There’s a lot of stigma around mental disorders. If you have one, you are seen as weak, unstable, and possibly insane with no further consideration. Some argue that mental disorders are on the rise. I argue that enlightenment is on the rise and the mental disorders have been there for a very long time. Here are 3 psychological disorders that are vastly disregarded and misinterpreted by society. That needs to be fixed.

1. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

One of my biggest pet-peeves is when someone says, “Oh, I’m so OCD about that!” I can go on an entire rant just off that statement, but I will refrain. If the statement is actually rooted in true OCD struggles, then no harm, no foul. However, it seems to be the theme among society that OCD is just about making your papers straight and keeping your hands clean. False. OCD is a challenging disorder, where those that suffer from it have to deal with invasive, triggering, fear-centered thoughts constantly. It’s an endless stream of “what ifs” and “I did that wrong” anxiety-inducing mind blasts. You are not “OCD about that” unless you thought you left the stove on, despite checking 10 times, and drove home in the middle of a meeting to check.

2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A lot of people believe that you can only have PTSD if you are a veteran or experienced war. This is far from the truth, but for some reason, many psychology articles and studies treat PTSD as an “if the shoe fits” ordeal. In fact, PTSD may be one of the most under-diagnosed disorders. PTSD can be caused by any prolonged exposure to trauma, including rape, abuse, assault, kidnapping, etc. PTSD has gotten a bad rap before when people used it to justify murder cases. It does not turn people into psychopathic/sociopathic killers. It’s a fear-based disorder that is usually accompanied by depression and anxiety (typically panic anxiety). Though it’s a relatively new concept in the psychology world and there are no known specific treatments, it can still be managed by going to regular therapy.

3. Eating Disorders

People are starting to pay attention now that many people are calling out society on its obsession with female thinness and fat-shaming tendencies. Many people believe that eating disorders are strictly a vanity thing. While it may have started that way, as many eating disorders begin when you start dieting, they are much more than how you look in the mirror or the kind of clothes you wear. It’s about control. Usually, when someone develops an eating disorder, it’s because they feel like some aspect of their life is out-of-control and they turn inwards to self-hatred. We are all susceptible to eating disorders and they often come together (i.e. someone may have anorexia nervosa and bulimia). Currently, there are four categories and it is common for them to intertwine: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). A fifth eating disorder is coming to light as we enter the health-crazed era, which is orthorexia nervosa. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate among mental disorders. That’s higher than the suicide rate. You are more likely to die from an eating disorder than any other disorder. Take some time to educate yourself by clicking the links or starting here.