You Are Not Your Diagnosis: Seeing Beyond Labels to Find Your True Self

By: Dr. Barbara Bartlik on why healing begins with treating the person, not the condition

It’s a phrase Dr. Barbara Bartlik hears often in her practice: “I have bipolar.” Or, “I’m OCD.” For many patients, these diagnoses feel like defining features—labels that reduce their complex humanity to a set of symptoms. But Bartlik, an integrative psychiatrist, challenges this mindset.

“You are not your diagnosis,” she insists. “You are a unique individual with traits, emotions, and experiences that go far beyond any label.”

The Limits of Labels

In modern psychiatry, diagnosis often serves as a shortcut to treatment. But Bartlik warns that it can also create a harmful sense of identity. “People internalize these labels, believing they are fundamentally broken or limited because of them,” she explains. “This can lead to hopelessness, self-stigmatization, and a distorted sense of self.”

She also highlights the clinical reality: psychiatric medications are not diagnosis-specific. “The same medication might be used for bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or OCD. I don’t treat diagnoses—I treat symptoms,” Bartlik says. “What matters is what the person is experiencing: anxiety, insomnia, sadness. That’s where I start.”

A Spectrum, Not a Sentence

This perspective is especially relevant when working with patients on the autism spectrum. Bartlik recalls the profound impact of shifting diagnostic language, such as removing Asperger’s syndrome as a distinct category. “Someone with high-functioning autism may now be told they’re on the autistic spectrum, but that term covers such a wide range. It can feel overwhelming and discouraging for individuals trying to understand where they fit.”

She notes how identifying too strongly with a diagnosis can make patients gravitate toward others who share their label—not always for the better. “Instead of finding role models who inspire growth, they may get pulled into communities that reinforce a sense of limitation,” Bartlik cautions. However, she also shares stories of patients who have successfully overcome these limitations, finding inspiration and support in communities that focus on growth and resilience.

The Individual Behind the Symptoms

Bartlik’s approach is rooted in seeing each patient as a whole person rather than a collection of diagnostic codes. “Every individual is more than their challenges. They have strengths, talents, and potential that deserve recognition,” she says.

This philosophy shifts the therapeutic conversation from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What do you need to thrive?” By focusing on the person rather than the problem, Bartlik helps her patients cultivate resilience, self-compassion, and the belief that they are capable of growth and change. For instance, instead of focusing on the symptoms of anxiety, the conversation could revolve around what activities or support systems the patient needs to feel more at ease and in control.

The Final Word: Redefining Identity on Your Terms

A diagnosis can provide clarity and direction for treatment, but it should never define who you are. Bartlik urges her patients to see labels as tools—not identities. She clarifies that a diagnosis is a description of a set of symptoms or conditions, while an identity is a complex and unique combination of traits, experiences, and emotions. “You’re not broken. You’re not a diagnosis. You’re a person with challenges, yes, but also with dreams, talents, and a unique story to tell.”

Her message is both liberating and empowering: “Don’t let a label shrink your world. Use it only as a stepping stone toward understanding yourself better and finding the right support. Ultimately, you are so much more than any word on a medical chart.” Remember, you are not your diagnosis. You are a unique individual with a story to tell and a life to live.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Barbara Bartlik is a renowned integrative psychiatrist with over three decades of clinical experience, specializing in the intersection of mental health, sexual health, and functional medicine. Board-certified in psychiatry and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, she is celebrated for her holistic approach to treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction.  As an editor of Integrative Sexual Health (a volume in Dr. Andrew Weil’s Integrative Medicine Library), Dr. Bartlik brings academic rigor to her innovative work. She integrates lifestyle medicine, nutritional strategies, and mind-body therapies into psychiatric care, helping patients achieve transformative healing.

A sought-after speaker and media contributor, she addresses audiences worldwide on topics from PTSD recovery to menopause and andropause support. Based in Manhattan, Dr. Bartlik continues to redefine mental health care for the modern age—bridging science, compassion, and whole-person wellness.