I've self-diagnosed with OCD because reading the experiences of those who'd been formally diagnosed did resonate with me a lot, and it did make sense. But sometimes I wonder if it's not simply an oddly specific fear, like I couldn't swim in a pool alone even though I enjoyed swimming (and enjoyed solitude) because I felt as though there would be some impossible invisible shark in there with me. I couldn't rationalize myself into the pool, even though I knew it was an irrational fear. That, and dark, and tile grout.
Other times, though, I miss out on some very obvious solutions because I can't think outside of what I perceive to be a neat pattern. It doesn't make me anxious or upset if that pattern is broken for something more important, but I just would not have thought to be the one to break it. With occasional episodes of overstimulation, and how much more soothing "stimming" has been to me once I took to it, I've wondered if some things I've taken for OCD might have been a phobia or autism spectrum instead.
The first question would be, how would a formal diagnosis of any of this help? (Are there specific medications or therapies tailored to coping with one as opposed to another?)
I'm lucky enough to have outgrown many of my phobias, but mostly I would just want to make sense of it, and I keep thinking that a formal diagnosis would help with that.
So, those who have been diagnosed, what was the procedure for it? Did it help any?
(I also want to put a disclaimer on how I am not at all judging those who self diagnose; especially for social anxiety, it's fairly obvious why people who have it would not interact with professional strangers who could then inform a sufferer that they are anxious around people. I will never say that "until you are diagnosed, you don't have it" because whatever's stopping you from getting diagnosed is something you probably have got a lot. Again, no shade-throwing from me! I'm just in a good enough place to consider the option.)
Other times, though, I miss out on some very obvious solutions because I can't think outside of what I perceive to be a neat pattern. It doesn't make me anxious or upset if that pattern is broken for something more important, but I just would not have thought to be the one to break it. With occasional episodes of overstimulation, and how much more soothing "stimming" has been to me once I took to it, I've wondered if some things I've taken for OCD might have been a phobia or autism spectrum instead.
The first question would be, how would a formal diagnosis of any of this help? (Are there specific medications or therapies tailored to coping with one as opposed to another?)
I'm lucky enough to have outgrown many of my phobias, but mostly I would just want to make sense of it, and I keep thinking that a formal diagnosis would help with that.
So, those who have been diagnosed, what was the procedure for it? Did it help any?
(I also want to put a disclaimer on how I am not at all judging those who self diagnose; especially for social anxiety, it's fairly obvious why people who have it would not interact with professional strangers who could then inform a sufferer that they are anxious around people. I will never say that "until you are diagnosed, you don't have it" because whatever's stopping you from getting diagnosed is something you probably have got a lot. Again, no shade-throwing from me! I'm just in a good enough place to consider the option.)
