In this episode of Beyond the Label, Kristen Math explores diagnostic overshadowing, or what happens when an existing mental health or developmental diagnosis becomes so dominant that clinicians begin interpreting new physical symptoms through that label. Through two illustrative patient scenarios involving autism, anxiety, trauma, and unexplained medical symptoms, Kristen examines how premature assumptions can shape clinical decisions, follow patients through their medical records, and even cause people to question their own experiences. The episode challenges healthcare professionals to remain curious, reconsider initial assumptions as new evidence emerges, and remember a simple but important principle: a diagnosis should help us understand a person more fully and how it should never become the reason we stop asking questions.
This episode was created after interviewing multiple clients. Patient presentations are a combination of multiple patient interviews and details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved in creating these two case presentations from multiple patient experiences.
