How Over-Identifying with Diagnosis Can Lead to Perpetuating Symptoms
With the increased normalization of referring to the internet for facts and insight, it can be easy to consume and absorb information read online or through ChatGPT as being the only truth. Artificial intelligence has its benefits when used in proportion to your own wisdom. Relying solely on the internet to define yourself, others, or the world can create an identity crisis.
In addition to relying on the internet, licensed professionals can also provide diagnosis and insight based on what you share. While licensed professionals are trained and can provide valuable information as well, relying on them can be limiting and create debilitation when it comes to you being able to understand yourself.
Over-identifying is attaching yourself to someone or something excessively creating blurred lines between you and the other person or thing. Over identification makes it challenging for you to detach yourself from another person or thing. You may begin to see yourself as being a linear one dimensional person depending on another person or thing to help you make sense of yourself. When in reality, you are a multifaceted ever evolving person capable of change and redefining yourself.
Signs you may be over identifying with someone or something can be
feeling lost without the presence of that person or thing
feeling as though you have no control over yourself
believing your story/destiny is already predetermined
defining life events and creating correlations constantly through the same lens or point of view - irregardless of lack of evidence
Over identification can sound similar to making statements and over generalizations on the basis of a predetermined definition or mindset. If you learn, you have a mental health diagnosis, it can be beneficial for bringing clarity towards behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that you have experienced. However, to begin labeling yourself, your behaviors, and your feelings with a mental health diagnoses can be limiting and fixed.
For example, if you have been diagnosed with anxiety, it’s likely to have set you in a direction towards deeper self-awareness. Having a formal diagnosis allows you to feel a sense of relief and validation. It can also assist with getting proper care and treatment. After receiving a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, if you begin to shape yourself to fit a continuous mold of what anxiety is said to look like, it prohibits you from being able to move forward beyond anxiety. Anxiety starts to feel like your core identity, and can cause a new set of complex issues.
Moving forward after receiving more insight and increasing self awareness, whether through a formal diagnosis, an eye opening conversation, or a correlation towards patterns of behavior, may look like
Accepting your past behaviors as past
Being in the present to continue building on the self awareness
Committing yourself to taking action steps towards self improvement and evolution
A diagnosis and increased insight is not the end of your story. It serves as the beginning of redefining and reshaping your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to align with who you want to become. It serves as a baseline for guidance.
We not only validate and reassure you, we also challenge and commit with you to change.
If you believe you have become stuck in your mindset, over-identifying with your diagnosis, and perpetuating a cycle, reach out to us for support with moving forward. Check out our team and book a free consultation here. Complete the form below for questions or additional information.
