I'm not sure about my diagnosis

Post Reply New Topic

Some months ago, I went to a therapist because of strong persistent depression and suicide thoughts that lasted for 7 months in all. I was diagnosed with Aspergers and was given Sertraline (a quarter pill three days a week, then stopped for four, then three days again). Weeks passed and I started to feel even worse, feeling a lot of anxiety, irritability and anger so I asked her to suspend the treatment. Then I started to see a psychologist at the same time, she told me the dose was wrong and told me I didn't seem to have AS. They were always contradicting each other and didn't make me feel better either so I stopped going to therapy. I was feeling okay for 2 months and now I'm starting to feel sad and anxious again but I'm not going to waste money until I can find a good therapist because I don't really trust them anymore. What do I do now? I don't even know who's right and probably the antidepressants would have make it better if the dose had been the correct one but who knows? I don't feel like this is just getting better by doing the things I read on blogs (every single depression coping blog says things like "exercise", "eat your veggies", "meditate", etc.). Help

The little you have described can be a lot of different things.

What makes you anxious?

Did the first therapist diagnose you with Asperger's only? If you went to her complaining about depression and suicidal thoughts, it seems like you would have also gotten a mental health diagnosis.

If you know why you are depressed and it's not at all related to Asperger's, the therapist you choose may not matter. You may not need a therapist at all if you just want meds (psychiatrists and sometimes other medical doctors can prescribe meds).

On the other hand, your having Asperger's may affect how you respond to the therapy (because you don't think like other people). You could look for someone who specializes in therapy with autistic people. That person may be able to validate or invalidate the Asperger's diagnosis.

I too had a negative reaction to Sertraline, it made me uncontrollably aggressive. After that episode I gave up on medication for some time but eventually tried many other SSRIs (and IIRC one SNRI) to no effect.

I wouldn't trust a therapist's opinion unless they are a specialist tbh.