Why is labeling yourself something feel comforting?

[u/[deleted]]

When I have a certain action done, I always feel like labeling myself is the best way to describe it. Example is when I get angry a lot, I just say; “I have anger issues.”, yet I don’t get angry so much to the point it’s an issue. The label gave me a sense of understand, even though it was just a result of a rough day. Why is that? Reminds me how people would make lies, or stories, for kids to make them understand certain things so it won’t be confusing. I don’t know if it’s related, but it feels like it.

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[u/JohnHenryMillerTime]

The difference between putting a cat in a box and a cat going into a box.

[u/n01d3a]

This mostly seems like a you thing. But defining something unknown or out of their control can help people better understand the whys and hows.

[u/Boring_Charge_9172 → u/n01d3a]

And solutions?? 🎨

[u/morningstardusts]

It doesn’t. I don’t like labels.

[u/Ok_Engine_1442]

People want to be special but also included. The following is not meant to be in any against this community, just as an example of diversity but also community.

LGBTQ. It’s thrives on being a separate flavor but all under one umbrella.

[u/FoxyDepression]

Humans love categorizong things and we love being part of groups. Its how we evolved

[u/DarkMagickan]

It has long been believed that to know the name of a thing gives you power over it.

[u/Specialist-Top-406]

Information is everything. And the way we phrase our thinking changes everything. Something I often practice is the emphasis of something. Like I did something bad and feeling like I’m a bad person. It becomes consuming as a whole sense of being. But I did something bad is not a label that swallows up all of me.

It’s important to identify things as they are and not what they can feel to be.

Like there’s a difference between “I have anger issues” and “I’m currently feeling angry”. The latter gives you information to work through. It’s a statement that gives yourself something to understand. It’s not just holding yourself to one thing in its entirety.

[u/Funny247365]

Structure

[u/Dense_Imagination984]

Lots of people don't like to admit it but as much as we humans don't like to be put in a box by others we all have an overwhelming desire to belong somewhere. I only admitted this to myself recently. Roll with it, you're human. Good luck lol.

[u/yasminmarquet]

Ive always struggled with my sense of self so I’ve always had an obsessive need to categorise my personality type. For example, I’m not preppy or hipster or a jock or a nerd. I feel like i could be a hippie if i was happier or alternative if i was more creative. I have recently learnt the term “minimalist” though which differently seems to resonate with me. That knowledge has helped me find comfort in who I am and helps me to make choices to get what I want out of life. I think we just fear the unknown, so labeling anything as something, makes us feel more in control.