Not Every Overwhelming Feeling Needs a Diagnosis: ADHD, Trauma Response, Narcissistic Personality Disorder is all over social media.

When Overwhelm Feels Like Freefall

In my work as a clinical psychologist, I often meet clients burdened by stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Many ask, “Is something wrong with me? Do I have…?”—a question fuelled by a world that increasingly seeks quick labels and definitive answers. While diagnostic clarity can be valuable, not every struggle requires a label. Not every overwhelming feeling signifies a disorder.

Therapy is not just about mirroring emotions or validating pain. It’s about something deeper—helping clients understand, contextualise, and contain their emotions so they can navigate them with greater clarity and resilience. Without this structure, emotions can feel like freefall. Also, unidentified fear can keep them in coping responses that create a never-ending loop that keeps them stuck despite their best efforts to move forward.

The Importance of Containment in Therapy

Validation is crucial in therapy. Clients need to be heard, seen, and understood. But equally important is containment—the ability to provide a framework that helps clients make sense of their emotions rather than being consumed by them.

Without containment, therapy can unintentionally reinforce or even amplify distress. Research suggests that excessive rumination without structured processing can exacerbate anxiety and depression. When clients dwell on their worries without direction, their emotional state can feel even more overwhelming. This is where the therapeutic process steps in—not just as a space to express, but as a structured approach to understanding and transformation.

Beyond Labels: The Risk of Over-Pathologising

We live in a time where psychological terminology is more accessible than ever, thanks to social media and popular self-help content. While increased awareness of mental health is positive, it has also led to the overuse of diagnostic terms in everyday conversations.

It’s not uncommon for clients to come in questioning whether they—or someone in their lives—might be a narcissist, have ADHD, or have a trauma response. While these terms can be helpful in certain contexts, they can also become rigid narratives that confine rather than empower.

True psychological understanding is not about boxing someone into a category. It’s about making sense of emotions and patterns in a way that fosters personal growth. Studies show that over-identification with a diagnosis can sometimes lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where individuals feel defined by their struggles rather than capable of change.

Emotions as Clues, Not Evidence of Disorder

One of the most powerful shifts in therapy comes when clients stop seeing their emotions as proof that something is “wrong” with them and start seeing them as meaningful clues. Anxiety, sadness, frustration—these feelings don’t emerge randomly. They often signal unmet needs, unresolved experiences, or patterns that need attention.

For example, anxiety can be a sign of chronic uncertainty or a lack of control over a situation. Sadness may point to an unacknowledged loss. Instead of immediately assigning a label to these emotions, therapy helps clients explore: What is this feeling trying to tell me? What does it reveal about my experiences and needs? This approach aligns with research on emotional intelligence, which suggests that viewing emotions as data—rather than threats—leads to better mental health outcomes.

Understanding as a Path to Liberation

True understanding is not about rigid categorisation—it’s about expanding awareness and capacity. The goal of therapy is not simply to name an experience but to equip clients with tools to navigate it.

When we help clients contextualise their struggles, they begin to see their emotions as part of a larger story rather than as isolated problems. They move from feeling trapped by their emotions to using them as signals for growth. In this way, therapy becomes an empowering process—one that fosters not just self-awareness, but the ability to act on it in ways that serve their well-being.

Common Arguments Against Over-Pathologising: The Role of Social Media Pop Psychology

While the approach of contextualising emotions without immediately resorting to diagnoses has its merits, it’s essential to acknowledge common arguments against this perspective, especially in the context of social media’s influence on pop psychology.

The Rise of Self-Diagnosis and Over-Identification

Social media platforms have democratised information about mental health, leading to increased awareness. However, this accessibility has also resulted in a surge of self-diagnosis found in trends like “NarcTok” on TikTok, where users share content about narcissistic behaviours. While this can lead to increased awareness, it also poses the risk of oversimplifying complex mental health issues. The trend of labelling individuals as “toxic” or “narcissistic” based on limited information can lead to misunderstandings and hinder genuine interpersonal relationships. Mental health professionals express concern that such trends can spread misinformation, leading individuals to make significant decisions based on misguided views.

The Danger of Over-Diagnosis and Impact on Society

Critics argue that the current diagnostic culture may lead to over-diagnosis, where normal behaviours are pathologised. Some professionals caution that over-diagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatments and stigmatisation, emphasising the need for a balanced approach that distinguishes between genuine disorders and normal variations in behaviour.

Further, an emphasis on pathologising and labelling have arguably led to societal impact such as an increase in family estrangement. This was once taboo but is now increasingly common, and unfortunately in some cases, fashionable, like a badge of honour or a symbol of one’s identity.

Final Thoughts

Rather than getting stuck in the question of “What is wrong with me?”, therapy encourages a shift towards “What is this feeling telling me, and how can I move forward?” The difference may seem subtle, but it has profound implications for self-understanding and healing.

Not every overwhelming feeling needs a diagnosis. But every overwhelming feeling does deserve understanding. And it is through that understanding—not labels—that true change begins.

References

• Brackett, M. A., Rivers, S. E., Shiffman, S., Lerner, N., & Salovey, P. (2011). Relating emotional abilities to social functioning: A comparison of self-report and performance measures of emotional intelligence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(4), 780-795.

• Lebowitz, M. S., & Appelbaum, P. S. (2019). Biomedical explanations of psychopathology and their implications for attitudes and beliefs about mental disorders. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 15, 555-577.

• Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wisco, B. E., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Rethinking rumination. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(5), 400-424.

• “Is Your Teen on NarcTok? Here’s What You Need to Know.” Parents.com. Retrieved from https://www.parents.com/narctok-and-why-teens-are-on-it-11687479

• “Autism is soaring—and the ‘medicalization of misbehavior’ bears blame.” New York Post. Retrieved from https://nypost.com/2024/11/14/opinion/autism-is-skyrocketing-due-to-medicalization-of-misbehavior/

• “Do we all have ADHD? Doctors on the dangers of overdiagnosis.” The Times. Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/do-we-all-have-adhd-doctors-on-the-dangers-of-overdiagnosis-lptq7x95x

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Personal growth is a lifelong journey, and small changes can lead to lasting transformation. Whether you’re looking to build self-confidence, set healthier boundaries, or explore your full potential, therapy offers a supportive environment for growth. At Kaki Psychology, I work with individuals to overcome self-doubt, perfectionism, and fear, using evidence-based techniques that empower you to take control of your life and move forward with clarity and confidence.
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