Psychiatrist Explains Why Casual Use of Mental Health Terms Can Be Harmful
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Asia Tabb
AIRED; August 18, 2025
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When words like “bipolar,” “schizo,” or even “anxious” are tossed around in everyday conversation, they often miss the mark of what those diagnoses actually mean. Psychiatrist Dr. Luke Piper of UPMC Lititz says while the casual use of psychiatric language has become common, it can dilute the real meaning of mental illness and even discourage people from seeking help. “There can be a pretty considerable difference between how these terms get used somewhat casually in society and what they actually mean in terms of a clinical construct,” Piper explained. “When we say something like bipolar disorder, we’re not simply leaving it as, okay, someone has ups and downs. That’s kind of part of normal human experience.”
According to Piper, bipolar disorder involves discrete mood episodes that last for days or even weeks, not just a few hours of feeling happy or sad. Similarly, schizophrenia is not about having “multiple personalities,” a common misconception, but rather a “syndromal break with reality.”
Piper says casual misuse of these words is concerning. “They get used so often that it kind of dilutes the meaning of actual mental illness,” he said. “I worry it might invalidate the experience of people who actually have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Or it may trick them into thinking that this is just who they are, that there’s no hope for treatment when there absolutely is.”
The psychiatrist also warns that labeling people with mental illness terms can lead to stigma. “They don’t become a person with mental illness, the kind of person-centered language I try to advocate for,” Piper said. “They become bipolar or schizo, like as a personal identifier. And I think that can be very damaging.”
The Role of Social Media
Social media platforms have amplified discussions around mental health. While some users share their own experiences in hopes of reducing stigma, others may unintentionally spread misinformation. Piper says this has created a growing challenge for clinicians. “People are kind of going to their doctors with this idea that they already have a diagnosis because of what they heard on social media,” he said. “Please don’t take medical advice from TikTok or Instagram. If you are hearing something that sounds like it might describe you, I strongly encourage you to at least talk with your primary care doctor about it first, if not a psychiatrist or psychologist.”
He compares the phenomenon to a common trope in medical school: students often convince themselves they have nearly every illness they learn about. Social media, he says, works in a similar way for the public.
Choosing Words Carefully
Beyond diagnosis, Piper stresses the importance of language when talking about mental health. He avoids using the word “crazy” and refrains from defining people by their conditions. “I try to say a person with their mental illness,” Piper said. “You’re not a bipolar person — you’re a person with bipolar disorder. One of my rapport-building strategies with patients is setting up the mental illness as a shared adversary for us to tackle together. It isn’t me versus bipolar person. It’s me and patient versus bipolar disorder.”
By shifting how we talk about mental health, Piper believes society can both reduce stigma and better support those seeking care.
