Thanks for your comments Don. It's encouraging to hear about your ability to thrive, following what were likely difficult experiences.

I agree that active listening (paraphrasing and validation that you mention) is a good way to connect. As you suggest, connection is much more valuable than withdrawal and isolation. Ultimately, each of us are our own experts on our own lived experiences and listening closely is the only way to empathetically connect and validate what others are feeling.

I also agree that diagnoses are the subjective assessment of the clinician based on the guidance that is set forth by a committee of psychiatrists in the DSM-V. Whether implicitly or explicitly, big pharma does influence research on diagnoses and treatment recommendations, which is highly unfortunate. The diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues is not a simple mathmatical equation, and the stigma attached to diagnoses and labels can be quite oppressive to patients.

I'm also very much a believer that social context influences the formation of individual psychology and personal identity. Sometimes what are categorized as disorders or illnesses are, in fact, an individual response/defense against/solution to traumatic experiences that individuals face in their lives.

I think you might be interested in reading R.D. Laing's "Divided Self" or Johann Hari's "Lost Connections."