When Survival Becomes A Diagnosis

Jason Shiers, Author & Psychotherapist/Transformative Coach

Reviewed by Tim Lineaweaver: Subject Matter Expert  

Are you stuck in survival mode? When Survival Becomes A Diagnosis, refers to a state of ongoing stress and survival mode that can cause various mental and physical health problems. This happens when the body's natural stress response, known as the fight-or-flight response, stays active over time, impacting different bodily systems and mental functions. While survival mode is a normal stress response, long-term activation can lead to negative effects. 

Author Jason Shiers is a speaker, author, and psychotherapist. Jason lives in Manchester, England, United Kingdom. Jason is the founder and director of The Infinite Recovery Project (www.infiniterecoveryproject.com), which offers a transformative approach to mental health and addiction recovery by shifting from a disease-based to a health-based model. Focusing on innate well-being, it empowers individuals and professionals to break free from the cycle of symptom management, enabling lasting healing and self-discovery. Through deep insights and experiential training, the project fosters lasting recovery, allowing the individuals to reclaim their lives without requiring ongoing maintenance.

According to Jason Shiers: 

Mental Illness Diagnosis

I was first diagnosed with a mental illness at 10 years old and began medication. By 13, I was already struggling with addiction. Through my teenage years, the list grew longer... Personality disorders, substance use disorder, binge eating disorder, multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, sectioned several times, jails, institutions... Those professionals never asked about grief, isolation, or aloneness... I have the reports. At the time, all the diagnoses made sense. They gave shape to my suffering and explained the chaos inside me.

I see this same story today in so many people I work with... Clients arrive believing their diagnosis defines them, believing their pain means they are permanently broken.

And the world reinforces this... We treat numbness as pathology, label hypervigilance as dysfunction, call shutting down a disorder, and see the signs of an overwhelmed nervous system, stamping them with clinical codes.

At its best, diagnosis seeks to validate suffering - to say, "You're not bad, you're not alone." But at its worst, it confines people to an identity of dysfunction without their awareness.

Most of what we refer to as symptoms is intelligent, adaptive responses to overwhelming experiences. When you have an addiction, anxiety, compulsions, or eating disorders, these aren't malfunctions. They are survival strategies — ways the system has developed to handle what once felt impossible to process.

Increasing Recovery Prospects

A profound shift occurs when we perceive these patterns through the lens of intelligence, not pathology. And the recovery potential is remarkably different. Managing symptoms will only take you so far. To experience true freedom, you must be willing to get to know yourself and face the pain that shaped you, not as a flaw but as evidence of your strength.

Healing isn't about fixing what's wrong; it's about understanding what was once necessary—and reclaiming what's still whole beneath it. You are not broken. You adapted precisely as needed. And that is not a disorder. That is intelligence. You can't learn this without embarking on the journey yourself. Are you ready?

Labeling People as Broken

For decades, addiction and mental health treatment have focused on pathology - labeling people as broken, chemically imbalanced, or forever battling their past. But what if proper recovery isn't about managing symptoms but rediscovering innate well-being?

As a Certified Advanced Psychotherapist and Transformative Coach, I've worked with countless individuals and professionals who felt trapped in cycles of addiction, burnout, and struggle. Many were told they needed a lifetime of maintenance, yet something more profound was missing—a model of health instead of illness.

That's why I founded The Infinite Recovery Project—a groundbreaking approach that challenges traditional methods and introduces a paradigm shift in the healing process. This isn't about more coping mechanisms; it's about seeing that nothing is fundamentally broken. Healing occurs when people reconnect with their inner resilience rather than merely trying to control symptoms.

For professionals – If you work in addiction recovery, mental health, or treatment centers, I train therapists, doctors, psychiatrists, coaches, or teams to move beyond outdated frameworks and implement a health-based approach that leads to lasting transformation. This is an experiential journey to your well-being. As the saying goes, you can only guide someone where you have been yourself.

For individuals – If you feel stuck in addiction, emotional pain, or constantly seeking self-improvement without true relief, there's another way. Recovery isn't about willpower—it's about understanding. And when you deeply see that, change becomes effortless.

How Do I Get Out Of Survival Mode? 

There is no single way to escape survival mode, and different approaches may work for others. However, you might try to:

1. Accept that you're in survival mode: 

There is no solution without first acknowledging the problem. Take a moment to recognize that, whatever the cause, you've been 'coping' for too long. You deserve not merely to survive but to thrive. But first, recognize how you're feeling without trying to put on a brave face anymore. Here, putting pen to paper can help. You might ask yourself, 'How am I feeling?' What am I struggling with? What do I wish were different?

2. Apply some self-compassion: 

If you've been in survival mode for a while, you're likely out of practice with self-compassion, but it's essential to practice it. Practicing self-compassion means giving yourself a break, both literally and figuratively. It means asking yourself how you'd treat your best friend or child if they were feeling this way and then applying that to yourself. Self-compassion means kinder self-talk. For instance, it's okay to struggle. Everyone struggles sometimes. Yes, I can take a break. I deserve to look after myself.

3. Take care of yourself:  

Self–care may seem a million miles away if you've been in survival mode for some time. Or it might look like binge drinking and bad food. However, self-care involves doing something daily that nourishes both your physical and mental well-being. Try meditation or yoga, for instance. Getting out into a green space for a walk and engaging in a cold plunge, taking a sauna, or getting a facial, and eating more fruits and vegetables and less sugar - in other words, nourishing both your body and mind.

4. Build in some structure: 

If you've been in survival mode for a while, you're probably struggling to plan and delegate. You probably feel disorganized and harassed, as though you're constantly chasing your tail. This is where building more structure into your days can help create a sense of order and calm, and, crucially, alleviate some of the decision fatigue that often accompanies survival mode. Understandably, this might be the last thing you can do right now. That's when seeking the help of a coach (for example, a life coach or a work coach) or even just an organized friend can be beneficial.

5. Aim for and acknowledge little wins: 

Aiming for realistic and achievable goals helps build confidence and releases an energizing dopamine hit from the brain when we achieve them. What goal can you set for the week or the day, and how do you feel when you hit it? From getting the laundry done to finishing that email you've been putting off, hitting small goals can provide fuel to help you through this tough time.

6. Trim down the triggers: 

List things that seem to trigger stress and identify ways to counteract or limit your exposure to them. For example, is the news wearing you out, and could you reduce your exposure to it for a while? Are you doomscrolling on social media, and is it a good idea to take a break? Are you taking on more than your fair share at home or work, and is it time to say no or ask for help?

7. Reach out to loved ones: 

It's okay not to be OK. Sometimes, you need to be heard and ask for extra support – help around the house, with the kids, or just someone to listen while you vent. If you're in survival mode, chances are you've had a brave face on for too long. So let your loved ones know you're struggling – they likely want to help.

8. Talk to an expert: If you've been in survival mode, part of the problem is trying to cope on your own and do it all yourself, so insisting on recovering alone is like trying to fix the problem with more of the problem! Getting out of survival mode is a process that takes time, coaxing your mind and body out of 'essential functions only.' Good professionals, properly trained, know how to do this, and seeking shows courage. Here at The London Psychiatry Centre, we are experts in getting beyond survival mode – whether it was trauma, overwork, or simply forgetting to take care of yourself, that got you there initially. Understanding how the brain and body interact is central to everything we do, putting us at the leading edge of mental health treatment. Our team of therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and cardiologists collaborates to support clients in achieving their optimal well-being.

---

Jason Shiers' education includes an Advanced Diploma in Transactional Analysis, as well as training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Person-Centered Therapy. NLP Practitioner, Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Certified Advanced Transformative Coach, SuperCoach Academy. Jason can be reached at jason4656@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed this article, 

Please forward this to a friend or colleague who might benefit from it!