'PTSD is for people who fought in Iraq': Bill Maher calls out trend of self-diagnosing mental illnesses

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bill Maher, renowned comedian and talk-show host, has taken aim at the growing trend of Americans who self-diagnose themselves with mental illnesses.

In a recent monologue on 'Real Time With Bill Maher', the 68-year-old entertainer expressed concern that this practice detracts from the struggles of those genuinely battling debilitating conditions.

Bill Maher's call to action

According to Daily Mail, during his segment, Maher made a pointed remark, stating, "PTSD is for people who fought in Iraq, not for people who want to bring their dog on a plane."

This statement encapsulates his view that terms like PTSD, along with other mental health diagnoses, are being overly applied to situations that do not warrant them.

Maher urged Americans to refrain from over-pathologizing everyday emotions and behaviors, emphasizing the need to differentiate between genuine mental health issues and ordinary human experiences.

He criticized the tendency to label common feelings such as sadness or worry as clinical conditions like depression or anxiety, suggesting that society has become too quick to medicalize normal aspects of life.

Bill Maher's witty critique on absurdity of casual self-diagnoses

In his characteristic style, Maher humorously pointed out the absurdity of some self-diagnoses, equating traits like tidiness with OCD and reluctance to attend office parties with social anxiety disorder.

"Hate being alone, separation anxiety. Bored? That's ADHD. Shy? Social anxiety disorder."

"Why because you don't want to go to the office party? Nobody does, best case scenario you have too much fun and it leads to getting fired."

He added: "Are you moody? No, you're bipolar. Some people are bipolar and some people are on the spectrum but sometimes on the spectrum is just a whole pass for being a jerk. I'm clinically an a******, nothing I can do."

"PTSD is for people who fought in Iraq not for people who want to bring their dog on a plane," Maher said. 

"There are people in America with real problems who deserve to feel sad but sometimes a bad day is just a bad day."

Bill Maher's plea for responsible mental health discourse

While acknowledging that a significant portion of the population grapples with mental illness, Maher cautioned against trivializing these conditions by applying diagnostic labels indiscriminately.

He advocated for a more nuanced understanding of mental health, one that recognizes the complexity of human experiences and the importance of seeking appropriate professional help when necessary.

Indeed, statistics from the CDC indicate that mental illness affects over 20 percent of Americans, with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression impacting one in 25 individuals.

Maher's critique serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible discourse surrounding mental health and the need to avoid diluting the significance of genuine psychological disorders through casual self-diagnosis.

Maher reiterated, "No one's just sad anymore, they're clinically depressed," underscoring his concern about the overuse of diagnostic terms. He also emphasized, "Are you moody? No, you're bipolar," highlighting the tendency to jump to clinical conclusions based on ordinary fluctuations in mood.

Additionally, Maher pointed out, "Maybe you have problems that could be solved with vegetables or exercise," suggesting that lifestyle changes can often alleviate symptoms mistakenly attributed to mental illness.

He concluded, "It's not noble to glom on to the soft end of it," urging individuals to refrain from adopting mental health labels without proper assessment.