Many mental health providers whom I’ve met in recent years have expressed pretty negative feelings about the concept of diagnosis when it comes to our field. And to be sure, I have even been known to say “diagnoses are for billing.” I recognize the utility of being able to spot certain clusters of behavior, emotional states and thought patterns in order to formulate a plan on how to go about helping the person, but really, what is the value of the diagnosis?
People in treatment often get fixated on their diagnosis. Part of the reason seems to be that being able to name it, to identify it as a “disease” makes them feel less guilty about ways in which their lives are unhappy. But does one need a diagnosis for their unhappiness to be legitimate?
If you are unhappy, you don’t need a disease. It’s part of the human condition to be unhappy sometimes. Maybe we can fix the problem together. Otherwise, we can help you to learn to tolerate - perhaps even embrace - your unhappy times, so that life is more manageable.