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Mental Illnesses Are Not Your Adjectives
Mental illnesses are not your adjectives.
Your friend is not “bipolar” just because she has mood swings and your brother is not “so OCD” just because he likes to keep things tidy.
”Anorexic” is not a synonym for skinny and, no, you were not “traumatised” by that maths exam.
Using mental illnesses as adjectives further reinforces negative stereotypes - this results in less people seeking help.
When these terms are used lightly and in an unserious way, it takes away the severity, leaving sufferers invalidated and not taken seriously.
Stop using mental illnesses as adjectives - you are contributing to the stigma surrounding mental health.
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