I remember a little while ago we talked about what getting a diagnosis means to us, up until yesterday getting a diagnosis was just something that happened when I was sick or went to the doctor so it didn’t mean anything to me. But the other day i was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 2nd stage mania, i guess at first it didn’t mean anything to me but as the day went on i started to realize some of the things that comes with diagnosis like this; even though i am the same person i was before i was given a label, a name to the things that i had be experiencing. society is going to view and label me as damaged goods, unable to regulate myself without outside help and i don’t know why that scares me so much because i haven’t changed i just have a better sense of direction when it comes to treatment for myself. but im so scared of being treated differently that i haven’t even told or talked to my parents or family about it. personally i don’t like to be the center of attention and knowing my parents that’s exactly whats going to happen, i recognize that i am taking the choice away from them about how they are going to respond but i just scared of the possibility of what could be that i don’t want to take that risk. just sitting here now writing this out im realizing that i don’t even know what i would tell them because i don’t really understand it myself and i know that they’ll have questions that i don’t have the answer too. im really trying not to fall down the internet rabbit hole of information because a lot of it could be false, i did talk to my therapist and my psychologist but it still a lot for me and feelings mixed with information never was a good mix for me so im trying to find a god balance but its hard.
Unruly Bodies 
It’s okay. I believe in you. You’re brave for facing the labels of your diagnoses, and honestly very smart for not scaring yourself with the rabbit hole that is the big wide internet. Take a deep breath okay? Tell your family whenever you’re ready; I am beyond sure that there is a community of people out there who can help you and support you. Deep breaths okay. It’s going to be alright.
I feel the same way about not getting sucked into the internet rabbit hole. I think that a diagnosis will better allow me to understand how I can manage myself. Everyday I feel that there is something not normal about the way I feel emotions and it stresses me out because I feel like I don’t know why I act a certain way. With a diagnosis I feel like I could manage myself better because I know exactly why I feel this way and the things to look out for.
I feel this a lot. Even though I do honestly think that some neurological diagnoses may hinder more than we acknowledge, I can’t deny the relief they provide to individuals who feel lost in not knowing why they feel and act certain ways. I’m tired of feeling like I make excuses for who I am but I know having a label provides a certain legitimacy to me that allows for grace and compassion which likely wouldn’t be given without a name…