Stop Romanticizing Mental Illness And Start Changing The Stigma Surrounding It | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Stop Romanticizing Mental Illness And Start Changing The Stigma Surrounding It

Mental illness is not cute.

27
Stop Romanticizing Mental Illness And Start Changing The Stigma Surrounding It
Unsplash

Nearly one in five adults suffer from mental illness.

That's about 42.5 million different individuals who suffer from Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, OCD, etc., on a daily basis. They deal with the intense emotions and mental drain of their illness, hour to hour, moment to moment. While there is still much stigma surrounding mental illness as to whether it is actually considered an illness, there is the even scarier thought that it has become something romanticized throughout our generation.

In 2015, there was uproar over a sweater Target released with the words "OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder" on it. Many customers felt that the sweater mocked Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ultimately trivializing a mental illness that effects the lives of 3.3 million Americans. Unfortunately, Target did not agree, and simply issued an apology while keeping the offensive sweater on its racks.

There are no numbers regarding what percentage of people claim to have mental illness but don't. While I would never say that it is okay to question individuals who say they have mental illness, I do wonder what intention these individuals have. As someone who has suffered from severe anxiety since I was a child, I have met so many people who in conversation will say they have anxiety/depression but no doctor's diagnoses backing it up. I do understand that having anxious moments is something that everyone faces. But it should be known that this is very different from diagnosed anxiety disorders. Similarly to those who say they suffer from OCD when they simply just like to stay organized. There is a distinct difference, and anyone with a diagnosed mental illness will tell you that it is not something you ever want to have. It makes day to day operations difficult on so many levels, and to claim you have it when you don't perpetuates an unhealthy trend.

Having anxiety/depression is now a tool to create an alluring appearance. For some reason, having this disorder has become a source of interest in conversations. It creates a perceived mysterious personality trait, rather than being viewed as an illness. No one would say they have cancer as a way to seem interesting (though if they did they should be seeking counseling) or claim asthma when they don't have it. So why has it become okay for mental illness to be used as a way to seem more interesting or change your aesthetic?

Websites like Tumblr and Instagram have become the breeding grounds for images and text that chalk up these illnesses to be something they are not. They have made it so it is okay to share images of anorexic individuals, tagging them #thinspo. It has made it so it is okay to share images of cut wrists tagging them #depressed. It has made it so it is okay to say that you're 'triggered' as a joke.This needs to stop.

Mental illness does not make you different from other people. It is not mysterious. It is not cute. It is a real illness that effects the lives of thousands of people on a day to day basis. It is their real and scary reality. Consider this the next time you decide to use 'depressed' to describe your current sadness, or 'OCD' to describe your love for organization.

Rather than using medical terms to describe your feelings why not try and support and encourage those in your life that have real diagnosable mental illness. Offer your love and undivided attention to them while they vent or share their story. Research and find ways that you can be part of their support system when they face difficult times.

If we hope to change the way society views mental illness, we have to start at the roots and change the way we talk and present it to the world.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1254
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

756
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199908
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20690
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments