Mental disorders aren’t personality traits

Mental Disorders Aren't Personality Traits

By Petra Chase, Features Editor. Content warning: references to ableism and ableist slurs.

I recently came across a jarring Instagram reel that said,

All my friends are lowkey schizo.

Surprisingly, the comments were nothing but positive, tagging friends and feeding into the idea that schizophrenia is relatable and quirky.

While it seems lighthearted, in reality, it is reductive to suggest a chronic mental disorder can be a

lowkey

personality trait anyone can identify with.

This type of content, which appropriates mental health conditions for punchlines and views, has become trendy. It goes to show how

delulu

, a term popularized in 2023, has become a gateway into further trivializing disorders for brownie points.

Author's summary: Misconceptions about mental disorders can cause harm.

The Peak — 2025-10-28