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I want to address something that I think about a lot, which is the use of specific colloquial language that is ableist and disparaging of mental illness (a thread).
What follows are some common words / expressions to phase out of your vocabulary, as well as replacements to use instead.
warning -- I will use the words that I'm encouraging you not to use so you know what words not to use.
warning -- I will use the words that I'm encouraging you not to use so you know what words not to use.
The two things I hear most often, and in a number of different contexts, are some variation of "that's crazy" and "it's insane."
Whether you're conscious of it or not, this language perpetuates mental illness stigma.
Whether you're conscious of it or not, this language perpetuates mental illness stigma.
If you're using these words to describe something that is bad, try these alternatives:
egregious
frustrating
upsetting
outrageous
gross
horrendous
...many others (consult a thesaurus)
egregious
frustrating
upsetting
outrageous
gross
horrendous
...many others (consult a thesaurus)
If you're using these words to describe something that's out-of-the-ordinary, try these:
wild
unexpected
astonishing
I like to throw "bananas" in every once in a while.
wild
unexpected
astonishing
I like to throw "bananas" in every once in a while.
If you're using them to describe something that's nonsensical...
silly
bewildering
baffling
puzzling
silly
bewildering
baffling
puzzling
If you're using them to describe something that's overwhelming or busy... like "my schedule is so insane right now" or "I've had a crazy day," try...
"my schedule is slammed at the moment" or "my day was nonstop"
"my schedule is slammed at the moment" or "my day was nonstop"
If you're actually describing someone who has a mental illness, for the love of gosh, don't say "they're crazy / insane / psycho"
Instead, say they are "living with mental illness."
Instead, say they are "living with mental illness."
"psychotic" is another word that often gets misused to imply something is horrible, scary, or violent.
This is wrong, and people living with psychosis are more likely to be the victims of violence than to ever inflict violence against anyone.
This is wrong, and people living with psychosis are more likely to be the victims of violence than to ever inflict violence against anyone.
Specific mental illnesses will also be used to describe people's behavior, like "you're being so bipolar right now" or "quit being so OCD about this"... conflating a mental illness with behavior that is erratic or annoying. Don't do this.
Then there's "dumb" and "stupid." A person is "stupid" or something is "dumb." This language is ableist. https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/stupid-is-an-ableist-slur-breaking-down-defenses-around-ableist-language-liberating-our-words/
Instead of using these words to describe a person or situation, say:
ill-informed
willfully ignorant
illogical
incorrect
senseless
irrational
ill-informed
willfully ignorant
illogical
incorrect
senseless
irrational
"Lame" is another ableist word usually used to describe something that's annoying. Instead of saying "that's lame," say:
annoying
irritating
inconvenient https://medium.com/@LiaSeth/i-dont-want-to-hear-your-ableist-slurs-anymore-229538b9fc80
annoying
irritating
inconvenient https://medium.com/@LiaSeth/i-dont-want-to-hear-your-ableist-slurs-anymore-229538b9fc80
Phasing this language out takes practice. I have been guilty of using all of this language in the past, and it's taken work to make these adjustments. But it's extremely possible.
Open to learning about other words to avoid, other language to use instead, articles/links, etc.
Open to learning about other words to avoid, other language to use instead, articles/links, etc.
And there's a chance that some of my suggestions for alternative language also have ableist roots (soooo much language does), so if you notice something, please point it out.
Here are some more links https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/mental-illnesses-terms-to-use-terms-to-avoid/
and if you're thinking "what's the big deal, they're just words, sticks and stones, etc"... language shapes the way we think about the world. Connotations of words affect how we perceive things. It's very important that we are careful about the language we use.
Here are a few more. Avoid using "deaf" in a disparaging way, like describing something as "tone-deaf." Instead, you can use phrases like:
ignorant
insensitive
tactless
careless
ignorant
insensitive
tactless
careless
Instead of "falling on deaf ears" -- or any other misuse of the word -- just re-phrase it to leave "deaf" out of it...
"being completely ignored by..." works just fine.
"being completely ignored by..." works just fine.
Different phrases use "blind" in an ableist way as well.
Instead of "turning a blind eye," use "ignoring"
Instead of "being blind to" use "refusing to acknowledge"
Instead of "turning a blind eye," use "ignoring"
Instead of "being blind to" use "refusing to acknowledge"
