No Need to Stigmatize the Stigma

What does it mean to stigmatize? To stigmatize is to make light of or to make fun of someone who has a mental illness. It's a cowardly thing to do, to make fun of someone with an illness.

You may be wondering how to tell if someone is stigmatizing. Have you ever heard the joke, "I'm so CDO, which OCD but the letters are in the right order"? That's stigmatizing. That joke is making fun of the illness. OCD is no laughing matter. If you aren't sure just what exactly it means to have OCD, watch The Aviator starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
There are many forms of each type of mental illness. Some illnesses are two combined into one. For instance, Trichotillomania is also known as the hair puling disorder, which is a combination of anxiety and OCD. OCD is actually a branch of anxiety itself!

Stigmatizing needs to stop. Not only is it hurtful to people with the illness, but it's also hurtful to the people that know someone that has committed suicide. Have you ever heard someone say "Someone shoot me" or "This makes me want to shoot myself"? That's stigmatizing. It's usually said by people that don't care to stop and think about their words, but that doesn't make it okay. It's insulting, honestly.

In conclusion, people really need to take an extra minute to think before they speak. I realize that nowadays there's someone always shouting "That's offensive" over some silly thing. This, however, is very serious. This is important to keep in mind because, in this case, your words could either save a life or destroy a life, and destroying a life is something you never want on your conscience.