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Why Your Adult Child's Diagnosis May Be the Problem

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27.07.2026

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A diagnosis can offer parents relief but can also freeze an adult child to being seen as a fixed condition.

Curiosity is often what actually opens the door to repair.

Letting go of "knowing what's wrong" doesn't mean giving up; it can mean making room for your child to grow.

Parents of struggling adult children often reach out to ask the same question: "What's wrong with them?" I understand these parents are drained and fatigued and finally want a name for their adult child's often longstanding struggles. That's why I hear, "So, Dr. Jeff, could their problems come from their anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], personality disorder, or maybe, you know, like something on the autistic spectrum?"

I understand why there is a hunt for a diagnosis or an unrelenting quest for one. A........

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