We hear about mental illnesses every day. Sometimes we hear about them in academic settings, sometimes in social ones, and commonly we hear them named in negative or illegitimate ways. I don't believe that a day goes by where I don't hear the words that identify serious mental illnesses used in ways that make me cringe.
Depression doesn't mean feeling down. It isn't feeling a little bit sad because you got dumped or that feeling you get when you fail a test. It is crippling in a way no one should have to understand. It hurts. You feel worthless and helpless and empty and heavy and tired. You either don't eat or you eat too much. You don't sleep or you can't stand the thought of getting out of bed.
Anxiety isn't the cute set of jitters you get when you're talking to your crush. It's a legitimate fear of doing something because you know there will be eyes on you or you believe that you'll be judged for what comes out of your mouth. It's hating social situations because they make you forget how to breathe. It's your heart beating through your chest and not quite getting enough air.
Bipolar Disorder, or Manic-Depressive Disorder is not being moody or going from happy to sad. That, is called being human. Bipolar people suffer from many of the same symptoms that people living with depression do, but they have the added complication of mania. Mania isn't being giddy or slap-happy, or goofy. Mania is doing things that you wouldn't do if you were in your right mind. It's being virtually unable to control what you say or do regardless of the damage it could do.
These are three of the more common mental illnesses on college campuses, but that is by no means to say that they are the only ones to be found. There are people living with these, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, autism, attention deficit disorder and so many more. These people are all around you. Sometimes you can tell that they are ill, but often they function just as well as everyone else.
But just because these people are different, just because they are living with a disease that other people don't understand, doesn't mean that they don't deserve respect. It's not hard to be a decent human being, and yet, every single day I see someone invalidating the way someone feels or demeaning them by using their illness as a joke. Respecting someone with a (dis)ability like this is simple and you do it the same way you respect someone that dresses in a way you don't necessarily like. Unless what they are doing or what they are suffering with is in some way impacting your physical or emotional safety or the safety of those around them, keep your mouth shut. Don't pry. If they want to tell you about their illness, they will.
