you do?I don't give a ton of weight to diagnoses in the sense of treatment because a lot of diagnoses share the same underlying themes and origins. Both Borderline Personality Disorder and Avoidant Personality Disorder can be a result of childhood trauma, so treating one may not look that different from treating the other one---and the most important factor will always be the relationship you have with your therapist otherwise treatment won't work.I do give a lot of weight to diagnoses in terms of emotional relief. It can be really stressful to feel like there's something "wrong" with you and not be able to give it a category. It can reduce stigma as well to know that what's happening to you is normal for what you've been through, and that others are going through it, too. And it definitely helps to know that there are ways to help and people that know how to help you.Either way, kudos to you for noticing something in your life that you want to change! It seems like relationships are important to you and you maybe worry you are pushing people away that are important to you? Even if you do have these disorders, you can totally learn how to change your life.