RE: Diagnosis as a Path to Self-Acceptance
I SO agree with your take on diagnosis. It is not a cure, but it is an explanation. I know someone who was diagnosed with autism spectrum as an adult, soon after her divorce, and she basically said, "well, that explains a lot!"
My own labels include joint hypermobility syndrome, secondary infertility, and anxiety with occasional bouts of depression. Finding out the name for what was going on didn't heal me in itself, but it helped me understand, for instance, that I was going to need a lot of physical therapy and to learn to do almost everything differently in order to protect my body.
Each label is almost like a membership card to a group you never really wanted to be a part of, but then it can help you find community too. Thanks for sharing.
Yes yes yes. I never thought, "Oooh, wouldn't it be great if I was diagnosed with . . . " but each diagnosis has been great in its own way. What you are saying about learning how to best care for your body is amazing. What a wonderful thing to learn--how not to destroy ourselves. <3