Quote:
Originally Posted by Innerzone
Though bipolar would be on my list of not particularly bothersome, I'd kind of rather see it called manic-depressive again. I just think people would use it less frivolously ("like omg, I'm so bipolar!"). I do not like the idea of calling it "mood disorder" for the opposite reason-- I think that would be used even *more* frivolously, especially given that most people don't realize that mood and emotions are *not* the same thing. I think it'd be thrown around willy-nilly whenever someone displayed an emotion someone else did not like or agree with.
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I think that's a really good case for going back to "manic depressive." I absolutely hate when people use the word "bipolar" lightly, like it's some kind of cute personality quirk. I'm not sure why "manic depressive" fell into disuse, actually.
The terms "mood disorder" or "neurological disorder" wouldn't fit, in my opinion, because I interpret those more as categories of disorders rather than as bipolar specifically. That said, it would be nice to have some acknowledgement that bipolar is an actual brain condition, not just some nebulous thing that could go away if we just resolved the right trauma or pushed the right emotional button.