Ep. 246 You Are Not Your Diagnosis

I want to take a moment to talk about something that's been on my mind, especially given the tough times we're all facing. Many people are grappling with emotional and mental health challenges, and whether you're in therapy, considering it, or just searching for answers online, it's crucial to remember this: You are not your diagnosis.

There's a troubling trend of labeling people with mental health diagnoses as if it's their entire identity. Whether it's on the news or social media, terms like "narcissist" or "OCD" are thrown around carelessly. But mental health is complex, and even when a diagnosis is given, it's a tool for treatment, not a permanent label.

Think of it like this: if you were diagnosed with anemia last year, it doesn't define you forever. Similarly, mental health conditions can change and improve. Healing is possible, and people do change, especially with the right help and determination.

It's dangerous to pigeonhole others—or ourselves—based on a diagnosis. This is particularly true for children. Labels can limit potential and dismiss individuality. Instead, recognize that while a diagnosis might guide treatment, it doesn't encapsulate a person's entire being or potential.

Remember, even serious conditions like personality disorders or PTSD can be treated and managed effectively. Labels should serve clinicians, not define people. We have a God who heals, and there's always hope.

Please share this message with anyone who might need to hear it. God bless you.

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Allison Ricciardi is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, in practice since 1990. In 2001 Allison founded CatholicTherapists.com, the web’s #1 resource connecting Catholics with faithful Catholic therapists. She is also the director of The Raphael Remedy which offers counseling, coaching and wellness support from an authentically Catholic perspective.

In addition to blogging on her two sites, Allison is a regularly featured contributor on Mind & Spirit. Allison’s unique ability to integrate faith, psychology and common sense has made her a popular guest on radio and television alike.

Grounded in the belief that God made the human person and that the emotions and the spirit are inexorably connected with the physical, Allison also offers wellness support and education as a Certified Essential Oils Wellness Coach. Utilizing God’s natural remedies in nature along with the wisdom revealed through the Scriptures and Church teachings, Allison is better able to address the whole person, body, mind and spirit for true and lasting healing.