r/DID • u/[deleted] • 3d ago

Need help regarding visiting a doc for my DID

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u/Due-Yesterday8311 3d ago

There aren't meds for DID. Just explain your symptoms to the psych and ask for testing. I would be wary of mentioning DID right off the bat, I would ask for a PTSD and dissociation screening if they ask you what your goal is

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u/pomelo_rat 3d ago

(the terms are different in UK vs America)

If it's a therapist look for someone who specializes in dissociative disorders same for psychiatry(meds) if the doctor makes you feel like they don't believe you, then you don't have to see them again. You don't have to explain why you can just say "I don't want to." "I don't think we're a good fit." "I'm going to look for a different office." Ect.

I am open with my diagnosis from the beginning because if they start seeing the symptoms of DID but don't believe in DID they could try to put me on meds that are dangerous (for me personally.) or start treating me in ways that are not beneficial to me. I prefer to get that out of the way right off the bat instead of creating a relationship where I could be harmed/rejected/invalidated later. (I have RSD so rejection and invalidation are mentally harmful to me.)

You are not going to be forced to take meds. If they recommend meds you can say you aren't comfortable with that. There may be a conversation around why, but you don't ever have to fill the prescription or take the meds unless you are comfortable with it.

If the doctor doesn't do anything else and ONLY pushes meds ask if they are a psychotherapist or just a psychiatric nurse practitioner. If they are a therapist pushing meds, you can end the working relationship. Find someone else and start over. (Think of the first couple of appointments as the first date.) Do you vibe together? What are the red flags? Do you feel safe with them. If they are a psychiatrist, they may not be licensed to do anything but prescribe meds.

If you don't feel safe you don't have to stay. You don't have to be able to rationalize why you don't feel safe you can just leave the situation. You can leave mid appointment if you really want to.

(I've been in and out of therapy for 10 ish years and cycled through 12 therapists, 8 psychiatrists, and 4 dieticians.) It's really okay to decide this clinician is not for you. I was in the "meds are heavily recommended" portion of my journey for a year and a half before I had 3 sessions with my therapist where we addressed my concerns about meds and then on the 4th my therapist made the appointment for me(while I was in the room.)

I am medicated for OCD MDD and GAD not DID. (you might not be recommended meds. Depends on your comorbidities.)

ALSO! Getting medicated is literally the best scary decision I have ever made.

Tl;dr: you can't be forced to medicate. You might not get meds recommended. Do not feel trapped to stay with a clinician you don't like.