psychopathy n. : a mental disorder, especially antisocial personality disorder, in which an individual manifests amoral and antisocial behavior
crazy, mad, psychotic, sociopath
The term is often used to vilify people with mental illnesses beyond just ASPD, including other personality disorders, psychosis, and manic depression. Lightly throwing around the word “psycho” and any of its variations further stigmatizes people with these illnesses and perpetuates the idea that they are toxic and violent — something that is already misunderstood. Additionally, applying it to anyone that may even be perceived to have a mental illness is inaccurate.
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) n. : a psychiatric disorder characterized by the persistent intrusion of certain repetitive, unwanted thoughts, sometimes accompanied by compulsive actions, that a person is unable to prevent and that interfere with normal functioning
OCD is a real condition that can have debilitating effects. Its usage in pop culture especially can attach quirky or cute traits, but OCD is not an adjective and does not simply reference tendencies to be neat or organized.
dumb adj. : refers to d/Deaf or hard of hearing people, people with speech-related disabilities, or people with linguistic or communication disorders or disabilities
lame, moron, idiot, stupid, dummy
“Dumb” was originally used toward people with the inability to speak. Although the meaning has shifted over time to criticize someone’s intelligence, its usage invalidates the history associated with it and disrespects those that have been marginalized because of it. Overall, it inaccurately equates intellectual capacity with speech-related disabilities.
deaf adj. :
1. having total or partial hearing loss
2. of or relating to the Deaf community or their culture
deaf-mute
The word is frequently used in situations to refer to people lacking awareness or consciously deciding to ignore something. Making “deaf” synonymous with “ignorance” suggests that deafness is a choice when it is not, and it implies that those that are deaf are incapable of completing things.
high-functioning adj. :
1. noting or relating to a
person with a disability, chronic illness, or mental health issue who
functions mentally or physically at a higher level than others with the
same condition
2. an autism classification where the patient exhibits no intellectual disability
Functioning labels are most frequently used toward people with autism (and sometimes mental disorders), sending the message that “high-functioning” is easier to pass as “normal” and easier to support. Doing so is patronizing as it assigns value to them and implies that “low-functioning” people have more needs. This categorization disregards the individuality of every person with autism and suggests that the spectrum is one measured by severity and level of “normal” instead of one based on uniqueness and the various struggles that cannot be categorized.
retarded adj. :
1. characterized by a slowness or limitation in intellectual
understanding and awareness, emotional development, academic progress,
etc.
2. refers to a person affected with intellectual disability
Along with any words taking on a variation of “-tard,” the term in casual language mocks those with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
blind adj. : refers to low-vision, sight-limited, or sightless people
This implies that avoidance is synonymous with blindness, similar to the usage of the word “deaf” in common phrases. It sends the message that blindness is a choice and not involuntary, suggesting that people who are blind are ignorant.
bipolar disorder n. : a mental disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks
maniac, manic
Bipolar disorder consists of periods of mania/hypomania and depression. The alternate definition of the term can be applied to some situations, but using the mental illness as an adjective fuels misunderstanding of the disorder and contributes to the stigma.
insane adj. :
1. used by, typical of, or intended for people having a severely
disordered state of mind; mentally deranged
2. refers to people with mental or psychiatric disabilities
crazy, mad, off the rails
Similar to “psycho,” the word has been used as an umbrella term to demonize people with mental illnesses and trivialize their experiences. Its casual usage adds to the stigma by sending the message that something or someone must be “out of control” or beyond what is normal.
cripple n. :
1. refers to people with mental or psychiatric disabilities
2. a term used to refer to a person who is partially or totally unable to use one or more limbs
To say that something is “crippling” or that you are “crippled by” it suggests that people with physical or mobility disabilities are confined or restricted. This creates misconceptions around people with disabilities and the way they interact with the world, minimizing their capabilities.
trigger n. :
1. external events or circumstances that may produce very uncomfortable
emotional or psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, panic,
discouragement, despair, or negative self-talk
2. a reminder of a past trauma
Nowadays, this is frequently used in jokes across social media platforms and in response to memes. Using the word “trigger” in a humorous manner mocks the pain experienced by people living with post-traumatic stress disorder. It additionally invalidates the significance of the lasting effects produced by these traumatic events.
special needs n. :
1. any of various difficulties (such as a physical, emotional,
behavioral, or learning disability or impairment) that causes an
individual to require additional or specialized services or
accommodations
2. refers to people with learning, intellectual, or developmental disabilities
specially-abled
It is typically used to refer to extra accommodations for people with disabilities and to avoid directly saying the word “disabled.” All in all, the phrase is infantilizing.