Mentally Well Podcast

Are you OCD because you like keeping things neat and organised? Do you have ADHD because you procrastinate or get distracted easily? And does experiencing a terrible break-up automatically mean you have PTSD?

Friends, we need to talk! 😂

Welcome to the very first episode of the Mentally Well Podcast, where we're exploring the casual misuse of psychiatric terminology and the growing tendency to turn ordinary personality traits and everyday experiences into mental health diagnoses.

In an age where mental health information is just a social media scroll away, clinical terms such as OCD, ADHD, PTSD and bipolar disorder have increasingly found their way into everyday conversations. Unfortunately, they're not always being used accurately.

Here's something worth remembering: relating to a symptom is not the same as meeting the diagnostic criteria for a disorder.

In this episode, your host, Mary Chilufya Bwalya, draws from her medical training and clinical rotation experience at Chainama Hills Hospital to explore why mental health conditions are far more complex than social media trends sometimes make them appear.

We'll unpack Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), explore the difference between obsessions and compulsions, and discuss why enjoying cleanliness and organisation does not automatically mean someone has OCD.

We'll also examine how casually misusing psychiatric terminology can trivialise the experiences of people living with mental health conditions and contribute to mental health stigma.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE:

🧠 Why ordinary personality traits and everyday experiences should not automatically be labelled as mental health conditions.

🧠 How social media contributes to the casual misuse of psychiatric terminology.

🧠 What Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) actually is, including the difference between obsessions and compulsions.

🧠 Why experiencing individual symptoms does not necessarily mean you meet the diagnostic criteria for a disorder.

🧠 The importance of professional assessment, accurate mental health information and compassionate conversations.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT CONTACTS- ZAMBIA:

If you or someone you know needs support, the following contacts may be helpful:

Mental Health & Psychosocial Support:

- Adults: 933 – Lifeline Zambia (free counselling helpline).

- Children: 116 – Childline Zambia.

- Zambia Mental Health Initiative (ZAMHIL): +260 977 841 848.

Emergency Services:

- Police: 991

- Ambulance: 992

- Fire Brigade: 993

If someone is experiencing a mental health emergency or is in immediate danger, seek urgent professional assistance or visit the nearest emergency department.

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

I'm Mary Chilufya Bwalya, a medical student at the University of Zambia, a certified mental health advocate with Oasis Mental Health Initiative, and a passionate mental health awareness advocate.

Through the Mentally Well Podcast, I hope to make evidence-based mental health information accessible, memorable and meaningful, one conversation at a time.

FUTHER READING

Want to learn more about commonly misused psychiatric terms? Read the accompanying article here:

[INSERT ARTICLE LINK]

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Mentally Well Podcast, share it with someone who might find this conversation helpful, and join us as we make mental health knowledge accessible to everyone.

Mental health is health too. 💚

What does it mean to find your voice in mental health advocacy?

In this episode, I share the beginning of my mental health advocacy journey.

I invite you to listen, reflect, and be part of the conversation.

Because mental health matters, and every voice deserves to be heard.