Destigmatizing Labels: Why Getting Help is a Beginning, Not an End

Today, I want to talk about the invisible wall that keeps so many people from finding relief, from truly living: the fear of getting help because of the “label.”

My community outreach coordinator, Gina and I, had a very interesting encounter at a recent veterans’ event.  As many of you know, one of my passions is working with folks who are suffering with PTSD, which is a very common problem among our veterans. 

Well, we had a table set up among a multitude of vendors and office representatives at a local convention center, had a signup sheet where people could leave their name, phone number and email if they desired more information about the services our clinic provides.  We also had pamphlets, cards, and posters about the services we offered.

People were initially friendly, respectful, asked questions about what we do…then as soon as they found out we were in the mental health field they didn’t care WHAT we were offering, they dropped our pamphlets like hot potatoes and backed away slowly as if we were going to chase them down and put them into a straight jacket.  For the rest of the day it was the same.  We had maybe two people out of hundreds there be interested in what we had to say once we told them we were in the mental health field, then the rest of the folks treated us like we were contagious.  What in the actual hell?!?!?  This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve encountered stigma but it was certainly the most in your face one.

I know I've heard it countless times in my practice at The Anderson Clinic: “I think I might be depressed, but I don't want a label.” Or, “I can't tell anyone about my anxiety attacks or they’ll think I'm crazy.” Or, “If I get diagnosed with bipolar disorder, that's it – my life is over.” This fear – this belief that a diagnosis is a death sentence, a permanent scarlet letter – is one of the most powerful barriers to healing.

But here's the truth, and it's a truth I want to etch into your mind today: A label, in the hands of a skilled professional, is not a judgment or a limitation. It is a roadmap. It's a key. It's the beginning of understanding, not the end of your life. It's a tool for effective treatment, not a sentence of permanent doom. My goal today is to help you break free from this powerful, self-imposed stigma and understand why getting help, for whatever you're struggling with, is the most courageous step you can take."

First and foremost, let’s talk about the fear of the label. Your fear of ANY mental health label isn't irrational; it's a product of decades, even centuries, of societal misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and genuine discrimination around mental illness. I mean, for God’s sake, there were entire decades that women were put away in sanitariums if they were deemed to be “hysterical” or even if they had sexual intercourse outside of wedlock.  Silence proved to be an important safety measure!

We've been taught to view mental conditions as moral failings or character flaws, rather than treatable health conditions. Your brain is a part of your body just as much as your heart or lungs are.  And last time I checked, you couldn’t “talk yourself out of” an arryhthmia or force your lungs to exchange oxygen better just because you gave it a pep talk!  You internalize that societal judgment, and then it turns into a self-imposed stigma which can keep you from seeking out help.

It's understandable to be afraid. Movies portray mental illness in extreme ways. Historically, there was profound shame, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest comes to mind. But that's outdated and inaccurate.  There are hundreds of thousands of people in the general population living with struggles you would be completely unaware of unless you truly knew them.  Are every single one of them “doomed?”

So many feel as if to be diagnosed with a mental illness is tantamount to a death sentence. Why does it feel so permanent? Because we equate mental health labels with a fixed identity, rather than a dynamic state. It’s like believing a diagnosis of diabetes means you'll always be sick and unable to live a full life – and maybe never have a sweet treat again, which positively IS NOT true IF managed effectively.  The true “death sentence” isn't the label; it's the unchecked suffering. It's the years lost to depression, the relationships fractured by anxiety, the potential unfulfilled life because you were too afraid to acknowledge what was happening inside. That's the real permanence: the prolonged pain of untreated illness when you were too afraid to share it with somebody.

If you’ve been suffering long enough, perhaps you've tried to understand your symptoms yourself. You've Googled, you've tried to just “snap out of it.” You’ve read all the self-help books and attended all the gurus’ workshops. You’ve tried to talk yourself into positive affirmations, you went completely organic.  You’re exercising and getting sunshine every day.  However, while self-awareness is good, trying to manage complex conditions without expert guidance is like attempting brain surgery on yourself – potentially disastrous.

I want to challenge you for a moment, and I want you to ignore the word “diagnosis.” Just focus instead on the pain you're experiencing. Is that pain worth keeping it secret out of fear of a word or a label? And, consider what is the actual cost of not getting help right now?"  It could get worse, you could lose your income stream, your job, your friends, your relationships, you could potentially lose everything, including your life.  And, for what it’s worth, do your friends or loved ones or coworkers give a crap about what you call the issue?  Or do they care more about getting their person back?

A professional diagnosis isn't about boxing you in; it's about setting you free. It's about precision. If you had a persistent cough, you wouldn't just say “I have a cough” forever. You'd want to know if it's allergies, bronchitis, or pneumonia, because each requires a different, specific treatment. Mental health issues are no different.

A diagnosis just provides a framework. It helps your clinician understand what is happening, not who you are. See the difference?  It’s an issue you have not an identity you are saddled with.  It’s the difference between “I have depression versus I am a depressed person.”  The diagnosis guides treatment plans – whether that's specific therapy modalities, different types of medications, lifestyle changes, lab work-ups, or a combination thereof. Without the diagnosis, treatment is often a shot in the dark.

Frequently what we see in patients when receiving a diagnosis, there is often a feeling of relief. “Oh my gosh!  It has a name! It's not just me. I'm not making it up. Other people experience this, and there are ways I can feel better!” It can be so profound to know you are not alone, that you are seen as a human being and not an illness, that you are not judged and that your clinician has seen, diagnosed, and treated a number of people in your boat!

It’s also important to recognize that many mental health conditions are episodic. Depression lifts. Anxiety can be managed. PTSD symptoms can remit and your nervous system can calm down. Even chronic conditions like bipolar disorder are highly manageable with the right tools and support. Think of it like managing a chronic physical condition – it requires ongoing care, and sometimes office visits, but it doesn't define your entire existence.  Much like the diabetic, yes you have to watch your carbs but you are not required to live a carb-free existence.  You have a life outside the diabetes.  You will have a life outside your diagnosis.

As you heal, as your symptoms evolve, so too might the clinical understanding of your experience. Labels are dynamic, not static. They are descriptors of a current mental state, not a life sentence.

Imagine if your physical body is in pain, but you refuse to name the pain because you're afraid of what the doctor might say. Does that make the pain go away? Absolutely not. It prevents you from getting the right treatment. Could it get worse over time?  Absolutely yes.  Apply that same logic to your mind. What specific treatment might open up for you if you're willing to name the pain?"

The only way out of this cycle of fear and suffering is through it. And getting through it means taking the courageous step to admit you need support, and then actively seeking it. Waiting for it to magically disappear is a fantasy that fuels chronic suffering and may lead to the suffering of those around you who care about you as well.  I am going to ask you to be brave and ask for the help that you need to get out of your pain.  We all need help sometimes, and this is no different than having a sprained ankle.  Why would you continue to walk on it without treating it appropriately? 

Recognize too, that asking for help doesn't always mean medication first. It can mean therapy, working with a coach, joining a support group, seeing a psychiatrist for an evaluation, or even just having an honest conversation with a trusted friend or family member. Start where you're comfortable.  And, as we discussed in my previous podcast on commonly misdiagnosed pairs, it could be that you have a physical ailment with a psychological symptom!  Sometimes asking for help means you need a medical workup as well.

I want you to focus on the outcome, not the diagnosis: Shift your focus from “what label might I get?” to “what relief can I find?” Focus on the desire for less anxiety, more joy, better sleep, easier concentration and task completion, stronger relationships, a clearer mind. THOSE are the true goals.

At The Anderson Clinic, our priority isn't to brand you with a label. Our priority is to understand your unique struggles, to listen deeply to your experience, and to use our expertise to build a personalized roadmap to your well-being. A diagnosis, if one is determined, is merely one piece of that intricate puzzle, a guide for us to help you more effectively. We see the whole person, not just a set of symptoms.

And you don't have to overhaul your entire life in one day. The courage is in the first step: reaching out, making that phone call, scheduling that initial consultation. That single act breaks the chain of self-imposed stigma.

So if you're listening right now and feeling the weight of an unnamed struggle, make a commitment to yourself. Today, right now, take one concrete action towards getting help. Whether it's looking up a therapist, scheduling a consultation with The Anderson Clinic, or telling one trusted person what you're going through. Take that single, courageous step. Your future self is waiting for you on the other side of that fear.

The decision to seek help is a profound act of self-love and courage. It's telling yourself, “My health and well-being matter more than societal judgments.” Don't let the fear of a label define your life or limit your potential. At The Anderson Clinic, we are here to walk with you on this journey, providing compassionate, evidence-based care without judgment. Visit www.andersonclinic.net or call us at (513) 321-1753 to take that courageous first step. Thank you for tuning into Psych Waves, and remember, your healing journey begins when you choose to illuminate what's been in t