I constantly hear people misuse terms of mental illness casually and nonchalantly. Misuses such as: “Oh my gosh you scared me! You almost gave me a panic attack!” Or “I’m depressed, Starbucks got rid of my favorite drink.” Meanwhile, people live in constant clinical states of anxiety and depression and other mental illnesses every day. They suffer on and off during their lives, some days are good and some are bad. Such as not being able to get out of bed and face their day or being overly worried about the little things in life.
When I hear people throw around mental illnesses like it’s no big deal, it makes me infuriated. Personally, I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. With therapy and medication, I got back to worrying less and living more, but there are still times of struggle. So when I hear people throw around anxiety, depression, or any mental illness, I take it personally offensive as I actually suffer and deal with a mental illness.
Since when was it okay to use mental illnesses as adjectives? Newsflash: It never has been and will never be okay. It is utterly offensive to those who suffer on a daily basis.
You will never understand anxiety until you worry constantly for no reason or until you have a panic attack that makes you feel as if you’re dying. You aren’t depressed unless you have a lack of motivation or interest, a persistent feeling of sadness, and feel discontent with your life. You will never understand a mental illness unless you clinically have one.
Stop throwing mental illness terms around to describe things everybody goes through. Just because you are nervous about a test doesn’t mean you have actual anxiety. Just because you are sad your favorite lipstick shade is sold out, doesn’t mean you are depressed.
Please consider the people whose shoes you say you are in. We need to not only raise awareness and help those with mental illness; but also to not offend and distress them in the process by saying you can relate to them when in reality you don’t and you can’t.Â