Receiving a diagnosis of a mental health condition can be a major turning point. People’s responses to this news can vary greatly. For some, it may bring immense relief. Finally, an answer—someone understands what’s going on. There’s a reason for the suffering you’ve experienced. Having a name for something that feels so personal and complicated can feel validating. If your journey to this point has been long and difficult, or if you’ve encountered conflicting diagnoses, receiving a clear answer can be life-changing.
At the same time, receiving a diagnosis isn’t always straightforward. While it can help identify treatments like CBT, EMDR, or IFS, and even connect you to a supportive community, it also comes with potential challenges worth reflecting on. Below, I’ve outlined some common stumbling blocks and considerations that may help you process your diagnosis.
The Relief of a Diagnosis
One of the most immediate benefits of a diagnosis is the clarity it provides. Many people feel relieved to have a name for their struggles, which helps them communicate their experience to others and access appropriate support. A diagnosis can also guide treatment options, giving you and your care team a clearer path forward.
For some, it’s an opportunity to normalize their experience. Finding others with similar challenges can reduce feelings of isolation and foster a sense of community. However, while these benefits are significant, it’s equally important to approach a diagnosis with a balanced perspective.
Challenges of a Diagnosis
Assuming a Diagnostic Label as Identity
In my client sessions, I often hear statements like, “I am [diagnosis].” While diagnostic labels can help us understand and communicate our experiences, they are not our identity. No two people with the same diagnosis are exactly alike. Each individual is shaped by their unique life experiences, relationships, and contexts.
Sometimes, diagnostic labels come with stigma, which can lead to feelings of shame or the belief that something is inherently “wrong” with you. In reality, many diagnoses reflect normal human reactions to challenging life circumstances. Holding your diagnosis loosely can remind you that it’s just one piece of your complex story, not the whole picture.
Taking Current Symptoms as Permanent
Psychology and psychotherapy are inherently hopeful fields. As therapists, we hold hope for our clients even when they cannot. Human beings are constantly changing and evolving, with an innate drive to grow and heal.
While a diagnosis might feel like a permanent label, most mental health conditions are not fixed or unchangeable. Recovery is possible, and many people make significant progress, sometimes to the point that they no longer meet the criteria for a diagnosis. Remember, if you’ve met one person with a condition like OCD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, you’ve only met one person—everyone’s journey is unique.
Focusing on “What’s Wrong With Me” Instead of “What Happened to Me”
It’s often easier to focus on “what’s wrong” with us than to explore “what happened” to us. Reflecting on past experiences, relationships, and challenges can feel overwhelming and exhausting. It’s normal to feel physically or emotionally drained after diving into this work, whether with a trusted professional or in your own personal reflective work.
Diagnosis is just one lens through which to view mental health. Frameworks like the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) encourage us to explore the events and meanings that have shaped our experiences. Taking the time to make sense of your story can be a healing process in itself.
Using a Diagnosis as an Excuse or Reason to Avoid
Anxiety often thrives on avoidance. When we’re anxious, it’s natural to avoid situations that trigger those feelings. Unfortunately, avoidance can reinforce anxiety, making it stronger over time. For some, a diagnosis like an anxiety disorder may feel like a justification to avoid certain challenges (“I can’t do X because of my anxiety”).
Therapy can help you gradually face these fears through progressive exposure, thought challenging, and coping techniques. By learning that you can handle more than you initially thought, you can begin to reduce avoidance and build resilience—one step at a time.
Empowerment and Moving Forward
Hold your diagnosis loosely. It may be an important tool for understanding your experiences and accessing support, but it is only one part of your story. Take what resonates and leave the rest. Focus on your strengths. You’ve faced every challenge life has thrown at you so far and survived. What other strengths can you uncover as you continue your journey?
Remember, no person is defined by a label. You are complex, resilient, and capable of growth. Recovery is possible, and you are not alone in this process.
What strengths have you discovered in yourself through this journey? Reflecting on that question may be the first step in moving forward.
Written by Deirdre Ferriter.
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