We Are Living Through the Age of Labels
There has never been a time when so many adults are seeking diagnoses for ADHD, autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Waiting lists continue to grow, social media is filled with content helping people identify with diagnostic labels, and many describe finally receiving an explanation for struggles they’ve experienced throughout life.
For many, this is deeply validating.
Yet I recently attended a fascinating lecture by Professor Sami Timimi that asked a very different question:
What if diagnosis is only one way of understanding human difference?
The Relief of Being Understood
A diagnosis can bring enormous relief.
People often describe finally feeling seen.
There is comfort in knowing you’re not lazy, stupid or failing.
That experience deserves respect.
But Professor Timimi also explored another side of the conversation.
Some people later discover that the diagnosis gradually becomes their identity.
Instead of asking
“How can I grow?”
the question becomes
“Is this just my ADHD?”
Those are very different questions.
When Labels Become Lenses
One of the most interesting ideas from the talk was that once we adopt a label, we begin interpreting our entire life through it.
The messy house.
The forgotten appointments.
The emotional reactions.
The unfinished projects.
Everything suddenly has a single explanation.
Yet human beings are rarely that simple.
Are We Confusing Difference With Disorder?
This was perhaps the question that stayed with me.
There have always been people who think quickly.
People who struggle with routine.
People who are highly sensitive.
People who need movement.
People who are intensely focused.
People who talk constantly.
When did these natural variations become disorders?
My Own Work Has Led Me Somewhere Different
For many years my work has centred around recognising energetic patterns in people.
Some individuals naturally process life verbally.
Others process visually.
Some require freedom.
Others crave structure.
Some feel everything intensely.
Others remain calm under pressure.
I don’t see these as defects.
I see them as patterns.
Patterns create strengths.
Patterns also create challenges.
The aim isn’t to erase the pattern.
It’s to understand it.
My Son Taught Me This
My son is now an adult.
I never sought a formal diagnosis for him.
Instead, I’ve always thought of him as someone with neurodevelopmental challenges.
That language feels kinder to me.
It acknowledges genuine difficulties without suggesting that his identity is defined by a label.
Responsibility Still Matters
Perhaps this is where I differ most from current culture.
Understanding ourselves is important.
Compassion is important.
Support is important.
But so is personal responsibility.
Knowing how our minds naturally work should never become a reason to stop growing.
It should become the starting point for growth.
Perhaps We Need Both Science and Wisdom
I don’t believe every diagnosis is unnecessary.
Nor do I believe every difference needs one.
Maybe the challenge is learning to distinguish between the two.
Not every unusual pattern needs fixing.
Sometimes it simply needs understanding.
Thoughts
What if our greatest task isn’t discovering which box we fit into?
What if it’s discovering who we are beneath the labels?
Further Reading
The ideas explored in this article have been influenced by the work of Professor Sami Timimi, a recently retired Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, author, researcher and internationally recognised speaker. I recently attended one of his thought-provoking seminars on neurodiversity, which encouraged participants to reflect critically and compassionately on the way diagnosis, identity and mental health are understood in modern society. His work doesn’t dismiss people’s experiences; rather, it asks important questions about how we define normality, distress and difference.
You can learn more about his work here:
Professor Sami Timimi’s website
I have also found the work of A Disorder for Everyone incredibly valuable. The organisation brings together professionals, researchers and practitioners who explore alternatives to purely diagnostic approaches to mental health. Their emphasis is on understanding the whole person, their relationships, life experiences and circumstances, rather than assuming distress is always best understood as a medical disorder.
I first came across their work while supporting a client who had received what I believed was an inappropriate psychiatric diagnosis and had subsequently been prescribed several medications that significantly affected both his mental and physical wellbeing. Attending one of their professional seminars helped me better understand the wider issues surrounding diagnosis and gave me greater confidence to encourage my client to seek further professional advice and a second opinion. I remain grateful for the balanced, evidence-informed discussions they provide.
You can find out more about their work here:
