My life is a mess
"My life crumbled at age 35. I was a mother of 3, holding down a decent job as a teacher. I had a funny turn that was proved not to be due to a brain disorder. However, following the advice of my GP I reported the incident to the DVLA who then suspended my driver's licence. I could not go to work or do my usual activities. I had to resign. I fell into depression. It was so bad I took an overdose and ended up sectioned to a psych unit. They gave me prozac. I improved after about 2 months.
After discharge I became unwell again and began self-harming. Several admissions followed and there was much self harm. I was diagnosed with personality disorder.
I don't think I have a personality disorder. I want to be able to drive my car again. Please advise".
Our guidance is as follows:
- Write to your GP or any other doctor who made a 'diagnosis' and ask them to state on what foundation of evidence they came to their conclusion.
- Write to the Chief Medical Officer at the DVLA and seek a coherent response about why your driver's licence was suspended - and what was the foundation of evidence.
- Personality disorder is a complex diagnosis that is misunderstood by many doctors and even psychiatrists themselves. You must read up on this diagnosis - especially the ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria. (Please Google these terms).
- Seek a written explanation for the diagnosis of personality disorder. Remember that the diagnosis must be based on tangible and reliable evidence.
- Do same for diagnosis of depression.
- If you accept that you have a depression - then medication can help, but you would be within your rights to ask the doctors treating you to provide alternatives or adjunctive treatment.
You will notice that we use the word evidence great deal. This is because the practise of medicine is now meant to be evidence based. Doctors are accountable to their patients and to their regulatory bodies.
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