Psychiatric Terms We Use Incorrectly (And Why It Matters)
In recent years, psychiatric terminology has increasingly found its way into everyday conversations. On the surface, this might seem like a good thing. More people talking about mental health should mean less stigma and more awareness. But in practice, many clinical terms are being used out of context or incorrectly—sometimes with unintended harm.
This trend has only grown with the rise of social media platforms like TikTok, where mental health content is abundant but not always accurate. Self-diagnosis videos are everywhere, and while they may resonate with viewers, they often blur the line between genuine psychiatric conditions and ordinary human experiences. Misused language can create confusion, reinforce stereotypes, and even delay proper care for those who need it.
At Calivor Psychiatric Solutions, we believe education is key to reducing stigma and promoting informed mental health discussions. Here are a few commonly misused psychiatric terms and why precision matters.
“Stop Being So Bipolar” — Misunderstanding Mood Swings
It’s not unusual to hear someone describe a friend or loved one as “bipolar” when they’re experiencing mood swings. But Bipolar Disorder is much more than occasional moodiness or irritability.
True Bipolar Disorder involves distinct episodes of depression and mania or hypomania, often with significant shifts in energy, sleep, behavior, and functioning. These mood states last for days to weeks—not minutes to hours—and can deeply disrupt daily life. It affects approximately 2.8% of the U.S. adult population in a given year, making it relatively uncommon.
In my own clinical experience, Bipolar Disorder is frequently overdiagnosed. I have encountered many individuals labeled as bipolar after brief assessments that do not account for the full clinical picture. Often, what is being observed is mood lability—emotional ups and downs that may result from trauma, personality structure, or stress—but not true manic or hypomanic episodes. Overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary medication, stigma, and missed opportunities for more appropriate interventions.
Using “bipolar” as a shorthand for everyday emotional fluctuations trivializes a serious condition and adds to public misunderstanding of what it really means.
“They’re So Antisocial” — A Case of Mistaken Identity
In everyday speech, “antisocial” is often used to describe someone who is introverted or avoids social settings. But in psychiatry, Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) has an entirely different meaning.
ASPD is a diagnosis characterized by a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights of others, including behaviors like deceit, impulsivity, aggression, and lack of remorse. People with ASPD may engage in criminal acts or manipulative behavior. What most people mean when they say “antisocial” is closer to Schizoid Personality Disorder, which involves a preference for solitude and limited interest in social relationships. While neither term should be used lightly, conflating them can lead to confusion and reinforce harmful misconceptions.
“I’m So OCD About That” — Mislabeling Perfectionism
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood as simply being neat or perfectionistic. While those traits can exist in OCD, the disorder is defined by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
Severe OCD can be life-altering. I have worked with patients who spend hours each day checking that the stove is off, unable to leave the house until their anxiety subsides. Others wash their hands to the point of cracked and bleeding skin due to fears of contamination. Some struggle with disturbing intrusive thoughts they do not agree with or want, such as thoughts of harming loved ones, which they combat by engaging in silent rituals or avoiding everyday tasks altogether. These are not personality quirks or habits—they are symptoms of a condition that causes genuine suffering and often requires both therapy and medication to manage effectively.
Saying you’re “OCD” because you like your bookshelf organized or your desk tidy misses the point—and undermines the struggle of those living with the disorder. OCD is not a preference for cleanliness or order. It is a chronic mental illness that can consume time, erode quality of life, and lead to isolation if left untreated.
“They Were Totally Catatonic” — A Complex Syndrome, Not a Synonym for Stillness
The word “catatonic” often gets thrown around to describe someone who appears zoned out, spaced out, or extremely tired. In psychiatry, however, catatonia is a rare but serious neuropsychiatric syndrome that requires clinical attention. It is far more nuanced than most people realize.
There are multiple subtypes of catatonia. The presentation that most people are familiar with—marked by immobility, mutism, and staring—is known as the retarded or stuporous subtype. In this form, individuals may appear completely unresponsive, hold rigid postures for long periods, and exhibit waxy flexibility or negativism. This is a severe and often alarming clinical picture that requires urgent treatment, sometimes with benzodiazepines or even electroconvulsive therapy.
But catatonia doesn’t always present in stillness. There is also an excited subtype, which can look almost the opposite: patients may exhibit excessive, purposeless motor activity, repetitive or stereotyped movements, peculiar mannerisms, or even sudden aggression. In some cases, catatonia can oscillate between these states, adding to the complexity of diagnosis.
The key point is that catatonia is not simply about being quiet or motionless. It is a multifaceted syndrome that can occur in the context of mood disorders, schizophrenia, or medical conditions, and it often flies under the radar because of how dramatically its symptoms can vary. Using the term casually—such as to describe someone who’s just sitting quietly—misses this complexity and contributes to misunderstanding of a serious medical condition.
The Influence of Social Media and the Rise of Self-Diagnosis
The explosion of mental health content on platforms like TikTok has increased awareness, but also contributed to a wave of self-diagnoses. While it’s empowering for people to explore their emotional well-being, relying on short-form videos or anecdotal accounts can lead to misunderstanding and mislabeling. Mental health conditions are nuanced and require a full clinical evaluation—not a checklist from a trending post.
Why Language Matters
Using psychiatric terms casually may seem harmless, but it can distort the public’s understanding of mental illness and make it harder for those affected to feel seen and supported. It can also erode the credibility of diagnoses that are already heavily stigmatized.
At Calivor Psychiatric Solutions, we strive to foster compassion, accuracy, and clarity in how we talk about mental health. Through thoughtful evaluation and evidence-based care, we help patients in Connecticut navigate diagnoses with confidence, not confusion.
If you have concerns about your mental health or that of a loved one, we encourage you to reach out. Our telehealth psychiatry services offer expert care from the comfort and privacy of your home. Mental health is complex, but your path forward does not have to be.
