Stop Calling The Weather "Bipolar"

Often, people use words like "bipolar" and "psychotic" in contexts that have zero to do with mental illnesses and everything to do with their being too lazy to use a more accurate word. Allow us to help you #getabiggervocab.

Let's start with an easy one: "This weather is so bipolar!"

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What you mean: "This weather is very unpredictable and I don't know enough words to describe it!"

What bipolar II disorder actually means: a mental illness characterized by periods of mania –– over-elevated mood, abnormal energy, racing thoughts –– and depression

Words to use instead to describe the weather that don't belittle a serious mental illness: unpredictable, oscillating, varied, capricious, erratic, fickle, fluctuating

"My sportsball team lost! Ugh, I'm so depressed!"

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What you mean: "A thing happened that made me feel sad emotions, but the feeling won't persist for weeks on end and it probably won't make me feel worthless as a human."

What major depressive disorder actually means: a mental illness characterized by long periods of low mood, loss of pleasure in activities and low self-esteem, often accompanied by thoughts of suicide and self-injury

Words to use instead that don't belittle a serious mental illness: bummed out, down in the dumps, crestfallen, mopey, glum, woebegone

"My ex is psychotic!"

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What you mean: "My erstwhile significant other is not very pleasant. Sometimes they do things that I don't particularly like."

What psychosis actually means: a psychiatric disorder characterized by a "loss with reality," involving hallucinations, delusions and/or paranoia

Words to use instead that don't belittle a serious mental illness: nutty, erratic, batty, eccentric, daft, unhinged, bananas

What suggestions do you have? Comment below or share on Twitter with #getabiggervocab.