10 Reasons Why Diagnosis in Dissociation is Important
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- In this video from The CTAD Clinic, Dr Mike Lloyd (Clinic Director) goes through 10 reasons why getting a structured, accurate diagnosis for dissociative conditions is important.
#diagnosis #therapy #dissociation
Absolutely true. Though engaging in mh treatment since age 15, and being prescribed many antipsychotic and antidepressant medications to no good effect, I finally engaged in a full “ gold standard “ assessment through CTAD. At age 63, an accurate diagnosis. For me it WAS essential.
I was diagnosed with PTSD almost 9 years ago. My therapist (at the time) said she was thinking about adding something else, but when I asked her if it was dissociation, she told me it wasn’t because dissociation is part of PTSD.
I’ve thought about this, done research & entered (trauma) therapy again & it’s become clear to me, & others who know me well, that I dissociate a lot, if not most, of the time & certainly during stressful times, particularly when I’ve struggled with cognitive dissonance. I’ve also dissociated a lot more recently, when recalling childhood memories, while trying to consciously remember past events & connect them to lifelong relationship problems.
I was working towards doing more EMDR with my most recent therapist (of 7 months) when she left the practice due to some organizational changes that conflicted with her vision. We have communicated, but the new insurance isn’t compatible with mine.
I am 71 years old & live in the U.S. I struggle to find the right fit as my previous therapists (mostly in the 1980s) were not trauma informed. I have figured out a lot about myself, but obviously have limited time & resources (except for insurance) to wait years & years for another opportunity.
I’ve been the sole caregiver for my adult son who suffered a non-fatal drowning accident at 3 years old.
Does anyone living in the U.S. know a way for me to find my way to another qualified therapist, or a way to lessen the burden of living with dissociation? Just as it has greatly affected me my entire life, it now impairs my ability to effectively care-give which is affecting my quality of life.
@brendasaunders794 unfortunately all we can say is keep searching. Keep standing in your sovereignty and your boundaries with therapists as well and keep searching until you find a trauma informed DID educated therapist. I was on Psychology Today and there was some issue where therapists were put under the DID category without their knowledge. I reached out to them and a few expressed shock they were under the category. I was lucky and one of the therapists who did not specialize in DID, did know someone and she's been our therapist the last 8months, she's amazing and diagnosed us. She also heard us when we said we were not seeking this "final fusion" so to speak that's often pushed as "healing" DID. Be wary of those who push that. Best of luck
"sometimes controversy - it leads to discussion" is SUCH a good point! also, i was diagnosed with depersonalization-derealization for many years before i was finally diagnosed with DID, and that change in diagnosis was so immensely helpful in terms of my treatment.
So true and the doctors around me don't get it. They insist the particular diagnosis is irrelevant as long as they catch most of the symptoms (not all of my symptoms have been immediately obvious to me in therapy so it takes me a long time to actually explain them but my professionals often jump the gun). This has led them to insist on treating me with one specific thing for years and it being completely ineffectual. It's frustrating
American doctors and psychiatrists: *I don't see what's the point of getting diagnosed. Are you really wanting to go through all that trouble. Just go into treatment. Do you have a problem starting EMDR?"
What has been tricky in our situation (UK, NHS) is having a diagnosis by someone who has been trained and had supervision to do that, then having had some DID specific therapy with that person. But then he left and the rest of the team seemed to dismiss it and treated us as if we were just borderline/seeking attention. Unfortunately, sometimes even having a well worked diagnosis isn't a guarantee that the recovery will go the way it should.
@@indigo.and.dissociation true
Careful, experienced and educated assessment is crucial - As you likely well know, therapist ignorance and or denial is a significant challenge historically and, unfortunately persists today. Excellent information here Dr. Lloyd as always - thank you. Hope you are healing well and gaining strength, relief and comfort - All the best from us here in Vancouver, Canada 🍁
Hope your recovery is going well!
Excellent video highlighting how proper/successful treatment is hugely reliant on proper diagnosis.
Thank you! There is a lot of stigma around DID; a diagnosis might help to view oneself in a more empathic way.
Getting a diagnosis is hard. I had a 3 hour assessment with the assessment team, going over my old notes. I was given a placeholder diagnosis of Unspecified Dissociative Disorder and told the CMHT would be required to do further assessment to see if it was DID or OSDD, but that the psychiatrist was almost certain it was one of those two. They mentioned DID eight times in the report to my GP and included a link.
I was on the CMHT waiting list for 4 years and when I finally got to see someone they had already changed my diagnosis to cPTSD, couldn't offer any therapy and signposted me to local rape crisis charity for "trauma counselling" (when the charity doesn't accept people with ongoing mental health problems!)
Now I'm stuck in limbo knowing it probably is DID but unable to get a formal diagnosis or treatment and not even having the dissociative disorder diagnosis, because it was overruled by someone who had never even met me. This is the state of NHS mhs where I live. So so frustrating and hopeless.
That’s awful, sorry to hear it.
@@thectadclinic Thank you. I made some progress in the 4 year wait with a private therapist who was familiar with Janina Fishers work, assuming it was a dissociative disorder . Unfortunately I can no longer afford it. But it goes to show how important it is, because generic therapy before never really resulted in any progress. Thank you for your channel and the work you do in raising awareness.
I had a adhd diagnose, but recently got it removed because my symptoms is better described as a dissociative disorder ( icd-10, f44,7) it is my trauma therapist i am talking with now, who first noticed it. I was mindblown when I found out about it. I been dissociating alot since I was a child, so I have all this time just assumed those experiences is normal.. and that i was just weak that didnt manage to function.. i am really greatful for my therapist and feel so much more safe knowing we are moving in the right direction ❤ but my dissociation is a really huge wall between me and my therapist 😅 sometimes feel impossible..
I'm in Australia, I'm a late diagnosed Autistic with 3 other comorbidities. I've been led to DID/OSDD due to a major trauma several years ago. I was mis-diagnosed (by professionals) many times before I got my Autism diagnosis and since DID/OSDD symptoms have started to arise, covert, became overt (post trauma), it has been impossible to get a formal diagnosis. Cost is an issue and finding a specialised professional is challenging, the NDIS (OZ version of PIP) does not fund psychiatry which is where I could get professionally diagnosed (in Australia). I do believe proper diagnosis is key, but even trying to find a therapist/psychologist experienced in DID/OSDD has been impossible with years of searching. It's really hard not to feel hopeless.
Thank you, Dr. Mike.
It is so good that you are talking about this. It is so important to get diagnosed, especially given that it can take many years. It has been life-changing for us. Far too much talk in some online communities about people not wanting a diagnosis exists, and it is a horrible discourse that needs to stop. Getting access to proper treatment is vital.
I’d use the word ‘recognize’ not diagnose - such a dumb word.
Thanks for sharing. Ive been trying to get a formal assessment for so long now. Had a major episode, which i eventually learned was a dissociative episode which lasted months, that led me into therapy. Had already been sorta assessed, taken the MID when i was getting assessed for autism, which said my symptoms aligned with PTSD, DID, and a possible somatoform disorder. But my psych then didnt specialize in dissociation - i would have to see a specialist for any potential diagnosis. Then like a year and a bit later i think, during the episode my partner was worried i had schizophrenia, so i started seeing a therapist who said he specialized in thought disorders and dissociation. I saw him for two years and he was always very averse to making any kind of diagnosis. He did reconfirm i had cptsd. We did IFS. But i always felt like he wouldnt believe me about a lot of my experiences. So many things i would bring up seeking help exploring, clarifying, understanding, and he just wouldnt. He would always make this face >:/. Eventually i stopped seeing him because i felt like he wasnt believing me, and when id brought up issues or frustrations i had about the work we were doing, he just wouldnt address it and nothing would change. Im about to finally now start seeing someone who is specialized in dissociation and DID specifically (i dont think i have DID tho, maybe OSDD/PDID). Its so frustrating ive felt so alone for so long in trying to navigate all this. But right now, im seeing a therapist who specializes in neurodivergence and trauma, but not dissociation, but theyve been taking me a lot more seriously, and i really feel like they believe me. Im hopeful this new dissociative specialist therapist (im planning to continue seeing my autism specialized therapist - its just so difficult to find one person who is specialized in all the things im dealing with) will be able to really help me out. She is also trained in EMDR so im excited for that. Its just such a brutal and battering process, trying to get this all sorted out. Your videos have always been a real rock for me tho. Thank you for what you do.
Thanks so much for your encouraging & helpful words!
I was diagnosed with PTSD almost 9 years ago. My therapist (at the time) said she was thinking about adding something else, but when I asked her if it was dissociation, she told me it wasn’t because dissociation is part of PTSD.
I’ve thought about this, done research & entered (trauma) therapy again & it’s become clear to me, & others who know me well, that I dissociate a lot, if not most of the time, & certainly during stressful times, particularly when I struggle with cognitive dissonance. I’ve also dissociated a lot more recently, when recalling childhood memories, while trying to consciously process past events & connect them to lifelong relationship problems.
I was working towards doing more EMDR with my most recent therapist (of 7 months) when she left the practice due to some organizational changes that conflicted with her vision. We have communicated, but the new insurance isn’t compatible with mine.
I am 71 years old & live in the U.S. I struggle to find the right fit as my previous therapists (mostly in the 1980s) were not trauma informed. I have figured out a lot about myself, but obviously have limited time & resources (except for insurance) to wait years & years for another opportunity.
I’ve been the sole caregiver for my adult son who suffered a non-fatal drowning accident at 3 years old.
Does anyone know how I can find my way to another qualified therapist, or a way to lessen the burden of living with dissociation? Just as it has greatly affected different aspects of my life, it now impairs my ability to effectively care-give which is affecting my quality of life.
Honestly, ever since I got my DID diagnosis, I've started to question its validity. It was so much easier to believe I had DID when it was "only in my head."
Nice to see you again, Dr.Lloyd, I hope you are feeling better! I have a question:
as soon as I was diagnosed with DIs and tried to get to know my different parts, all my symptoms disappeared. I have no access to any inner parts, I can no longer understand the diagnosis at all. I suddenly no longer have any time gaps. My mood is mostly sad. . could it be that an integration took place without me noticing?
The diagnosis was made in 2 DIS specialist clinics, but deep in my heart I just can't believe it . I'm always afraid that I'm fooling myself😮
@@mariaz.-k.3546 we hope you get the answers you're looking for - stay curious - best wishes from seans 💪
@mariaz.-k.3546 best of luck here for you regardless 💪
I couldn't even get my NHS psychologist to contact or engage with CTAD at all.
Good luck. I keep being told I am making it up.
I've been diagnosed with dissociation with identity disturbance because I had an operation and it was an 11 year old who woke up. She was being cheeky and they gave me a bit more anaesthetic until I woke up.
I’m disturbed by you being given a serious diagnosis after you surely must’ve had anesthesia during the surgery.
I was totally gone after having been administered Dilaudid, for a fractured femur, in early 2014. Eleven years later I’m still not well despite going through detoxification when I brought the problem to my doctors’ attention.
I had to do a lot of research to identify my condition & hope that you will not be finding out, down the road, that you have been erroneously diagnosed like I was.
@brendasaunders794 it's happened all my life but I used to think I was asleep. It's still happening now but I have learnt. Obviously I don't have many friends or family who are consistent. I'm just glad that the surgeon saw it because I had no idea what it was
i wish i could send this to every nhs doctor, my local services have told me they are not diagnosing ANY disorders (including anxiety/depression), they clearly know nothing at all about dissociation, the only treatment they are offering is bpd group therapy (I dont have bpd), completely refusing to refer me to a private clinic like yours
Thanks for sharing songood tonsee you hope you recovering well. Im reallybstriggling with my diagnosis roght now my brain is telling em o makong it all up that i just a great actress actor but my life is chaotic tiring and very distresing and so dysfunctional due to being in different parts so debilitating
Diagnosis has historically been and sometimes still is used as an excuse to deny people their rights so idk controversy around it seems fairly reasonable.. uh
Of course it doesn’t have to be >-> and I generally lean towards like changing these things so that doesn’t happen then just tossing them out entirely, though some would also suggest self determination is important bleh, I think it makes sense as an option to have still
Anyway my own diagnosis of DID just uses the MID and a few other things not the sci-d, im tempted to try find someone who can do the scid with me, but I’m also pretty sure about it? Idk
i'm diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder - which is a big discrimination causing diagnosis - and honestly one has to accept that it's a trade-off, you get better access to certain resources and it's useful medical shorthand about what's going on to providers (& can be very comforting for someone who struggles with accepting their symptoms) but other than that it can be really difficult and problematic to live under, yes. i've not heard too much about dissociative disorders roadblocking anyone from anything, not saying that it doesn't happen but i hear more along the lines of "that's really rare (or it's not real)"
Also to DID Systems: Be wary of therapists who try to push the "final fusion" so to speak. They may not even realize it but it's incredibly ableist to tell a DID System we are not "healed" unless we exist like a singlet. If that's true for you and your system that's one thing, but it's not the only way. Unfortunately, when therapists push this, they can force parts in the system to go dormant or be ashamed of their existence and disregulate systems, especially newly aware systems, and cause chaos for a DID System. So beware of this mindset.
Mental health professionals cannot have the full scope of DID on their own, they need the input and feedback of DID Systems. And if you don't have a therapist who understands this, and is not open to being educated on our lived experience, seek support with other DID Systems and connect and see if you can find therapists they recommend. We are our most important advocates and our lives experience matters and is vital for proper DID support.
There are so many reasons why diagnosis may be important but impossible to get. The main one being is that there is still a lot of therapists/psychiatrists who don't believe DID/OSDD exists and are emotionally biassed against it. Here in Australia, there are very few people who are trained in spotting dissociative disorders as the government funding has been actively biassed against psychiatry of all types. My psychologist thinks I have autism - but for me to get an accurate diagnosis - it will cost more than a month of pension and there is no discount for disability pensioners. So I literally cannot afford to get diagnosed. It's just as bad for other disorders - unless you are well off you can't afford to get diagnosed, no matter how important it is.
I would like to know how the diagnosis is made, from the patient's point of view. What can I expect? How long or short is the time needed? How do I know if the diagnosis process was well done? Are special questionnaires used or can the diagnosis be made anyway?
He shares a bit about the diagnostic tool in the first part of the video: The SCID-D Interview.
I'm currently fighting a battle for help via the NHS. My GP had no clue and told me to call the Talking Therapy service. They contacted CTAD for advice on the referral process because they knew nothing about DID. I'm now on a long waiting list to speak to the CMHT who might be able to refer me to a psychiatrist for diagnosis. My local Integrated Care Board, who funds referrals to clinics such as CTAD, has a debt of over £130m so I can't see them funding any treatment. I'm doing the best I can on my own. I'd spend my savings to go private but I can't find anyone who specialises in dissociative disorders and I don't want them doing more harm than good 😞
I’m sorry for the trouble you’re having finding the right help. We have a totally broken healthcare “system” in the U.S. My experience has been that specialists heavily rely on diagnosing anyone walking through their doors with the condition they specialize in.
@brendasaunders794 Thank you, and I'm sorry you have problems with your healthcare system too. By 2024 I'd really expect better from such 'world leading' countries! I'm worried that private clinics here will behave similarly to the issue you have in the US. I've read of one private clinic here that has a reputation for doing that and people with these disorders are vulnerable enough, I don't want to be taken advantage of by money grabbers.
Thank you 🫶
Hi Dr Mike, what do you think to Deep Brain Reprocessing as a treatment for CPTSD? In particular the dissociative aspect of it.
Do you have residential programs say someone is coming from out of country say Canada.
Diagnosed by the head of the personality disorder clinic in Kingston Ontario
How important is it, from a clinical and treatment perspective, to differenciate between DID and OSDD?
Very helpful, as always! Thank you! 💖
No thanks. The reality in my country is that the process of assessment for trauma is recognised as itself retraumatising, in part because a formal diagnosis and loads of paperwork is required, and because funding depends on arbitrary causation factors - the childhood timeline, and the type of ab7se that caused the menral distress - rather than current symptom severity. Being able to privately see a trauma therapist who didnt require any of this has been life changing. That took a year and multiple attempts to find, even without the restraints of the public system.
I'd see a psychotherapist who understands trauma and a bit about dissociation over a highly trained diagnostic clinician any day, but its a moot point: that kind of resource just isn't available
I think the critical element you said is 'accurate', it's a little scary how many people don't know their own degree. I get why, there's a lot of cross over with mental health illnesses, lack of education on lesser known illnesses and a lot of one and done psychiatrist appointments. I think the bigger issue is people getting attached to their labels and using them as an excuse for everything rather than getting treatment, healthier eating, sleep, relations and so forth. I by no means do not think mental health does not exist, I have some of the 'worst' myself, but I do think absolutely everything is manageable under better environment circumstances. You are always so well spoken and approaching these from an educated perspective. Please keep making content when you can!
Do you think some docs misdiagnose people with dissociative disorders? Why or why not?
@@painalpeggy no doubt. As to why or why not - this would require a long response
Best wishes however 💪
In Quebec,Canada the diagnosis is given but there is no treatment available for anything beyond Schizophrenia,Anxiety disorder and Depression.
There’s many different kinds of dissociation bits not just one thing or kind - many differnt things. And - You’re talkin about it like there’s ‘all these ‘people out there ( to do this) there’s not. That should be addressed within, or coined first - let ppl know what they’re up against and what they’re not. Here’s another comment - many many ppl in the ‘field are dissociated THEMSELVES (observation) from their Own what nots. It’s not a dig it’s my knowing experience. Also - note - must be treated ‘looked upon as a symptom of ….
Prescription - GET ‘INTO’ THE BODY. 2. ‘TEACH. And really #1 should be NUTRITION And BRAIN / BIOLOGY HEALTH. Ugfh so much more