BY CAMILA FERNANDEZ
With only a quick scroll through social media, one can find countless quirky references and examples of cheeky word play associated with serious mental illnesses, such as Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many will overlook such humor since it has become so common, not realizing the role it plays against those who actually have these disorders.
The internet provides only a taste of the extent to which our society has grown accustomed to toying around with these terms. One example lies in the hashtags littered all over Twitter and Instagram, such as “#ObsessiveChristmasDisorder” or “#ObsessiveCrossfitDisorder.” Many articles use attention-grabbing headlines such as “Cleaning Tricks for the OCD Person Inside You.” This only facilitates the incorrect use of “OCD” synonymously with words such as “organized” and “clean,” and “ADHD” with just being “hyper.”
Time and time again, popular misuse of mental health terms only paints a false reality, unintentionally disguising the severity of these illnesses. These misunderstandings can cause people to overlook the real challenges and stigmas with mental health, making it even harder for people to overcome them and understand them.
The stigmas that the media and society has placed on those with these conditions are endless. For instance, society habitually dismisses ADHD as an “excuse” for being “lazy” and “careless.” These negative stereotypes fuel more prejudice. Discrimination is reported virtually everywhere for these people, including at school, at work, when trying to get loans or insurance and in casual interactions. It may be difficult for them to land a steady job or focus at school, especially when these conditions affect academic performance.
The stigmas that the media and society has placed on those with these conditions are endless.
It makes sufferers feel as though their condition is a heavy weight, a burden that they must haul with them everywhere and that manages to interrupt every aspect of their life.
It is difficult for people with these conditions to not feel defined by them, to not fear the judgment or mistreatment coming from the outside. This fear that encapsulates many often keeps them from reaching out for help and talking about their problems. It may even mean that they are in denial about their condition, not wanting to face reality.
For example, one may not want others to think there is “something wrong with them.” They don’t want to label themselves as “defective.” As long as they are “normal,” they can avoid stereotypes, stigmas and discrimination. Avoiding their very real condition may mean not taking important medication, which only leads to more issues.
The burden of stigmatization does not only end there. A form of self-prejudice and an internal battle inside suffering individuals is common. People underestimate themselves, seeing themselves as less worthy or incompetent because that is what society has told them. Children with ADHD or OCD may not feel motivated to learn and may give up because of these stigmas.
If society shines a light on these conditions, we can slowly bring an end to the stigmas surrounding them.
Combating these stigmas may be difficult. It is intertwined with understanding one’s worth and abilities. Organizations, online forums and stories of successful treatment are all readily available to motivate sufferers. They serve as a reminder that even though having ADHD or OCD is challenging, it does not lower your self-worth and it definitely does not have to ruin your life.
If society shines a light on these conditions, we can slowly bring an end to the stigmas surrounding them. We can better understand their challenges and struggles, their ups and downs.
We have a canvas in front of us, and our words and behaviors are the brushes. Every day we paint a false reality, one where OCD and ADHD are “quirks.” But we don’t have to. We now have the ability to paint a genuine and deserving picture, one where no one is defined by their disorder. We can fix our vocabulary, we can discard our previous drawings and paint a masterpiece.
Let’s begin.
Photo by Anabella Garcia
