Mental health is a very strong character in today's society that plays a role in many different lives and households. It is a sensitive subject that affects individuals and their families in many positive and negative ways. What we, as a society, tend to assume is that mental health is 'taboo', in a way. We don't like to talk about it or think about it. It is not discussed enough. In fact, for centuries we have locked away the 'mentally insane and impaired' in asylums and homes as if those affected are demented souls that need to be cast off to avoid possession of others. We still do in the present day except that this time it is more silent and discrete. We do it in the most reputable fashion as we just stare, mock, and ignore. These would be bad enough, but we do something worse. We assume. It's not the fault of our own entirely because we have been secluded from the world of mental disorders to the point where we don't even know if we have them ourselves. It is our fault, however, to continue having a closed mind when we have clarifications to answer our endless questions. Here are a few common misconceptions about pretty common mental disorders.

1. ADHD isn't real

Wrong. People just overuse this condition to get certain prescriptions that they only think they need, resulting in the population conceiving the disorder as a false diagnosis. According to Healthline media, about four percent of Americans over eighteen suffer from it. It is a very real and very difficult condition that a lot of people deal with.

2. OCD is not just perfectionism

I cannot stress this one enough. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder comes in various forms ranging from mild to extreme. It can also be divided into two sides. Obsessions include unwanted persistent thoughts about physical harm, a fear of germs, aggressive thoughts, or having things in a certain order or symmetrical. Compulsions include excessive cleaning, ordering, and counting, and repeatedly checking or confirming things such as making sure the back door is locked three times before bed. These traits cannot be controlled. It is very hard to an affected person to step away or back down from an obsessive task. A majority of the population sees this particular disorder as very minor and easy to joke about when it comes to organizing Christmas ornaments or noticing tiles don't match up in a public restroom. Cleanliness is somehow the only symptom we have hear of. People don't realize that persons affected by OCD can be hoarders as well. They have a constant nag in their minds when it comes to attempting to throw things away such as, "Maybe you can use this later." They can even perceive inanimate objects as having feelings and feel guilty for throwing stuffed animals or even an old stapler away. They know the object is just an object. That will not stop the guilt and neither will someone telling them to get over it. OCD affected people need love, support, encouragement, and our knowledge about the disease.

3. Mental health patients aren't always dangerous

Yes, I understand that special cases such as murder suspects who plead insanity and other mentally corrupted persons can potentially be dangerous, but others should not have to be grouped in with these people. Schizophrenia is a common illness that causes bystanders to judge or fear those affected. Schizophrenia can be a very frightening thing;however, the person affected is still a person and still needs support. They cannot help their hallucinations or delusions, nor can they help how they came to be affected in the first place. Although many are born with the disease, it can be acquired after trauma or even viral infections.

4. Mentally disabled is NOT synonymous with unintelligent

There are countless high school, college, graduate and even medical school graduates who have had a mental disability or hindrance. It's a completely different assumption to assume that someone isn't smart or intelligent because they have a mental disorder.

Disorder itself literally just means that something isn't in order of normal. Instead of assuming and categorizing others into a completely exclusive part of society, we should all learn to encourage them and educate ourselves to avoid confusion or false accusations and comments. After all, we're all a little different. It's what makes us unique.