When we talk about issues of mental health in current U.S. culture, we have a problem of trivializing legitimate disorders through our vocabulary while simultaneously often not taking these issues seriously enough. This is particularly difficult when talking about actual traits which are closely tied to the name of their disorder.
Everyone has levels of stress and anxiety and it is valuable to acknowledge and discuss this and the impact it has on our wellbeing and our society. However, some people struggle every day with seemingly simple interactions because of their anxiety disorders.
“Depression” can exist for a variety of reasons in any person, but it is not the same as Major Depressive Disorder. Difficulty with focusing is common and seems to be advancing culturally, but that doesn’t give you “ADD,” just as being overly particular (formally known as “anal retentive”) doesn’t mean you are “OCD.”
As a person seeking to work in the field of psychology as well as someone who has had continuing battles with mental illness, I long to see our general understanding and conversation on these topics shift to one of understanding and acceptance.
How can we recognize and point out unhealthy behaviors and trends we are experiencing and talk about them with others?
How can we learn to discuss going to a counselor or psychologist as similar to going to any other doctor or healer? For those who see this question as silly, how do we become better informed on these topics?
How is an issue with the function of one’s neurotransmitters any different than with the functions of nerves in a spinal cord, functions of enzymes that process lactase, or any other health problem?
Do we tell people with problems walking that “it is all in your legs,” people with lactose intolerance that “it is all in your gut” or someone with cancer that “it is all in your cells”?
Of course not, because even though it may be true that those are the locations where the issues originate, it neither changes the prognosis nor the experience of living with these difficulties. Why is “it is all in your head” any different? Because there is some possibility it could be imagined or exaggerated? If so, we should have a discussion about placebo medications and phantom limbs. You think the right treatment approach is to “suck it up” or “power through it”? What if we said that to someone complaining of a broken bone — would that mend it?
The human body is an incredibly intricate system, and one which is complex enough to malfunction in a variety of ways without being “messed up.” Shaming someone for taking anti-depressant medication is akin to ridiculing someone for taking their insulin. Viewing someone with bipolar disorder negatively for regularly going to their counselor is no different than doing so for someone going to their dentist.
No person is worth any less because of the disorder their body has, though it can make life very difficult to live with these differences in oneself.
Some things we treat similarly to glasses, making silly attributions that someone must be smarter or more creative for having the disorder while failing to recognize how debilitating the problem can also be. Being able to view these issues holistically is crucial, and we need to have nuance in the ways we approach mental illness.
Rates of diagnosis for disorders of depression and anxiety are very high in college populations, and we need to be taking our mental health seriously. Don’t ignore signs of struggle in those you care about or in yourself.
