Psychiatric diagnosis has taken on a new role in public life. Turbocharged by social media, “therapy speak” has permeated every corner of today’s culture. More and more people are diagnosing themselves with mental health and behavioral disorders, whether or not they’ve seen a licensed mental health care provider. In fact, many people are embracing a psychiatric diagnosis … to explain who they are, define their identities, and find community online.
That’s sometimes a good thing. Society is more accepting than ever of mental health struggles and finding validation and support for one’s challenges, rather than hiding them or “muscling through.” But there is a dark side to this democratization of diagnosis.
Studies show that when psychiatric labels become part of a person’s identity, as seems to be the case for many people, they may actually impede recovery and self-understanding.
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… This shift reflects more than just growing awareness of mental health struggles. It speaks to a cultural hunger to be seen, validated, and understood by our parents, peers, and society at large.
