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Hello, My name is Boris, I'm 21 y/o, I live in Israel. As many of you know or may not know, it is an obligation to serve 3 years in the Israeli army. Today, I'm 9 months after my demobilization. During my service, I struggled with lot kind of problems, I had problems with spending the night in the base instead of going home, I had a sick mother at home who needed my help in almost everything, I had problems with my job (I was a heavy truck driver) I had some orthopedic problems in my back and my knees because of this job and it affected me in the long-term, I didn't like the people I had to communicate with (not all of them), I hated the hypocrisy so much. Anyway, everybody ignored my problems and I started to hurt myself to get days off. After a 6months period of meeting with a psychologist/psychiatrist, I got kicked out for misdiagnosis of "psychosis, susp. schizphrenia".

Here is the problem - when I was still in the army, I was somehow struggling and doing my job and keeping myself together. The first month out, I was like a zombie, I didn't speak to anyone, didn't eat, didn't feel anything positive, I was depressed. I couldn't process what happened, it was a shock for me, I didn't expect this and didn't want this either. I only had half year to finish my fullservice. After a month or so, I went to psychiatrist and started treatment, I was diagnosed with Severe Depression and Anxiety, later on they suspected that it's not just depression because I couldn't talk about my feelings, I couldn't name my feelings, and I couldn't even explain what am I thinking about. They did some exams, more meds, more meetings, and they changed the diagnosis to Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder with suspect of unspecified schizophrenia. It seemed like the right diagnosis, fit my symptoms, everything. After a while, I started getting better, I could think straight and I felt better but I still kept experiencing those 'nightmares'. Every time I go to sleep, it takes me at least 30mins to fall asleep, and in the meantime my brain works and always leads to memories and thoughts about the army, not only at nights, sometimes when I am at work, I reminisce moments from the army, thing is they're not necessarily BAD moments, but I feel bad about them, I can't think about the presence when it happens, I'm 'away'. I very often reminisce the last moments in the army, with a psychiatrist that was mean to me, very aggressive with his questions and attitude, and it makes me feel anxious, if I'm sitting/laying when it happens I feel like I'm reliving the exact moment, like I'm having a conversation with him except there are no actual words that I actually hear, I only imagine them, but the feelings are real.

with that being said, I experience some feelings of derealization sometimes, like living in a dream, in a video game or a movie, like everything is just my imagination. I also have some soft paranoia, when in a bus or in a social place, I sometimes think people intentionally watching me and thinking bad things about me, the feeling is always there I can't fight it, but I'm not falling for this and I always try to remain as calm as I can because I know it's just me. .

I'm currently off the meds, and only seeing a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. since I'm not comfortable to ask my therapist about that if it's possible that I have a PTSD or not, so I'm asking you guys in the forum here.

There may be lot of spelling mistakes, so sorry for that :2thumbs:

Thanks a lot, Be well !
Boris.
 

David Baxter PhD

Late Founder
I'm currently off the meds, and only seeing a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. since I'm not comfortable to ask my therapist about that if it's possible that I have a PTSD or not, so I'm asking you guys in the forum here.

Hi, Boris. Welcome to Psychlinks. :)

We do not offer or allow online diagnosis here at Psychlinks for several legal and ethical reasons. Your current psychologist would be the person in the best position to answer that question.

Out of curiosity, why are you no longer taking your medications? Was that a decision you made on your own or on the recommendation of the psychiatrist?
 

CarlaMarie

Member
Boris I'm glad you are reaching out for support. Finding the right diagnosis I have found has been a journey. I'm personally glad psych links does not offer diagnoises but they do offer information and support.:whew: Welcome!
 
Hello guys, thanks for replying so fast.

@David Baxter, I understand the fact that online diagnosis is forbidden in these forums as well as in some other forums I'm registered in.

I'm sorry if I misled you and I will definitely not base my diagnosis on what I read in the internet, because honestly if one will try to compare his symptoms to mental illnesses he read about in the internet, he'll probably get confused because there would be so many illnesses that might seem like something he is experiencing. If I'd do such thing, I'd probably think I've like 3-4 mental disorders :lol:

My question is if it's can possible be PTSD at all. I question and doubt it because I think I haven't actually experienced a physical trauma such as Sexual Abuse, Car Accident, Shell Shock etc.. I am referring most of my 'Trauma' if it can be called 'Trauma' at all, to my whole army service and especially the last moments.

So please, I assume you have a lot of knowledge in the subject, and I'm just for your opinion, not diagnosis .. if it's possible or is it most likely something else ..

About the meds - There was a period where I stopped seeing my therapist and psychiatrist, I thought I felt well and didn't feel like going there, hence, I thought I'm better off without meds. Plus, I may be wrong but I'm against anti-psychotic meds because it's not 100% helping and in some cases it might even make things worse.


Looking forward for your reply,
Be well.
Boris
 

David Baxter PhD

Late Founder
Is it possible that some of your symptoms may be the result of PTSD? Yes. On the other hand, some of the symptoms you report are somewhat uncommon though not unheard of with PTSD, and, according to your own post, you have been diagnosed with some form of psychotic disorder by two different psychiatrists. On balance, I would say it is more likely that the symptoms are not indicative of PTSD, but I have never spoken with you personally and I would neither attempt a diagnosis nor rule out a diagnosis based on a brief written description; that would be utter folly and an utterly useless exercise.

There was a period where I stopped seeing my therapist and psychiatrist, I thought I felt well and didn't feel like going there, hence, I thought I'm better off without meds. Plus, I may be wrong but I'm against anti-psychotic meds because it's not 100% helping and in some cases it might even make things worse.

I strongly urge you to consult your current mental health practitioners for advice regarding the medications, or if you are not currently seeing either your previous psychiatrist or your previous psychologist to make an appointment with one of them or someone else apropriate. There is a wide choice of medications available these days to treat such symptoms.

I would note that if your diagnosis from the two psychiatrists is correct, you can not rely on your own self-perceptions in this regard. You need an objective expert opinion.
 
I have a meeting with my psychologist once in a week, every week. I hope I'll be able to talk about this with her, we haven't talk much about diagnostics before, but it'll be okay.
I will ask for her opinion about medications, whether she thinks I can deal just fine w/out them or not.

I have been diagnosed twice with psychotic disorder, twice based on different things. 1st time during my army service, it was diagnosed in one day of aggressive tests by the military shrink. I was very low at the time, when he asked his testing questions, I felt anxious and nervous because I was like "what the hell are these questions?", I was answering "No, I don't know" for most of them and he was upset about it, Finally he asked if I hear voices and I said yes ( although wasn't true ). because of my close to no cooperation, avoidance of eye contact at the time, and the 'hearing voice', I've been diagnosed with this disorder.

I may seem to be in denial about it, but I disagree with the diagnosis he decided. The 2nd time that I've been diagnosed with psychotic disorder, was few months later, which I believe I really experienced a psychotic episode. doesn't that make sense ?
The difference in my mental state between those two diagnostics, was huge. I can get down to details but it is not necessary now.

David, Thank you very much for your support & advices, I appreciate that.
Bye
 
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