Words like “depression,” “bipolar,” and “triggered” are heavy words that are thrown around like light phrases. But what is the actual definition of these words? --hazel phillips, 8th grade
Possible TW for mentions of su1c1de, talk of mental health and trauma responses
The misuse of mental health terms in real life and on the Internet is an ever-increasing problem.Somehow, it's become trendy to be mentally ill. Unless you actually are mentally ill.
Words like “depression,” “bipolar,” and “triggered” are heavy words that are thrown around like light phrases. For example, you could hear someone say, “I failed my test, I'm so depressed" when they actually mean “I failed my test, I'm really disappointed.” Or maybe you've heard someone say, “I'm so bipolar!" But what they really mean is that their mood changes quickly. But what is the actual definition of these words?
Depression, or major depressive disorder, is much more complex than the stereotype. It doesn't just mean sad. it is very different for different people and while sadness is common, not all people with depression experience it. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, loss of Interest or pleasure, sleep disturbances, lack of energy and tiredness, slowed thinking and moving, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, fixating on mistakes, suicidal thoughts or actions and unexplainable physical problems. Sometimes symptoms are clear and noticeable, but sometimes they go unnoticed or are repressed. Irritability is also very common for people with MDD. Memory difficulty, personality change, loss of appetite and clinginess are also symptoms. A lot of people with depression mask or refuse to show symptoms as a result of feeling guilty or feeling like a burden. Depression is not just one thing. It has many layers and levels.
Another very missed used term is “triggered.” Many people say “stop being so triggered" when referring to somebody who got upset or angry at something. That is not what it means to be triggered. Being triggered is the situation someone is in when a certain subject, object or word triggers an emotional response because of trauma. It is a very real experience for some people, and should not be taken lightly. Traumatic events can include: rape, military conflict, assault, emotional abuse or whitnesing death. Triggered can also refer to something that triggers a mental health conflict, such as eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thoughts or actions. While these two issues are somewhat similar, they're also very different.
It is also important to know the difference between discomfort and trauma. Traumatic triggers can cause flashbacks, dissociation and paranoia, while discomfort may make people anxious, uncomfortable or distressed. Things that can trigger trauma responses are very ranged, triggers can be descriptions or mentions of events, certain objects or smells, or even colors. Why you are not responsible for others triggers, it is good to keep in mind common triggers and be mindful of people you know and their triggers. It can be really hard for those with triggers to communicate while in a state of panic. It is important to listen to them when they have calmed down or are ready to talk. Not all people with trauma have triggers, and people who deal with anxiety or panic disorder may also experience triggers.
While similar anxiety attacks and panic attacks are very different. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger severe physical reactions, such as nausea, cramping, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chills or hot flashes, when there is no apparent danger or cause. Many people have one or two in a lifetime, but people with panic disorder may have recurring panic attacks. Panic attacks usually begin without warning and quickly overwhelm a person. Symptoms usually peak within minutes. Non-physical symptoms may include a sense of impending doom or danger, fear of death, fear of losing control and feeling unreal or detached. If you get recurring panic attacks, at first they might seem out of the blue but after a while they might be triggered by certain situations. Many people mix up panic attacks with anxiety attacks, and even mix up panic and anxiety attacks with mild anxiety.
Anxiety attacks, unlike panic attacks, often occur because of a certain situation or event. Symptoms include fear of a specific occurrence or problem, worry, higher heart rate and restlessness. Triggers of anxiety attacks can include an exam, workplace issues, health issues, relationship problems or lots of stress about a certain thing. Anxiety usually develops gradually when a person is feeling anxious. In a panic attack, the person involved may actually believe they're going to die. Panic attack symptoms are far more severe than anxiety attack symptoms. Feeling pressured or worried might speed up the process from anxiety to anxiety attack. Cause you to tremble or shake, and slowly stop once the panic subsides.
Panic attacks can also be confused with manic episodes, that people with bipolar disorder can experience, but they are very different. Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe mood changes, changes in behavior and energy. People with BPD Mets have periods of time where they feel overly happy, energized and productive. As well as having periods of time where they feel overly sad and sluggish. In between the two periods of time most people feel pretty normal. During a manic episode (the big high), people with BPD can feel overly confident, impulsive, exhilarated and reckless. Some people may even have delusions or hallucinations. In their depressive state (the big low), bipolar people may feel empty, sad, depressed, or hopeless. Most people will spend more time with depressive symptoms instead of manic symptoms. There are few types of bipolar, including bipolar 1, bipolar 2 and cyclothymic disorder. People with bipolar 1 have extreme erratic Behavior, with Manic episodes lasting about a week, sometimes so severe that they need medical care, and extreme depressive episodes that last about 2 weeks. People with bipolar 2, also have erratic highs and lows, but less is severe than bipolar 1.
Those with cyclothymic disorder will have Manic and depressive episodes that last at least two years, or one year for teens and children. The symptoms for cyclothymic are less intense than both bipolar 1 and 2. Manic symptoms include excessive happiness, joy or hopefulness, mood swings between happy and irritable, restlessness, increased energy, poor concentration, making unrealistic plans, poor judgment, more impulsive, easily distracted and appetite loss. Depressive symptoms include sadness, loss of energy, feeling worthless, losing interest or enjoyment, forgetfulness, uncontrollable crying, irritability, needing more sleep, appetite changes and suicidal thoughts or actions. When using the word bipolar some people use it as a replacement for mood switches and changes BPD is so much more complicated than that and should be labeled by just one thing.
Another normalized term is “OCD.” It is used to stereotype neat and organized people. People with OCD sometimes are organized and neat but other times are not. OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, causes intrusive and unwanted thoughts. People with OCD often feel guilty for things that they did not do or don't have control over. People with OCD can feel compulsions to do things to get rid of their thoughts. There are many symptoms of OCD, rangeing from obsessive germophobia, a need for everything to be perfect or organized, an obsession with superstitions or religion, hoarding, repetitive behaviors and the uncontrollable repetition of words. For example someone with OCD could believe if they didn't check their text messages every 10 minutes that a family member would die and they wouldn't know about it. These people unwillingly convince themselves that what their thinking is completely true and they must do what their telling themselves or something really bad will happen. Intrusive thoughts can range from repeatedly changing the angle of a ring, to having to step on every crack while walking somewhere or else somebody important to them, in their mind, will die.
I've seen so many videos of people acting like mental illnesses are trendy. These words are thrown around like normal feelings, but they are so much more than that. Why do we give sympathy to people who say they're sad and empty, but bash people who don't have the energy to take care of themselves and call them lazy? Those are both symptoms of depression. You can’t pick and choose what you want to have in mental illnesses. And when people use the word “triggered” we laugh along with them, but call someone having a trauma response weird and tell them to “calm down” and stop “overreacting.” Stop treating mental health as either a trend or a joke. Doing this discredits others experiences and struggles.
The misuse of mental health terms in real life and on the Internet is an ever-increasing problem.Somehow, it's become trendy to be mentally ill. Unless you actually are mentally ill.
Words like “depression,” “bipolar,” and “triggered” are heavy words that are thrown around like light phrases. For example, you could hear someone say, “I failed my test, I'm so depressed" when they actually mean “I failed my test, I'm really disappointed.” Or maybe you've heard someone say, “I'm so bipolar!" But what they really mean is that their mood changes quickly. But what is the actual definition of these words?
Depression, or major depressive disorder, is much more complex than the stereotype. It doesn't just mean sad. it is very different for different people and while sadness is common, not all people with depression experience it. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, loss of Interest or pleasure, sleep disturbances, lack of energy and tiredness, slowed thinking and moving, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, fixating on mistakes, suicidal thoughts or actions and unexplainable physical problems. Sometimes symptoms are clear and noticeable, but sometimes they go unnoticed or are repressed. Irritability is also very common for people with MDD. Memory difficulty, personality change, loss of appetite and clinginess are also symptoms. A lot of people with depression mask or refuse to show symptoms as a result of feeling guilty or feeling like a burden. Depression is not just one thing. It has many layers and levels.
Another very missed used term is “triggered.” Many people say “stop being so triggered" when referring to somebody who got upset or angry at something. That is not what it means to be triggered. Being triggered is the situation someone is in when a certain subject, object or word triggers an emotional response because of trauma. It is a very real experience for some people, and should not be taken lightly. Traumatic events can include: rape, military conflict, assault, emotional abuse or whitnesing death. Triggered can also refer to something that triggers a mental health conflict, such as eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thoughts or actions. While these two issues are somewhat similar, they're also very different.
It is also important to know the difference between discomfort and trauma. Traumatic triggers can cause flashbacks, dissociation and paranoia, while discomfort may make people anxious, uncomfortable or distressed. Things that can trigger trauma responses are very ranged, triggers can be descriptions or mentions of events, certain objects or smells, or even colors. Why you are not responsible for others triggers, it is good to keep in mind common triggers and be mindful of people you know and their triggers. It can be really hard for those with triggers to communicate while in a state of panic. It is important to listen to them when they have calmed down or are ready to talk. Not all people with trauma have triggers, and people who deal with anxiety or panic disorder may also experience triggers.
While similar anxiety attacks and panic attacks are very different. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger severe physical reactions, such as nausea, cramping, chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chills or hot flashes, when there is no apparent danger or cause. Many people have one or two in a lifetime, but people with panic disorder may have recurring panic attacks. Panic attacks usually begin without warning and quickly overwhelm a person. Symptoms usually peak within minutes. Non-physical symptoms may include a sense of impending doom or danger, fear of death, fear of losing control and feeling unreal or detached. If you get recurring panic attacks, at first they might seem out of the blue but after a while they might be triggered by certain situations. Many people mix up panic attacks with anxiety attacks, and even mix up panic and anxiety attacks with mild anxiety.
Anxiety attacks, unlike panic attacks, often occur because of a certain situation or event. Symptoms include fear of a specific occurrence or problem, worry, higher heart rate and restlessness. Triggers of anxiety attacks can include an exam, workplace issues, health issues, relationship problems or lots of stress about a certain thing. Anxiety usually develops gradually when a person is feeling anxious. In a panic attack, the person involved may actually believe they're going to die. Panic attack symptoms are far more severe than anxiety attack symptoms. Feeling pressured or worried might speed up the process from anxiety to anxiety attack. Cause you to tremble or shake, and slowly stop once the panic subsides.
Panic attacks can also be confused with manic episodes, that people with bipolar disorder can experience, but they are very different. Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe mood changes, changes in behavior and energy. People with BPD Mets have periods of time where they feel overly happy, energized and productive. As well as having periods of time where they feel overly sad and sluggish. In between the two periods of time most people feel pretty normal. During a manic episode (the big high), people with BPD can feel overly confident, impulsive, exhilarated and reckless. Some people may even have delusions or hallucinations. In their depressive state (the big low), bipolar people may feel empty, sad, depressed, or hopeless. Most people will spend more time with depressive symptoms instead of manic symptoms. There are few types of bipolar, including bipolar 1, bipolar 2 and cyclothymic disorder. People with bipolar 1 have extreme erratic Behavior, with Manic episodes lasting about a week, sometimes so severe that they need medical care, and extreme depressive episodes that last about 2 weeks. People with bipolar 2, also have erratic highs and lows, but less is severe than bipolar 1.
Those with cyclothymic disorder will have Manic and depressive episodes that last at least two years, or one year for teens and children. The symptoms for cyclothymic are less intense than both bipolar 1 and 2. Manic symptoms include excessive happiness, joy or hopefulness, mood swings between happy and irritable, restlessness, increased energy, poor concentration, making unrealistic plans, poor judgment, more impulsive, easily distracted and appetite loss. Depressive symptoms include sadness, loss of energy, feeling worthless, losing interest or enjoyment, forgetfulness, uncontrollable crying, irritability, needing more sleep, appetite changes and suicidal thoughts or actions. When using the word bipolar some people use it as a replacement for mood switches and changes BPD is so much more complicated than that and should be labeled by just one thing.
Another normalized term is “OCD.” It is used to stereotype neat and organized people. People with OCD sometimes are organized and neat but other times are not. OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive disorder, causes intrusive and unwanted thoughts. People with OCD often feel guilty for things that they did not do or don't have control over. People with OCD can feel compulsions to do things to get rid of their thoughts. There are many symptoms of OCD, rangeing from obsessive germophobia, a need for everything to be perfect or organized, an obsession with superstitions or religion, hoarding, repetitive behaviors and the uncontrollable repetition of words. For example someone with OCD could believe if they didn't check their text messages every 10 minutes that a family member would die and they wouldn't know about it. These people unwillingly convince themselves that what their thinking is completely true and they must do what their telling themselves or something really bad will happen. Intrusive thoughts can range from repeatedly changing the angle of a ring, to having to step on every crack while walking somewhere or else somebody important to them, in their mind, will die.
I've seen so many videos of people acting like mental illnesses are trendy. These words are thrown around like normal feelings, but they are so much more than that. Why do we give sympathy to people who say they're sad and empty, but bash people who don't have the energy to take care of themselves and call them lazy? Those are both symptoms of depression. You can’t pick and choose what you want to have in mental illnesses. And when people use the word “triggered” we laugh along with them, but call someone having a trauma response weird and tell them to “calm down” and stop “overreacting.” Stop treating mental health as either a trend or a joke. Doing this discredits others experiences and struggles.