If you've been diagnosed with a mental illness, you've seen it and heard it -- the all too familiar mildly concerned looks with a little bit of pity tainting the tone. It's not only annoying, it's demeaning and dehumanizing. If you've been there, you've probably heard these responses too.
1. "Oh I get like that too sometimes but I just (insert impractical solution)"
Yes, everyone experiences some form of anxiety at one point or another. Yes, everyone has sad days. Yes, everyone has things that they get particular about. That doesn't mean that you have a diagnosable mental illness. You aren't commiserating, you're demeaning.
2. "Can't you just take pills for that?"
Medication is not a viable option for everyone. It doesn't work for everyone and for some people, it's how they survive every day. Isn't there a pill that can make you less of an insensitive jerk? No? My point exactly.
3. *sigh and head tilt*
Stop looking at us like we're fragile or like we're going to sob at the slightest inconvenience. We manage to navigate most other times without crying so your mildly concerned facial expression isn't necessary.
4. "So you're crazy."
Yes, PLEASE tell us the one thing that we're terrified of being. We already struggle with this on a day to day basis so please stop. Just stop.
5. "Why don’t you just choose to be happy?”
Why don't you just "choose" to not have diabetes and stop taking insulin? Why don't you just "choose" to stop having asthma and let yourself just wheeze it out after a ten mile run? No one would say that because it's just not reasonable. Mental illness is a sickness just like ANY other disease. Stop treating it like a mood that we can just get over.
