“I need everything to be in a certain place. I know, omg, I’m so OCD.”
“Why are you so angry? You were happy a second ago! You are so bipolar.”
“I’m so depressed. Omg, I have a test tomorrow that I didn’t study for.”
“I am going to kill myself if that professor goes on another tangent again.”
“Omg, you are so mental.”
“I raped him in that game.”
No. Stop.
Words have power. You must remember that every single letter you utter has consequences. I know it’s the norm to exaggerate and create hyperboles because you presume that’s the only way you can emphasize your point. There are other words in the dictionary that can convey your meaning. These words do not need to be used.
Think before you say these words. There might be someone listening who has depression, or OCD, or a mental illness. Not only do you show that you don’t give importance to those individuals, but it can sometimes act as a trigger. You might tell a person to go kill themselves, but what if someday they can’t take it anymore, they remember your joking words and take your suggestion into consideration?
Be respectful and kind. It is so easy. You don’t know everyone’s story and how they got there, so don’t try to presume you know if they are or aren’t struggling with issues.
The easier way to express yourself is to use another word to represent that intense emotion that you try to convey. Instead of depression, use sorrow. Instead of OCD, use perfectionist. Instead of bipolar, say extreme. Or use other words. There are so many other words that can be used.
I’m not saying that these words must not be said, or that they should be a taboo. These words should be used in the correct setting. Rape is not a casual thing. Depression is a serious problem and so is OCD. Mental illness affects so many people and we should be aware of it. We should spread our knowledge of it to those who are unaware. We should definitely talk about them, but with the seriousness that they deserve.