Mentally ill. Mood disorder. Depression.

Unfortunately, when we see words like this we do not think of our neighbors, classmates and friends. We typically stigmatize and begin thinking of “that” person at work, the weird one.

While the above comments are ordinary and even common, they are misunderstood on a scale that we don’t usually comprehend. One in six Americans suffer from an ailment that is unseen to the eye. If it isn’t the person sitting next to you that you may unknowingly offend, it could be, their sister, their uncle, or even a spouse.

The vast majority of mental illnesses do not stop an individual from living a normal life. Most disorders are problematic for the sufferer, but can be almost unnoticeable to the general public, and thus, they’re secret.

The stigma that many still continue to put on the term mental illness is damaging and hurtful. Yes, it is true that at times a mental illness can be so overbearing and so cumbersome that it greatly disables an individual, but this is not the vast majority.

According to WebMD, mental illnesses can be classified into several categories, one of which is anxiety disorders. The rapid pulse and sweat response that many of us get prior to a first date or speech is the same reaction. For many, this response is triggered more easily. This is not something they asked for, nor is it something they would keep if given the choice to expel it.

Mood disorders are fluctuations of mood that are beyond an individual’s control. Mere sadness, anger or elation is not something that is normally defined as “ill.” However if those moods come and go with no control, whim or apparent reason, the effects can be difficult to deal with. Is this really a reason to discriminate against someone?

Impulse control and addiction disorders are some others that are fairly common. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors are often exhibited beyond the realm of control. You may think telling someone to stop washing their hands or counting seems reasonable. What if I tell you to stop blinking, that sounds a little impossible doesn’t it? The same can be said for those who are compulsive.

Other disorders come in forms of psychotic disorders and personality disorders. Although individuals may display more obvious signs of difficulty in adjustment, they are nonetheless as much of a victim as these afflictions as anyone else. They did not ask for it, they did not have a choice. It’s easy to see someone in a wheelchair and understand that they may need accommodations at time. It is much more difficult to determine when someone is struggling with a chemical imbalance in their brain that is no fault of their own.

Next time before any one of us open our mouths and say something disrespectful about such a common and reoccurring trait, let’s hope we remember that not one person around us in unaffected by this. The circles around us all connect in so many ways. With so many individuals touched by this, we need to learn some tact.

Information on mental illness can be found at http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-types-illness.