The article discusses the national conversation around the overdiagnosis of mental health conditions, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressing concerns about people being overly labeled. The author, who works as a therapist, argues that while diagnosis can be beneficial in guiding treatment and easing anxiety, it can also lead individuals to constrain their self-understanding. For instance, the ADHD diagnosis can provide clarity, but it should stimulate further exploration rather than serve as an endpoint to individual inquiry. The author emphasizes the importance of using diagnosis as a tool for opening discussions about personal experiences and broader societal implications.
A diagnostic approach to oneself is not always helpful; we can often use a diagnosis to close a door rather than to open it to further exploration of our experiences.
Many people feel seen when they receive a diagnosis like ADHD, but its value should be viewed not as an answer, but as the opening of a new question.
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