Diagnosis & Codes
A Diagnosis is Not an Identity
Let me be clear: I'm not saying diagnoses don't matter. They’re helpful. They absolutely do. A diagnosis can open doors — to treatment and to finally having language for what you're been experiencing.
But here's the thing: a diagnosis is a tool. It's a clinical label designed to cluster symptoms and guide interventions. It describes a pattern your body or brain is expressing — not who you are.
How We got Here
Understanding why diagnosis feels so central to identity requires looking at how the system evolved.
The diagnostic coding system was originally designed to answer a simple public health question: What are people dying from?
Then money entered the equation.
When medical insurance programs made payers other than patients responsible for medical care, nosology became a matter of great interest to public and private payers. What started as a tool for tracking public health patterns evolved into a billing and reimbursement system. Suddenly, your body's problems weren't just medical—they became financial codes that determined whether insurance would pay.
Now the system answers different questions:
Now the system answers different questions:
That's when diagnosis began its slow creep from clinical tool into identity marker.
What can we bill for?
What qualifies for coverage?
What proves disability?
What explains behavior?
When your condition has a code number attached to payment systems, employment documentation, disability benefits, and insurance coverage, it starts to feel less like a temporary state and more like a permanent label.
The Cost of Conflating Diagnosis with Identity
When we collapse diagnosis into identity, we pay a price:
We limit our sense of possibility. A diagnosis might explain certain challenges, but it shouldn't become a ceiling. You're still capable of growth, change, and outcomes that don't fit neatly into the box.
We risk self-fulfilling patterns. If you internalize a label as your core identity, you may unconsciously reinforce the very behaviors or symptoms you're trying to manage or move beyond.
We flatten complexity. Every person is multifaceted—shaped by culture, values, relationships, lived experience, and choices. A diagnosis captures one dimension, not the whole picture.
We change how others see us. Lead with a diagnosis, and others may see you through that lens first—bringing assumptions and expectations that may not apply to you individually.
None of this means you should minimize what you're dealing with. If a diagnosis helps you make sense of your experience, claim it. If it connects you to others who get it, use it. If it guides your healing protocols, lean into it. Just don't let it become the martyr story you tell about yourself.
You are not your diagnosis. You're a person—complex, evolving, capable of surprising yourself—who happens to carry a particular, and temporary, medical or psychological label. That label may shape part of your experience. It doesn't get to define your entire existence.
How Ai Can Help us Learn, Understand and Adapt
If you walk out of the appointment with just a diagnosis code and a prescription—and your head is spinning—here's how to fill in the gaps. Use these prompts with AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, or Grok to get immediate answers you can copy and paste.
Understanding What You're Dealing With
Decode the Diagnosis
I was just diagnosed with [condition name] and given code [ICD code]. Can you explain in plain language: What this diagnosis actually means, what the typical criteria are, what body systems are involved, and what I should understand about it?
Research the Code Itself
My diagnosis code is [ICD-10 code]. What does this code officially cover? How broad or specific is this category? What conditions might be grouped under this same code?
Identify What You Might Be Missing
I was diagnosed with [condition]. What related conditions are commonly found alongside this? What differential diagnoses might have been considered? What else should be ruled out?
Simplify Medical Jargon
My doctor said [insert confusing explanation]. Can you translate this into plain language and help me understand what this means?
Mapping Your Path Forward
Understand Your Options
I have [diagnosis]. What are the standard treatment approaches? What's considered first-line vs. alternative? What questions should I ask my doctor about treatment options?
Understand the Prognosis Range
What's the typical progression of [diagnosis]? What factors influence outcomes? What does the research say about long-term outlook and variability between individuals?
Find Practical Next Steps
I just got diagnosed with [condition]. What are my immediate next steps? What specialists should I see? What lifestyle factors should I address? What tests or monitoring might be needed?
Tracking and Advocacy
Know What to Watch For
With [diagnosis], what symptoms should I track? What would indicate I'm getting worse vs. improving? What are red flags that need immediate medical attention?
Prepare for Follow-Up
I have a follow-up appointment about my [diagnosis]. Based on what I've experienced [describe briefly], what questions should I ask? What should I have documented or tracked?
Get Support Resources
What support resources exist for [diagnosis]? Are there patient advocacy groups, educational resources, or communities you'd recommend? What accommodations or protections might I qualify for?
Remember! AI Can't Replace
Professional medical diagnosis
Personalized treatment decisions
Emergency medical care
Reviewing your specific test results