“Do Diagnosis Help or Hurt? A Personal Take”

Hey everyone!
I hope you’re all well and had an amazing weekend. It’s been a bit too hot for my liking lately—I’ve really struggled with the heat this past week!

Today, I want to talk about something that means a lot to me: diagnosis—and whether or not they’re helpful.

You see, I’ve been diagnosed with a few things over the years, and I’ve seen both the good and the not-so-good sides of it. I’ve also noticed more professionals talking about whether diagnosing someone actually helps—or if it can sometimes do more harm than good, especially without proper support in place.

If you’re a professional and have thoughts on this, I’d really love to hear from you.

My Experience with Diagnosis

Back in 2006, when I was 18, I was diagnosed with a serious mental health condition—mild schizophrenia. And honestly? That diagnosis went straight to my head. I didn’t fully understand what it meant, and I ended up using it as a reason for everything that went wrong in my life. I had no support from services and was basically left to my own devices. In that case, I do think the diagnosis caused more harm than good—because giving someone a label without any tools or support to manage it can be dangerous.

Fast forward to 2018—I had what the psychiatrist called a psychotic breakdown. After reassessment, I was told I didn’t have schizophrenia at all. My actual diagnosis was EUPD (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder), also known as BPD. This time, though, I was given a bit of support and placed on a course to help me understand my condition.

That was a game changer. I finally learned to live with my diagnosis—not as my diagnosis. That shift in thinking really helped, and I’m actually grateful for it now. It helped me stop blaming everything on a label and instead start taking steps forward.

A New Understanding: Autism Diagnosis

More recently, I’ve also been diagnosed with Autism. This one was a big learning curve for me too—but it answered so many questions. It helped me understand why I was the way I was growing up and why certain things always felt a bit off or different. I wish I’d known sooner.

I’ve heard people say things like, “You never used to hear about this many kids getting diagnosed,” or “Why are so many adults being diagnosed late?” When I was in college, I was told it was easier to get diagnosed if you were in university—but who knows if that was actually true?

My thought is that we’re only now starting to talk about these things more openly. Even so, it’s still not talked about enough. There’s still stigma and misunderstanding, especially when it comes to autism and other neurological conditions.

So… Are Diagnoses Helpful?

Here’s my take: A diagnosis—on its own—is just a label.
But a diagnosis with the right support in place? That can be life-changing.

It can give someone understanding, tools, community, and direction. It can explain years of confusion. But without support, it can leave someone feeling stuck, labelled, and alone.

Everyone’s different. We’re all unique. And whether or not a diagnosis is helpful really depends on how it’s handled—by professionals, services, and the person themselves.

If you’re a professional and have thoughts on this topic, I’d love to hear your view. And if you know someone who might be interested in this blog, feel free to share it with them.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you all have an amazing week ahead.
See you in the next one!

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