Are there any like brain scans a Dr. can take to show abnormalities in my brain causing my mentall illnesses?
I’ve been suffering most of my life with mental illnesses including OCD, BDD, Bi-Polar disorder, severe depression, severe anxiety, and serious drug addiction and alcoholism. I was adopted as an infant so I don’t know my family’s mental health history. I’m 35 and my symptoms started showing as young as 8 when I started becoming very withdrawn and showing signs of OCD (counting and rearranging things compulsively). My life is terrible. I turned to alcohol and drugs in my teens and have been fighting addiction for years now and I’m currently on methadone which has stopped me from abusing opiates but I’m still heavily drinking. I’m on Medicaid. I’m wondering if there are any like brain scans that can show what is wrong with my brain and can be compared to someone that doesn’t have any mental illnesses. It would be very helpful and it could also help me show that I should be on disability (I have many doctors though that have agreed that I can’t work). How do these tests work? Is it like a cat scan? Are they painful? And I’m sure they are very expensive, do you think medicaid would cover something like that? I really appreciate ANY help!
IM BACK! posted: 13 May at 6:24 am
CAT SCAN & MRI
hi2mic posted: 13 May at 7:18 am
Yes!
CHRISTINE posted: 13 May at 7:29 am
A MRI could find physical abnormalties, which could cause some disorders. I don’t think it can detect a mental illness, unless, it is caused by a physical problem in your brain.
party on wayne slash garth posted: 13 May at 8:20 am
The only images I’ve seen of a brain scan diagnosing an illness is with schizophrenia, where a butterfly-shaped cavity forms near the center of the brain, and your paragraph seems far too coherent for me to even speculate that you have that. For your problem, you should see a psychologist/psychiatrist, not a medical doctor. A psychologist is the most effective professional in terms of analyzing your problems and officially diagnosing you with a mental illness. A psychiatrist can then prescribe medication to you to help you deal with it.
Ms Cat posted: 13 May at 9:14 am
There are special MRI’s that can be done that show brain patterns that fit certain mental illnesses. They don’t hurt. Medicaid probably would not pay for them as they see a diagnosis from a doctor just as fitting. If Your doctors agree that you should be on disability go ahead and apply. You don’t need medical tests to be awarded disability if your doctors agree. It can be hard to get disability and some people have to hire a lawyer to actually get it but give it a shot and don’t give up
autumn =] posted: 13 May at 9:59 am
yes i believe a MRI would work =]