The Weight of Labels: How Diagnoses Can Hinder Healing
In the realm of mental health, diagnoses are often meant to bring clarity—a name for what we’re experiencing, a map for where to begin. But sometimes, the weight of those labels can do more harm than good. They may help clinicians communicate, but for the person on the receiving end, a diagnosis can feel like a life sentence.
The Double-Edged Sword of Diagnostic Labels
When used appropriately, a diagnosis can provide relief—“Ah, that’s what this is.” It can also open the door to insurance coverage, treatment plans, and a sense of direction. But there’s a flip side. Diagnostic labels can create psychological boundaries that keep people boxed into an identity they never chose. They can carry stigma, reinforce shame, and lead people to believe that healing is out of reach.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, stigma and discrimination often worsen symptoms and deter people from seeking treatment. This stigma can manifest as judgment from others, systemic barriers to care, or even internalized beliefs that we are somehow broken or unfixable.
I know this firsthand.
I have also seen it in others. Many people just rely on their diagnoses and instead of staying in the fight to progression in life, they just quit. They accept the diagnoses as a fate they will never be released from. They allow it to cage them into societal norms and judgements. It saddens my heart to see and hear this. While it is important to note that for some of these titles, there are no cures. However, for some, there are tools we can use to continue growing and becoming better versions of ourselves. Some of these diagnoses are just programming that can be fine tuned, if we allow the growth to occur.
Through my journey, I have had the opportunity to share my experiences and thoughts with licensed therapists to help them with their practices and how they talk to those they work with. Words matter. How we use them matters. Simply changing “disorder” to “program” might be a good first start. In TCM (which you will learn more about below), we use the words “guest” and “experience” instead of “patient/client” and “session.” Just simply changing a couple of words can help facilitate change in those we help. This is important for kids, teens, and adults alike. What we are told in childhood can carry a weight that can difficult to shed if we continue to be told there is something “wrong” with us. In the veteran community, I see this a lot also. The medical system thrives off diagnoses and prescriptions. What if we could come together and begin changing some of the norms? How could this help others on another level? These are questions I hope you will ponder as you continue reading.
My Journey Through the Maze of Diagnoses
After enduring multiple traumas across my lifetime, I was eventually diagnosed with Complex PTSD, anxiety disorder, and chronic depression. I remember sitting across from a kind, skilled therapist during my EMDR sessions—and yet, the words that stuck with me were, “This will likely be something you’ll manage for the rest of your life.”
Even with a compassionate provider, that prognosis crushed me.
Instead of feeling hopeful, I felt helpless. My symptoms intensified. I had panic attacks more frequently. There were moments I genuinely questioned whether I wanted to keep going. I couldn’t help but wonder: How many others have been told the same thing? How many people are carrying the weight of a label that feels like a life sentence?
After my 9 months of EMDR, I was ready to fully check out. I will never forget that day. It was Christmas Eve 2024. I looked in the mirror and put a gun to my chin. I will say the gun was not loaded. I just needed the visual. However, just getting to that point was scary. I remember going to church that evening. No one around me knew what I endured that day - the thoughts that were in my head. The only thing that kept me from going further was the thought of, “what if my daughter walked in?” I couldn’t bare thinking of that. I would never want to place that type of traumatic experience onto her. So, I set the gun down and went to church that evening as if nothing had happened.
After the holidays, I did disclose this all to my therapist and we talked through it. I made a decision at that point - I refused to ever allow myself to get to that point again. I felt so lonely and lost in that season. While I have been on a journey ever since that have still placed some thoughts of “everyone would be better off without me,” I now know that is not true. God has me here for a reason and He has all of us in His arms for a purpose greater than we will ever know.
For more on the journey, please go subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the bell for new content. Watch my premier video that talks about that day and what has led me to keep going. Find the video here.
Challenging the “Forever” Diagnosis
I’m not here to say that diagnoses aren’t helpful—sometimes they are. But I am saying that healing is possible, and we need to stop speaking to people as if they are stuck forever.
When I began learning about The Cortina Method (TCM), my perspective shifted. Developed by Michael Cortina, TCM is a brain-based approach that resolves trauma by addressing it at the subconscious level—without the need to relive or retell painful experiences. It was unlike anything I had ever encountered.
I experienced one session for myself, and what happened afterward was hard to describe—it felt like a weight lifted. Not because I had learned how to “manage” my trauma better, but because I had finally released it. Something I thought I would carry forever... was just gone.
This is why I became a certified practitioner in TCM. Because people deserve to know that freedom is possible.
From Labels to Liberation
So, if you’re someone who’s been told that your diagnosis defines you, or that you’ll always be “this way,” I want you to know: that’s not the end of your story.
You are not your diagnosis. You are not broken. There is more healing available than you’ve been told.
I’m offering a limited number of TCM sessions at this time because I want more people to experience what’s possible when we stop identifying with our wounds and start trusting in our body’s ability to heal.
Schedule a Free Discovery Call: Click here to book
You Are More Than a Diagnosis
Whether you’re a mental health professional, student, or someone simply navigating your own healing journey—let’s begin to ask better questions. Let’s treat people, not pathologies. Let’s make room for stories that end in freedom, not lifelong struggle.
Healing doesn’t always have to be hard. Sometimes it starts with a new conversation—and the courage to believe that change is possible.
Resource List for Further Exploration:
Mental Health Stigma – American Psychiatric Association
Note: This blog is based on personal experiences and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. I just went through training for The Cortina Method and now would like to invite guests to experience it for themselves as I utilize my training and collect my own data and testimonials. My only ask for those who receive a free TCM session is that you provide a video and written testimonial and also allow me to follow-up to see how you feel in about a week after the session. My final ask is that you will send (3) others to me when you receive the release you desire. The free offer is for ONE session only. IF a follow-up session is desired, please use this link to book: https://calendly.com/ladyjempowers/tcm-session. Please understand the sessions can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, so we will block out 1.5 hours and go from there. Sessions will not go over 2 hours in a day. If we need more time, we will simply book an extra session. My promise to you is no matter what, you WILL receive SOME release. If you don't, we will go over next steps and a possible referral. I look forward to serving you and helping you heal from within.
