A growing reliance on "therapy speak" among teenage girls is leading them to pathologize normal adolescent feelings and view themselves as inherently broken, according to a New York psychiatrist specializing in young women. This trend, observed over two decades of practice, sees patients readily adopting psychiatric diagnoses and terminology, often before sharing personal details.
Dr. Suzanne Garfinkle-Crowell, author of "Girlhood," notes that patients like 16-year-old Hazel describe their experiences using terms such as "anxiety and depression," "emotional dysregulation," "trauma," and "codependent" parents. Another patient, 17-year-old Violet, presented with a list of conditions including "OCD," "PMDD," "ADHD," and "depression" shortly after arriving for her first appointment.
This phenomenon, where young women define themselves by their psychiatric profiles rather than their interests, can have significant negative consequences, Garfinkle-Crowell writes. The primary task of adolescence is identity formation, and the engulfing nature of identifying with a mental illness can overshadow other aspects of self. Research indicates that individuals who centralize anxiety disorders in their identity may perceive themselves as less capable, and those with depression may feel more hopeless if they attribute their symptoms to a chemical imbalance rather than life events.
The language used during adolescence, a critical period for brain development, can shape a young person's enduring sense of self. The adolescent brain is still developing its frontal lobe, responsible for planning and problem-solving, and has a higher number of neurons with less myelin, leading to highly active but less integrated cognitive processes. Girls, who develop language and social integration areas earlier than boys, may be more susceptible to adopting and sharing speech patterns that create social intimacy through consensus.
While mental health awareness initiatives since the 1990s have helped destigmatize mental illness, Garfinkle-Crowell suggests they may have also introduced psychiatric language into mainstream discourse without sufficient context, contributing to the current "therapy culture." Teenage girls, facing pressures to succeed and maintain an online presence, may find that emotional pain is only validated when framed as a medical condition, offering a form of power and attention.
However, clinging to a diagnosis can prevent young women from confronting their true feelings and navigating the complexities of adolescence. Garfinkle-Crowell recounts how Violet's multiple self-identified diagnoses, akin to a child's "transitional object," served as a shield against insecurities about her parents and social awkwardness. It was only after challenging these labels that Violet was able to articulate common teenage feelings, rather than medical diagnoses.
Garfinkle-Crowell asserts that when medical professionals and caregivers allow girls to believe they are "sick" or "crazy" when they may not be, it impedes their progress and development. The psychiatrist's book, "Girlhood," translated by Suzanne Garfinkle-Crowell, is set to be published by Simon & Schuster.