Today we’re going to meet Johnny (a pseudonym). Johnny has recently been diagnosed with Acute Viral Rhinopharyngitis.
This is an unfortunate situation for poor Johnny, to be sure. While not life-threatening, Johnny’s condition certainly makes it challenging for him to go about his regular daily routine.
There is good news for Johnny, though. Recent medical advances mean that with the right medication (and a little time) his condition will improve. Once his current bout of AVR has been treated he can once again be safely considered “in remission”.
Unfortunately for Johnny, the statistics say that his odds of relapse are very high.
While Johnny is in remission, though, he’s a completely different person. You’d never be able to tell that he was ever as miserable or as dysfunctional as he when he’s suffering the effects of his condition.
You probably wouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are plenty of people who suffer from acute viral rhinopharyngitis – better known as the common cold.
How many of people do you know, though, who like refer to themselves as “viral pharyngitics”, “AVPs” or “cold sufferers”?
You are not your diagnosis. You are far, far more than any diagnosis of mood disorder or schizophrenia. You’re not defined by your condition (unless you choose to be).
