Society likes to throw around mental illnesses like they're some kind of trendy terms, which they absolutely are not.
Mental illnesses are not a trend; they are a serious, debilitating issue. As someone who has known multiple people with various disorders, I can tell you it's actually pretty insulting to hear them thrown around like nothing.
There is nothing fun about comparing a serious issue to minor, daily inconveniences.
Saying you're "too much of a perfectionist" because you're determined to make an A on an assignment isn't cute — it's belittling.
Having the determination to make an A is something that's pretty typical.
It's when it swallows your life whole and makes you afraid to start anything due to the thought of failure that you're really "too much of a perfectionist."
Saying you're "so depressed" because your dog won't play with you isn't clever — it's harmful.
A pet refusing to let you play with them isn't "depressing," it's simply upsetting. That's normal. When something goes wrong, it's normal to feel upset or sad.
A truly depressed person likely isn't going to have enough willpower to or energy to play with their dog, even if they really wanted to.
Saying you're "super anxious" because that cutie in class hasn't texted you back isn't true — it's rude.
A cute person not messaging back is just your nerves, not anxiety. Again, that's a normal feeling.
The only time you can be "super anxious" in this situation is if it's an anxiety trigger, but that can only happen if you already suffer from anxiety.
Saying you're "pretty anorexic" because you decided to skip that one meal isn't funny — it's disgusting.
Deciding you don't want that one meal because you're just full or dieting (or don't like whatever's being served) doesn't make you anorexic.
Let me know when you start skipping all your meals and feel like a gross and bloated monster if you even think about eating.
Saying you're "totally OCD" because you like a certain amount of order isn't quirky — it's demeaning.
Liking organization is a pretty normal thing for people that don't have a mental illness.
The people whose lives are taken over by a certain need to have things a very particular way are truly and "totally OCD" (which is not a way to refer to it) and need help.
Trust me, people don't typically brag about their mental disorders.
People suffering may joke with each other, but that's something close friends who understand the gravity of the disorders do with each other. We're respectful and know where to draw the line.
