How do you refer to your mental health? How do you prefer others to refer to it?

“Mental disorder”?

“Mental illness”?

“Mental ill-health”?

“Mental health diagnosis”?

“Mental health problem”?

None of the above?

I would absolutely love to start a discussion about how you self-define and why; how others refer to you, and whether you find any of these terms problematic.

Either reply to this post, or send me a message!

(I personally would go with ‘mental illness’ - I find the word ‘disorder’ used in medical / psychiatric texts to be a bit… judgemental?)

Notes

  1. mentalillnessdefinition reblogged this from mindovermatterzine
  2. amelia-evangeline reblogged this from mindovermatterzine
  3. headontheunmadebed answered: I just say “crazy”, and I get a lot of shit for it. It makes it easier to talk about it casually, so I use terms that are casual for me.
  4. evermean reblogged this from mindovermatterzine
  5. bodysexgender reblogged this from quackdown
  6. loveisonlyapromise answered: I would rather it was just a “health” issue..it truly is a physical issue. Even cognitive distortions follow specific circuitry/associations
  7. dieiarkey answered: persone speciali
  8. omipenguin answered: i have no problem calling it mental illness call it what it is.
  9. zaladreyn answered: I just tell people I’m havinga rough time on that day. As for my family, they know my diagnosis, so I don’t need to say anything at all.
  10. moonshine-whiskey answered: just sickness. easy to skim over in conversation
  11. lady-brain reblogged this from mindovermatterzine and added:
    I really like reading/hearing peoples’ reasoning for what they choose to use (not that you need to justify your choice...
  12. abijozi answered: personally i just simply say “my illness”, sometimes with i point to the head. if they press it, i’ll be honest and explain what’s wrong.
  13. natureofdisgust answered: Life.
  14. bhoxsrex answered: wow
  15. moonhowler56 reblogged this from mindovermatterzine
  16. jojokittyfloss answered: I’m comfortable talking about my mental health problems but my family seem to find it easier to refer to them as ‘being unwell’.
  17. betterthandarkchocolate answered: mental illness and disorders
  18. shakyleg answered: Mental health problem usually, butsometimes I just say “craziness” in a tounge in cheek way of course.
  19. yilduza answered: i do presentations in schools as part of a volunteer org and i used mental illness while stressing that everyone has mental health
  20. ocdhedgehog answered: For brevity, I usually just say “mad” or “crazy” Sometimes, it’s “anxious as a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair factory”
  21. whirlerdog answered: mental illness for me, definitely. brain problems when i’m talking to close friends. occasionally specifics like “my anxiety disorder” etc.
  22. mindovermatterzine reblogged this from mindovermatterzine and added:
    It’s been great to hear everyone’s thoughts on this. Here’s a summary of replies so far: birdcage answered: “mental...
  23. birdcage answered: “mental illness” but depending on the context, sometimes just “i’m sick”
  24. lady-brain answered: mental illness!
  25. bearsalmon answered: ‘Negative mental health’ or ‘Mental health disorder’, but overall I like to look at health through the dual continnuum model (Keyes).
  26. ghostmorning answered: mental illness
  27. girlwiththemostcake answered: mental health issues
  28. raichuchuchu answered: I have always considered mine Mental Issues….Not too sure why.
  29. yesysabella answered: i tend go use mental disorder over illness, or refer to it as a mental health issue/issue with my mental heath.
  30. swirlofenjoyment answered: I use mental illness, but I also talk a lot about how not everyone has a mental illness, but everyone has mental health.
  31. boneygoat answered: Madness
  32. crazimomi answered: mental health disorder when managing; mental when in crisis.
  33. drmichaelhart answered: I use “How my brain is wired” or “Tough chemicals”. We open up possibilities with positive framing.
  34. surf-to-thrill answered: I refer to mine as my Mental Disorder.
  35. ginandchr0nic answered: I prefer illnesss because it gives the impression it can be recovered from, i dont like the term ‘service user’ though
  36. redpogosticks reblogged this from mindovermatterzine
  37. kayteesee answered: Mental illness
  38. mosskat55 answered: “Mental health problem” or “mental illness”, dependent on context.