You don't have to tell anyone what your diagnosis is or that you have any diagnosis at all. Diagnosis is a tool for therapists to be able to categorize or summarize the type of problems that you are having in a short-hand way. Because we know that there are similarities of groups of symptoms and often causes that fit together, we have a better idea of what types of treatment might be helpful to you based on what has helped other people with similar problems. You can also find information on your diagnosis that might help you to understand it better, or find other people that you can related to, etc. You might share your diagnosis if you feel that it would help someone else to understand what you are dealing with so that they can understand or know how to help you. If they are a person who will care about understanding you or helping you.

It is important to remember that you are you. Whatever diagnosis you have is just some information about some of the challenges in your life. You are still you. The people you interact with need to know that you are you, not a diagnosis. Sometimes being open about having mental illness can help to fight stigma because it helps people to realize that mental illness is something that affects real people that they interact with all the time, not just some unknown crazy people someplace else that they don't know and don't care about. If you choose to share your diagnosis, it is important that you make it clear that even though you have some struggles, you are still the same person that they knew before knowing your diagnosis.

I share that I have an autistic spectrum disorder if I want to explain why I am so literal and don't catch on to things the same way that others do, or I want them to understand my sensitivity or other problems that I have that are characteristic of autism. I guess that if I share that information, I am asking people to be more understanding or to interact with me in a way that is easier for me to understand and make sense of.

There are people who do change how they interact with me when they know my diagnoses. Most people seem to accept it and either not change how they treat me or be understanding. But there are exceptions. A few may be uncomfortable with the idea of mental illness, and not know what to say or do. For example, I also have depression and have been in a depressive episode lately. I have explained that, and what I wanted was a friend to listen and understand and be a friend, but instead she tells me to to to a doctor and get medication and won't listen to me as it isn't her job to be a therapist (I am a therapist and she is not, but I still need friends). In her way of thinking, because I am mentally ill, my real social needs don't count as it must all be the mental illness. Having a diagnosis doesn't change that we still have problems and needs like anybody else, and still need friends and social support, maybe even more. But that is just some people who don't get that.

Don't let your concerns about what people will think stop you from getting treatment or assessment (the purpose of assessment is to identify how treatment can help you). Just know that what you do with the information that you get is your choice. Getting a diagnosis is just finding out about your condition. It doesn't change anything. I was autistic for my whole life, even though I was not diagnosed until I was 42 years old. Just like a person who has diabetes is diabetic whether or not a doctor has identified the condition (diagnosed it). You are still the same person you were before. Once you get a diagnosis, you know more about what to do to be healthier. That is what it is about.