Schizophrenia

A common pop culture term for someone who suffers from schizophrenia is “schizophrenic.” This word, however, overlooks the fact that people who suffer from schizophrenia are individuals with many qualities that have nothing to do with their illness.

When you call someone a schizophrenic, you are defining that person by his or her illness. The same is true for terms like “manic depressives,” “borderlines,” or “diabetics” when they are used to describe people with manic depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, or diabetes, respectively. It is important to remember that a person may have a disorder, but he or she also has unique characteristics, skills, and experiences. Disorders, not people, should be classified.