nxrco:

I hate to sound like one of those guys but I honestly think a lot of people are now using the terms executive dysfunction, dissociation, and intrusive thoughts either incorrectly or to excuse particular behaviors otherwise not caused by mental illness but by a lack of desire to do things.

Executive dysfunction isn’t just limited to not having the desire/energy to do things. It also involves impulsivity, mood swings, memory problems, and troubles with social interaction.

Dissociation isn’t just spacing out. It’s a disruption in your consciousness, your memory, and your perception on the world.

Intrusive thoughts are not harmless, quirky commands made by your brain. They are scary and often involve terrible acts of violence.

People throwing around these terms with incorrect or oversimplified definitions is harmful. You get a lot of people going “oh that’s me!” and thinking whenever they daydream in class they’re actually dissociating and call it that, not stopping to think that it’s actually a symptom developed from severe PTSD. Or how executive function primarily effects those with ADHD or brain injury and yet people who take a bit to do their homework or anything involving a bit of effort cite it as their reason for doing it so late rather than a simple lack of desire to do so. Or how intrusive thoughts can make someone so shaken and anxious that they become terrified of themselves but thoughts like “eat a leaf off the ground” somehow fall under this classification.

If you are experiencing these debilitating symptoms, get help if you can. Go to a psych, a therapist, counselor, anyone. If you don’t have the means to, find online support communities. Don’t spread misinformation and cheapen how terrifying and debilitating these symptoms really can be