I have never been given a diagnosis. Im reasonably well now, after a very bad period of depression, hysteria, self harm (well cutting my wrists, taking 50 paracetomol, smashing up my flat).
I went to seek medical help when I couldn't cope any more. I saw a number of doctors, and a couple of psychiatric nurses. None of them told me what, if anything was wrong with me. All of them said "now tell me what YOU think is the matter".
I had no idea at the time. (Subsequently, I realised I was in a kind of shock, traumatised, then post traumatic stress, all rolled into one, as I found out the world, and especially my family was/were completely unlike what i had perceived for 50 years.)
I did, in the end, get a bit of medication and a very small period of day hospital consultation, followed by half a dozen consultation sessions (20 mins including prescription) with a further doctor.
I lived in a very poor council estate when I saw a consultant for the first time. "There's nothing much available on the National Health" he told me.
I think he thought I had money. I was on benefit at the time, as I had often been when raising a family.
I think the biggest problem i faced, and the main reason for NO DIAGNOSIS is that they all thought I was acting. Role playing. Doing social work training or mental health training. That really I had loads of money somewhere and needed to find out what it was like to be at the rough end of life.
I've always been at the rough end of life. But I think they thought I was someone else, not me at all.
Anon