Are we facing a labelling epidemic?

You might have heard it in conversation when a relative jokes about being ‘a bit OCD’. Perhaps you’ve spotted it in a parenting Facebook group when concerned parents rush to tell a worried mum that her son’s behaviours sound like ADHD.  

Maybe you’ve noticed it in the comments section of viral social media posts about autism, anxiety, or bipolar, with numerous people chiming in claiming to tick all of the boxes. 

These days, labelling is everywhere. It can be helpful for people who have never quite been able to put a finger on why they feel the way they do, but haphazardly using these terms to describe yourself or others, with little understanding of what these conditions actually are or how people experience them, is problematic – and it seems to be on the rise. 

Charlotte Armitage is concerned that neurodivergence is being misinterpreted as any behaviour outside of what society deems the norm

Charlotte Armitage, a registered integrative psychotherapist and psychologist, says it’s something she’s seeing more and more of. “I think that social media has a lot to answer for as there are many videos online with people describing traits of certain disorders,” she notes. 

“It’s easy for someone to watch these videos and identify with the traits without truly recognising or appreciating the context in which these traits would require a diagnosis. It leads to people overidentifying with what is posted online and attributing those traits to themselves.” 

If you’ve done your research and genuinely feel that you have some form of neurodivergence or mental health concern, then finally having a name for your behaviours can be a great thing. Seeing content that reflects your experiences online can be a comfort as well. 

But the risk is that many people will seek labels for any behaviour, pattern, or emotion that’s outside of the perma-happy bubble that society has set as the norm. 

“There seems to be a desire to pathologize the human experience, seeing adverse emotions as something that requires intervention or diagnosis, when in reality, it’s normal to feel a whole array of positive and negative emotions,” Armitage surmises. 

“The saying that ‘a little bit of knowledge is dangerous’ springs to mind,” she adds. “It might be that someone has had a certain experience of their own but then judges all behaviour through that lens.” 

Often, labelling others says more about you than it does about them. “Some people may enjoy the power of being able to identify and label traits, but this serves more to fulfil the needs of the person communicating their opinion rather than to support the individual who is seeking help,” Armitage explains.  

Labelling poses even more of a problem when it comes to kids. “Children are still developing and evolving, and many childhood behavioural traits may seem like traits of a disorder when there are other potential explanations for that behaviour,” Armitage notes.  

Ideally, Armitage says a diagnosis, be it for an adult or a child, should be carried out by a qualified mental health professional. “A clinician will ensure that the diagnosis is correct and communicate that diagnosis in a way that is appropriate and helpful for the individual,” she says. 

When that doesn’t happen, Armitage says it can lead to the individual feeling flawed and act as a hindrance to their recovery. 

Self-diagnosis can be a helpful tool to better understanding yourself

While labelling others – especially children – is a habit best avoided, sometimes self-diagnosing can be a useful – and often necessary – tool. 

Jennifer Cairns (50), who is autistic and self-diagnosed with ADHD says having a name for her behaviours has had a “profound” effect. 

“Like most people who are neurodivergent – especially women – I spent most of my life, wondering what the heck was wrong with me, why I wasn't like others, why I struggled so much to fit in, and why everything felt so hard,” she muses. 

Even after being told she was autistic in her mid-40s, Jennifer says not everything made sense. “I couldn't make sense of some behaviours and sticking points with the autistic side,” she recalls. Eventually, Jennifer realised she had ADHD.

Since self-diagnosing, Jennifer says being better able to understand herself and having a label has allowed her to thrive. “I've worked really hard over the past couple of years to accept myself with all of my neurodiversity and disabilities, and to figure out how to best build a business that suits me,” she explains. 

“Having this understanding has helped me with acceptance but also with ensuring that others understand my needs as well. I’ve learned to use aspects of my neurodiversity in the best ways possible and I ensure I fill the gaps where I need more help or strategies in place.” 

While Jennifer believes understanding ourselves (labels or not) is the first step to being happier, she says there’s a risk that people can label themselves and others without really considering what it means to be neurodiverse. 

“There isn't a ‘little bit’ of ADHD or any other neurodiversity. Someone is neurodiverse or they're not,” she points out. “This is where I can see harm coming from a lack of understanding of what it truly means and people using the labels as they think they're in fashion now.” 

Jennifer says phrases that make light of neurodivergence or mental health conditions can be reductive. “It minimises the struggles we go through and dilutes the realities of what being neurodiverse means,” she surmises. 

Cathy Wassell, CEO of registered charity Autistic Girls Network, shares similar sentiments. She points out that being recognised as neurodivergent is not about naming behaviours; it’s something you can’t take away from someone. Or as she puts it, “It's not a handbag you can pick up and put down.” 

With growing wait times for a diagnosis, turning to amateur guidance is sometimes the only option

While labelling people’s behaviours is little more than flippant psychoanalysing for some, for others, it’s the only option. Getting an official diagnosis can prove difficult, time-consuming and costly. Jennifer says she’s currently on a waiting list for a diagnosis but that it’s so long she’s not thinking about it. 

The long wait may go some way to explaining why many take to Facebook groups and other online forums seeking advice – and why the advice is often inaccurate and vague. 

“The support here [in the UK] for adults is minimal at best so the only advantage [of an official diagnosis] is having that actual piece of paper. I may not even follow up and complete the process,” Jennifer admits. 

Instead, Jennifer will be seeking a better understanding of herself and what it means to have autism and ADHD. For her, that means continuing to learn what works for her and what doesn’t.  

There are many resources that offer support to those looking for a diagnosis

If you’ve noticed certain patterns and behaviours, and you suspect you or your child are neurodivergent or have an undiagnosed mental health condition, you might be wondering where to access the correct support.  

Your first port of call should, of course, be your doctor. If you’re in a position to go private, Armitage recommends finding mental health professionals from the Health Care Professions Council, the British Psychoanalytic Council, or the Royal College of Psychiatrists. 

Of course, not everyone wants a diagnosis from a doctor. You might be perfectly content having reached an understanding yourself. At this point, Wassell says many people go through a period where they re-evaluate things that have happened in their lives. 

“There might be some grief, regret or anger that it took so long to find out. You may want to tell family and friends and you may want to ask for reasonable adjustments at work but that's all going to be very individual to each person,” she explains. 

Whether you choose to self-diagnose or not, Jennifer says it’s important to remember you are more than a label. 

“We aren't labels, even though we use them. A label doesn't define (good or bad) who you are,” she points out. “The most important thing to remember is that you aren't broken, less or incapable.” 

Sometimes a label just gives you a name for those behaviours that once felt unusual or out-of-sync with the rest of society. Sometimes, having a name for something means those behaviours don’t seem so unusual or strange after all. 

As Wassell notes, a diagnosis can alert you to the fact that you are not alone, and that there are, in fact, many people who experience life in the same way you do. How you go about getting that diagnosis is really up to you.  

Read more: How to support those with mental health issues

Read more: Does ADHD cause eating disorders?

Keep up with the top stories from Reader's Digest by subscribing to our weekly newsletter

*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.