What are the disadvantages of having a psychiatric diagnosis?
Although it can be a relief to get a diagnosis and be on your way towards effective treatment, there are also drawbacks. One drawback is that when someone is diagnosed, they may feel embarrassed, ashamed or defective because of this “label”. Many people with depression already feel worthless and defective, so adding a label can be like adding insult to injury. This is another reason to make sure you are correctly diagnosed and have the support of a professional during this process. We all know that “nobody is perfect” and that huge numbers of happy, successful people have mental illness. This may not be reassuring, however, because depression and the shock of the initial diagnosis can make it hard to “believe” or “feel”, at a gut level. It can take time to prove to yourself that you are capable of having a fulfilling life regardless of any “diagnosis”. As discussed above, it is still a little unclear how valid these diagnostic labels are and they certainly don’t define anyone, even if
