sometimes we suffer and struggle with pain and
problems; feeling alone, helpless and hopeless

and we may suffer in silence for a long time,
falsely believing that -

our condition to unique to us,
it reflects something about us that is shameful,
we are somehow responsible for the pain,
we deserve to suffer
and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it

eventually we may seek help; we may consult a
specialist who reviews our situation and forwards
a diagnosis, that is, a description of our condition
that entails -

an explanation of the cause of our suffering,
an plan of treatment and
demographics which tell us that we are not alone

sometimes a diagnosis is a relief in that -

it lets us know what we are up against
it removes the false beliefs that added to our pain
it empowers us with a plan to fight the problem
it lets us know that we are not alone and
that there are others, like us -

others with whom we can join to confront our
shared problem and free ourselves of unnecesary
suffering

the relief that a diagnosis can bring is illustrated
in the video below

it is the opening segment of a BBC documentary
called -

Stephen Fry:
The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive

at the BBC's Health website the documentary is
described as follows:

This two-part documentary investigates the reality of living with bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression.

Comedian, actor, author and film-maker Stephen Fry meets celebrities and members of the public who talk frankly about the impact the condition has on their lives.

During the two programmes, Stephen Fry talks in detail about his own experience of having bipolar disorder. He recounts his suicide attempt after walking out of the West End play Cellmates in 1995, and the continuing severe mood swings he has to endure.

Stephen interviews other celebrities with bipolar, including Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, Hollywood star Richard Dreyfus and British comedians Tony Slattery and Jo Brand.

He also meets ordinary people and their families coping with the condition and talks to them about some of the possible triggers. They all speak candidly about how bipolar disorder has affected their day-to-day lives.