Why Labels Stick—And How Overdiagnosis Can Rewrite Lives and Self-Identity

Since the 1980s, the number of named mental disorders has exploded, in part due to the influence of American psychiatric manuals. With each edition—often built from committee debates and checklists—behaviors once seen as quirky or within normal range became redefined as symptoms or syndromes. A single label can now shift a person’s relationship with their teachers, coworkers, or doctor, sometimes opening doors to support, but also boxing them in or coloring every future interaction.

It’s not just individuals who feel the impact. Families, schools, and whole communities are transformed as diagnoses fuel advocacy, stigma, special accommodations, and sometimes skepticism. Well-intentioned professionals may make judgments based on incomplete checklists or a moment of troubling behavior, not the whole person. This labeling can bring relief to some by validating their struggles, but to others it spells years of misunderstanding or unnecessary medication.

Research in labeling theory and stigma shows that once a powerful label is attached, it shapes expectations, self-identity, and treatment by others—often much more than the initial behavior or experience ever did. Recognizing the social and systemic context behind every label is key to making fair, informed, and compassionate decisions.

Next time you find yourself using a mental health label—whether about yourself, a student, a colleague, or someone in the news—pause to review what you really know about the criteria, the origin of the diagnosis, and whether there could be another explanation for what you're seeing. Seek out different viewpoints and question whether the label helps or hinders growth and understanding. Talk to a second expert before you let a diagnosis become a defining story. Let your next label be chosen with care, and see how it changes the outcome for you and those around you.