Sometimes labels are better than no labels

How a label shed light at the end of the tunnel

In school we are taught the importance of labels. Later in life media and news tell us to stop using labels. I do agree with the fact that labels in terms of other people and their existence do not matter — at all!. In terms of that, they hinder us, they elicit our close mindedness, they hinder our equality and the list goes on.

However, the importance of labels shouldn’t be overlooked. For anyone who ever suffered from a physical injury or a mental illness knows what I’m talking about. The only relief that can be provided is a doctor’s diagnosis.

I had an experience that was certainly not a good one, until a label was introduced into my life.

After my accident, I didn’t feel well. Not physically, nor mentally. Since I took extremely strong pain medication for a long time, I blamed anything that went wrong with me and my mind on those pills. But even after some weeks, the state I was in persisted. The psychologists I had to talk to mentioned the term ‘trauma’ a few times, however I never really listened, perhaps since I didn’t know its true meaning. Not until I started to consult my good friend Google. In the first few months I didn’t dare to research anything related to my accident and my physical injuries.

After all the turmoil, I had arrived at a safer place aka back at my parent’s place. I typed trauma into the search box and was presented with many articles, personal stories and studies. Reading more about this, lit up a light at the end of the tunnel. It was small and dull, but exactly what I needed. Only the existence of a possible healing path sparked hope in me.

I stopped wondering what is wrong with me and my body, I stopped doubting myself. I gained back by learning that what I suffer from can be healed. Being able to logically disconnect my self from the label that causes me suffering allows me to understand that nothing is wrong with me, there are just things from which I am suffering.

To sum it up: What we should be taught instead is the interchangeability of labels. Yes, in many cases they are unnecessary, underrated and not needed. In some cases, however, they are life changing, maybe even lifesaving.

But now I want to learn more about you: Are there instances where a label introduced a positive change in your life? Let me know in the comments!

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