u/DifferentMagazine4

I'm writing here in the hopes of getting some advice from people who have maybe been where I am, or just understand me a bit. I'm trans FTM, and really struggling. I'm not a minor, but still pretty young. I've been out since I was a younger teen, but my parents are transphobic. I've recently come to terms with the fact that they're abusive. I was neglected to extreme levels as a kid, and have been my whole life. I have BPD from their abuse, and I'm currently being tested for C-PTSD, too. I'm lucky enough to have MH support from the NHS, as I live in the UK. But my luck ends there, as the support for trans people is dire. I don't even feel safe enough to tell my therapist that I am trans. I have to live at home, as my mental health and physical health are disabling - I have a genetic disease and endometriosis. I'm too disabled to work, but I'm currently trying to find a volunteering place to take me on, just to get out of the house for a bit.

I just feel so, so trapped in my body. I'm so obviously female. I have short hair, but no binder. A kind friend from abroad sent me some male clothes. It's only one outfit, but it was so nice. I still, though, look so female. The shirt doesn't even fit, because my chest is huge, and I have no binder. It hurts so badly that I look this way, and have no hope of ever transitioning. I feel so hopeless and lost. I feel like such a freak, trapped in my body. Just a binder would help so much. I tried charities, but they have such long waits, and there is nothing local to me. No home method works, as my chest is too large. I feel so horrible, and would love to just talk to some kind people.

Please delete if not allowed.

- Evan <3

I'm writing here in the hopes of getting some advice from people who have maybe been where I am, or just understand me a bit. I'm trans FTM, and really struggling. I'm not a minor, but still pretty young. I've been out since I was a younger teen, but my parents are transphobic. I've recently come to terms with the fact that they're abusive. I was neglected to extreme levels as a kid, and have been my whole life. I have BPD from their abuse, and I'm currently being tested for C-PTSD, too. I'm lucky enough to have MH support from the NHS, as I live in the UK. But my luck ends there, as the support for trans people is dire. I don't even feel safe enough to tell my therapist that I am trans. I have to live at home, as my mental health and physical health are disabling - I have a genetic disease and endometriosis. I'm too disabled to work, but I'm currently trying to find a volunteering place to take me on, just to get out of the house for a bit.

I just feel so, so trapped in my body. I'm so obviously female. I have short hair, but no binder. A kind friend from abroad sent me some male clothes. It's only one outfit, but it was so nice. I still, though, look so female. The shirt doesn't even fit, because my chest is huge, and I have no binder. It hurts so badly that I look this way, and have no hope of ever transitioning. I feel so hopeless and lost. I feel like such a freak, trapped in my body. Just a binder would help so much. I tried charities, but they have such long waits, and there is nothing local to me. No home method works, as my chest is too large. I feel so horrible, and would love to just talk to some kind people.

Please delete if not allowed.

- Evan <3

I'm writing here in the hopes of getting some advice from the kind of parents I wish I had. I'm trans FTM, and really struggling. I'm not a minor, but still pretty young. I've been out since I was a younger teen, but my parents are transphobic. I've recently come to terms with the fact that they're abusive. I was neglected to extreme levels as a kid, and have been my whole life. I have BPD from their abuse, and I'm currently being tested for C-PTSD, too. I'm lucky enough to have MH support from the NHS, as I live in the UK. But my luck ends there, as the support for trans people is dire. I don't even feel safe enough to tell my therapist that I am trans. I have to live at home, as my mental health and physical health are disabling - I have a genetic disease and endometriosis. I'm too disabled to work, but I'm currently trying to find a volunteering place to take me on, just to get out of the house for a bit.

I just feel so, so trapped in my body. I'm so obviously female. I have short hair, but no binder. A kind friend from abroad sent me some male clothes. It's only one outfit, but it was so nice. I still, though, look so female. The shirt doesn't even fit, because my chest is huge, and I have no binder. It hurts so badly that I look this way, and have no hope of ever transitioning. I feel so hopeless and lost. I feel like such a freak, trapped in my body. Just a binder would help so much. I tried charities, but they have such long waits, and there is nothing local to me. No home method works, as my chest is too large. I feel so horrible, and would love to just talk to some parents who are accepting.

Please delete if not allowed.

- Evan <3

I've been cutting myself since I was 13, and I'm almost 23. I have extensive scarring all over my body. I've needed stitches and staples more times than I can count, hit an artery, almost needed surgery last summer, had cellulitis more than once, have nerve damage ranging from mild numbness to reduced functioning in my left hand, and it got so bad last year that my GP had to set me up with a chronic wound care service.

I think it's a topic people have a lot to ask, but feel they can't. I'd love to answer some questions, and try to kill the taboo a bit. I get treated pretty oddly in public, so any less stigma would be great. I'm also two months clean from it this week - the longest break I've had in years. AMA !

I'm currently diagnosed with Autism, BPD, and OCD. I'm doing a full DBT program with the CMHT. My therapist has been suggesting that I may have a number of traits of PTSD for a while now, and we have recently been spending a lot of time discussing it. We ran through a lot of assessment tools, and she suggested that it could be worth bringing up to my psychiatrist, if I wanted to. She told me that I didn't have to, and it wouldn't change our work together - but I did want to

She told me last week that he refuses to see me. I don't mean that he doesn't think I have PTSD, which would be fine, but that he doesn't want to see me about it. This isn't the first time, either - he refused to see me for a meds review more than once, even when the last one was suggested / put forth by my care coordinator. Our appointments have always been incredibly brief, which I thought was normal, but I was informed recently that they are booked in for around 40-60 mins, and I've never had more than 10-15 with him.

I'm fine on my current BPD medication, Lamotrigine, but my OCD is untreated & really affecting me. I'd also really like to know whether I have PTSD, or not, too. My therapist is really angry on my behalf over all of this, and she has said that she'd happily put me forward for a second opinion with another psychiatrist. It's my choice, of course, but she said that she's more than happy to do that for me. I know that she is fairly convinced that I do have PTSD, and I trust her on this. I'm not sure I want the stress of seeing another psychiatrist, but I would like to see another one, I think. I've not had my Lamotrigine reviewed in almost a year, and I haven't seen my current psychiatrist since February.

Has anyone been in a similar situation with their psychiatrist + how is it to get a second opinion ? Thank you

Hi all. I've been diagnosed with BPD and OCD for about six months now, and I have Autism, too. I'm currently doing DBT with the CMHT. My therapist has told me a few times that I show a lot of traits of PTSD, and I had always denied it, never really getting why she brought it up. A few days ago, we went through the criteria together, and it turns out I check off a lot more than I thought I would. She's told me that, to her, I fully meet the criteria for a diagnosis. She also mentioned C-PTSD, and how much it can overlap with BPD. With my consent, she's emailed my psychiatrist to get his opinion, and she said I'd likely be offered an appointment with him soon to discuss it.

I guess I'm looking for other people's experiences with comorbid diagnoses within CMHT. What treatments were you offered ? My therapist is fully trained in trauma already, and offered to incorporate trauma work within the DBT framework, but there's more than just therapy. I also only have about 5mo left of DBT, which doesn't feel enough to fully address everything, and PTSD-type stuff.
More narrowly, how did you feel getting diagnosed with either type of PTSD ? I had no idea I would even remotely qualify for such a diagnosis, and it's really been a huge shock to me. I don't quite know how to process it. I truly don't think I have C-PTSD. Mostly, I just think that BPD is absolutely the correct diagnosis for me. Anyway, I guess I'd love to know:

• How trauma diagnoses are both treated and diagnosed in secondary care
• What psych appointments for PTSD are like
• What trauma therapy can be like
• How people felt after diagnosis + how to process it

Thank you !

Hi all. I've been diagnosed with BPD and OCD for about six months now, and I have Autism, too. I'm currently doing DBT with the CMHT. My therapist has told me a few times that I show a lot of traits of PTSD, and I had always denied it, never really getting why she brought it up. A few days ago, we went through the criteria together, and it turns out I check off a lot more than I thought I would. She's told me that, to her, I fully meet the criteria for a diagnosis. She also mentioned C-PTSD, and how much it can overlap with BPD. With my consent, she's emailed my psychiatrist to get his opinion, and she said I'd likely be offered an appointment with him soon to discuss it.

I guess I'm looking for other people's experiences with comorbid diagnoses within CMHT. How did it change your treatment ? My therapist is fully trained in trauma already, and offered to incorporate trauma work within the DBT framework, but there's more than just therapy. I also only have about 5mo left of DBT, which doesn't feel enough to fully address everything, and PTSD-type stuff. More narrowly, how did you feel getting diagnosed with either type of PTSD ? I had no idea I would even remotely qualify for such a diagnosis, and it's really been a huge shock to me. I don't quite know how to process it. I truly don't think I have C-PTSD. Mostly, I just think that BPD is absolutely the correct diagnosis for me. Anyway, I guess I'd love to know:

• How multiple diagnoses change your treatment and CMHT care
• What psych appointments for PTSD are like
• What trauma therapy can be like (DBT-PE)
• How people felt after diagnosis + how to process it

Thank you !

Yes, everything is accurate - either confirmed by direct blood tests and examinations, or through thorough clinical assessment.

I have Autism, BPD, OCD, PTSD - the last of which I was diagnosed with today. I also have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, Endometriosis, Chiari Malformation, Migraine Disorder, Allergic Disorder, Disc Displacement Disorder, GERD.

Autism was diagnosed by a neurodevelopmental specialist; BPD and OCD diagnosed by my psychiatrist; PTSD diagnosed by my therapist today & sent off to my psychiatrist for confirmation; EDS diagnosed by a doctor of genomic medicine, ATD diagnosed via specific blood tests in primary care over a period of six months; Endometriosis diagnosed by a women's health doctor from exams and scans, currently on the waitlist for surgery; CM diagnosed via MRI; DDD diagnosed by an oral surgeon, will likely be getting surgery in the next year.

I'm 22, from the UK. AMA !

I apologise if this is the wrong forum, but I thought you may be able to offer some good advice - please let me know, if this is inappropriate.

I don't get UC, and never have, but I've been on max PIP since 2024 - due to be reassessed in 2028. I had no diagnoses at the time, just a lot of referrals and waiting lists, plus lots of supporting documents from university / DSA. Anyway, I have now been diagnosed with all my conditions, so I get PIP for Autism, BPD, OCD, PTSD + Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Endometriosis, Migraine, and TMJ disorder. I'm under CMHT, doing about 4-5 hours of therapy a week at the moment, as well as on the waitlist for Gynae, and I see a MaxFax surgeon regularly, and attend private physio apts. I have a lot going on, and have a lot of evidence for it, essentially.

I am hoping to get back into work now. I finished my university degree a few months ago, but I haven't worked since my first year, before I became truly symptomatic with my physical health. I have an offer for a 16hr week role in a local GP surgery, just doing admin tasks in short 5hr shifts. It seems quite appropriate for me, but I am worried about how it may affect my PIP. I also have an OH assessment booked for before I start. How will this go ? I've not had one before, and I'm not sure how it will go. Any advice would be great.

I get most of my daily living points for my OCD - being unable to cook, due to compulsions, and needing my medication dispensed because of it, too, as well as other points for pain and fatigue, especially with washing and dressing, and also some for taking nutrition, due to my TMJ. For mobility, I get half points for physical movement, due to pain and fatigue & using a mobility aid some of the time, and then half points for Autism / anxiety, as I can make familiar journeys, but struggle with new ones. I'm worried about being seen as too functional, even though it's such a small amount of hours, and the tasks will be very similar to what I did at uni, with it being an admin and coordination role. I don't think the job is incompatible with what I claim PIP for - otherwise I couldn't do it ! I'm just anxious, as I hear a lot of stories about people being written off as fraudulent, etc.

Hey, my brother is sick & can't join me, so I have a free seated ticket, if anyone wants to come last minute !