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Depression is more than sadness. Anxiety is more than worrying. Bipolar is more than mood swings. OCD is more than ‘tidiness.’ ADHD is not ‘being hyperactive.’ Addiction is not ‘enjoying something’. And most psychopaths are not serial killers. Many are relatively harmless if you don’t piss them off.
Unfortunately, many mental illnesses or psychological conditions are misconstrued in popular culture. I was a very hyperactive child, always running around and chatting to everyone. I’m still super chatty as an adult, and easily distracted and fascinated by what’s around me. But I do not have ADHD.
Likewise, I like to keep myself clean and shower twice a day. I also don’t like bits of rubbish left around me. But I do not have OCD, and I am hesistant to label myself a ‘germaphobe.’
Society has become collectively obsessed with labeling regular human behaviour as ‘illness’ or ‘personality disorder.’ This is characterized by the hundreds of mental disorders categorized in the DSM. Plus, many illnesses are incorrectly depicted in film and pop culture.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is probably one of the most mis-labeled psychological conditions, and it doesn’t help that people chronically say ‘I’m a bit OCD’ or ‘that’s giving me so much OCD.’ Not only does this undermine people suffering with OCD, it contributes to collective ignorance about the disorder.
OCD is characterized by intrusive, repetitive thoughts that physically manifest in compulsive, ritualistic behaviours. Being very clean DOESN’T mean you have OCD. But compulsively washing ones hands as a ritual to get rid of unwanted thoughts IS a symptom of OCD. Society ignorantly characterizes OCD as ‘frequtn hand washing’ or ‘neat positioning.’ This makes it difficult to recognize symptoms of this frustrating and debilitating disorder.
Likewise, ADHD is as much about being hyperactive as bipolar is about being emotional. People with ADHD are prone to distraction. It’s a chronic part of life. They can zone in and out of conversations, and become quickly bored and unfocused on repetitive activities. This goes deeper than having a short attention span.
On the flip-side, they can ‘hyperfocus’. I imagine this is their mind zooming in on one thing and becoming utterly absorbed. This can be incredibly beneficial when working on something they love. ADHD also allows for remaining calm in emergency situations. Unlike depression, ADHD can be harnessed and channelled creativity and positively. It can allow for flexible thinking and multi-tasking when highly engaged in something enjoyable.
I feel like there are two types of mental ‘conditions’. ADHD, autism and OCD chronically characterize a person’s life. I am reluctant to refer to them as ‘illnesses’, so much as brain conditions. Depression and anxiety, on the other hand, are not part of a person’s personality. They come and go depending on the situation. Depression is episodic in nature. I’ve had maybe eight heavily depressive episodes in my life where I’ve felt suicidal, or simply apathetic and empty. I also haven’t enjoyed what I’m doing or had much energy.
Thankfully, more people are becoming aware that depression is not ‘feeling sad constantly.’ Due to how common depression is, we’re realizing that it affects people of all personality types, not just introverted or antisocial people. Many extroverted, bubbly people suffer from clinical depression, just as with anxiety. These illnesses do not affect a person’s personality, but their mood and temperament.
ADHD shouldn’t be classed as an illness because it affects a person’s character. Autism and ADHD are not ‘bad’ or negative conditions. They’re atypical brain patterns. On the other hand, OCD is classed as an illness because it has a negative effect on a person’s life.
One could probably say the same about psychopathy. A psychopath is not necessarily ‘ill’, their brain operates atypically, thus affecting their behaviour. You can’t stop being a psychopath or having ADHD. But you can stop being depressed or anxious.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, particularly during the coronavirus, and need someone to talk to, here are some links below that may help.
