AAPI
AAPI stands for Asian-American and Pacific Islander, and it is a term used to describe U.S. residents who originate from Asia or the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The term AAPI recognizes the vastly differing cultures under its umbrella that are unified through the shared experience of immigration and cultural restructuring that moving to the United States would cause.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is held annually during May to commemorate the achievements and celebrate the culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans throughout history. It was officially recognized for the entire month of May through the Public Law 102-450 passed by Congress in 1992.
AAVE or BVE
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) or Black Vernacular English is a dialect of spoken English developed and used by many members of African American communities. It is characterized by its blend of multiple West African dialects and various English speaking patterns. The dialect came to be through enslaved Africans learning English through speech, conceptualizing it through the lens of their first language and carrying over various grammatical rules and tendencies. This resulted in a unique, multi-cultural origin for the dialect.
Today, AAVE is spoken all across the United States and Canada, by people across the African diaspora or otherwise. AAVE maintains its cultural relevancy, with key words and phrases used in Black communities being adapted and repurposed among other cultures.
Ableism
Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on how closely they match the social construct of typicality. Ableist rhetoric often involves the notion that disabled people are in need of being “fixed” and that their disabilities make them abnormal. This rhetoric is harmful as it perpetuates the stereotypes of disabled individuals being “helpless”, which could minimize and dehumanize them.
Ableism can also include creating structures and institutions that favor able-bodied people. Architectural ableism can take the form of long or absent crosswalks, narrow sidewalks, and mandatory stairs in schools or public institutions. This sort of architecture is implicitly hostile towards people with disabilities when there are no alternatives (ramps, elevators, etc.) present.
Abortion
Abortion refers to a medical procedure that terminates a pregnancy via removal of the fetus. An abortion can be performed using medication or by going into a clinic to see a trained professional, like a doctor or nurse. Medical abortions are usually reserved for early in the pregnancy, for up to 11 weeks after the first day of one’s last period.
The legality of abortion depends on the state you live in. In the United States, abortion is no longer a federal mandated right, so states vary in how they handle abortion legally. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood can offer information on the legality of abortion in your state.
Abstinence
Abstinence is the conscious act of not indulging in activities or substances that give pleasure. Abstinence most often refers to refraining from sex for religious or personal reasons, but could also refer to avoiding drugs, alcohol, caffeine, or other substances. Abstinence is sometimes taught as the de facto method of “safe sex” in sex education programs, which fails to teach the importance of contraceptives and STI prevention.
Complete abstinence (refraining from all sexual activity) is not the only version of abstinence. Some people practice partial abstinence, or outercourse, which entails refraining from PIV sex specifically for the purpose of avoiding pregnancy or an STI.
ADHD
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental health disorder that involves multiple symptoms, like difficulty paying attention, the inability to focus on a specific task for an extended period of time, and feelings of restlessness. The presence of these behaviors is only classified as ADHD when it is persistent, as it is not uncommon to experience restlessness or inattention every once in a while.
ADHD can be difficult to diagnose in adults. There is overlap between some of the symptoms of ADHD and other disorders, such as anxiety or depression. This is compounded by the fact that many adults with ADHD have other mental disorders with similar symptoms as well. If you frequently experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor to potentially get a diagnosis.
Agender
Agender is a gender identity under the nonbinary and transgender umbrella. It refers to individuals who don’t have any gender at all. This is distinct from the nonbinary identity which describes anyone who falls outside of the gender binary. While they are most widely recognized as falling under the transgender umbrella, some agender individuals may not describe themselves as such; it is up to the individual to self identify.
Agender is a relatively recent term, with its first recorded use coming from a forum post in 2000 on the website UseNet. In a chatroom titled “alt. messianic”, a user said “God is amorphous, agender, […] so image can’t be a physical or gender or sexual thing.” Other terms for agender include genderless, genderfree, and neutrois.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects mental capabilities and memory. It was coined by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, a doctor who noticed abnormalities in the brain tissue of a recently deceased patient. Alzheimer’s is most common in people ages 65 and older, with the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s increasing with age. It is currently estimated that over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today.
Alzheimer’s is the seventh most common cause of death in the U.S. and the leading cause of dementia. It affects those afflicted with it by deteriorating the nerve cells in the brain which control learning and memory. At first, Alzheimer’s manifests as mild memory loss, a normal symptom of aging. However, as the damage caused by the disease progresses, the loss in memory becomes more severe, leading to the inability to carry out daily tasks. As of now, Alzheimer’s is irreversible, but research is being conducted to help understand the disease and treat those afflicted with it.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the term used to describe missing one or more periods when it should occur. There are two types of amenorrhea: primary (not getting your first period after turning 15) and secondary (not getting a period for more than three months). Causes of primary amenorrhea include missing/underdeveloped reproductive organs and hormonal imbalances. Secondary amenorrhea, while it can also occur due to hormonal imbalances, can arise from stress or birth control.
Natural amenorrhea is a kind of secondary amenorrhea that can occur without any medical issues being present. Some causes of natural amenorrhea include pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause. Birth control pills are also a common reason why someone would either miss their period or stop having them altogether. Other medications, including antidepressants and allergy medicine, can have a similar effect on menstrual cycles.
Androphobia
Androphobia is the extreme fear of men, so much so that it becomes disruptive to daily life. The term is a combination of the Greek word “andros” meaning man, and “phobia” meaning fear. Androphobia is often rooted in traumatic experiences involving men, including child abuse or sexual assault. Exposure to these experiences early in one’s childhood can cause androphobia to develop and persist into adulthood, often alongside PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Symptoms of androphobia include intense fear or discomfort around or when viewing media containing men.
Androphobia is by no means a new term; the word has seen usage dating back all the way to the late 1800s. However, the term has gained relevance in recent years due to the rise of the Me Too movement, with women sharing their traumatic experiences involving sexual abuse at the hands of men. Over time, androphobia gained recognition as a common effect of the types of sexual crimes endured by the women of the Me Too movement.
Anhedonia
Anhedonia is inability to feel pleasure or joy. It is often a symptom of mental disorders like depression or bipolar disorder. There are two types of anhedonia: social anhedonia, a disinterest in being around other people, and physical anhedonia, a reduction in the ability to feel pleasure from one’s senses. People experiencing anhedonia often find difficulty enjoying acts that they previously derived pleasure from.
Some symptoms of anhedonia include self-isolation from established relationships, loss of interest in sexual relations, and an inability to express emotions.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which causes those with it to limit their caloric intake to an extreme degree out of fear of gaining weight. The disorder tends to develop during puberty, as people become more self-conscious about their changing bodies. Anorexia is more common in young women and girls than it is in men. People with anorexia may not see or may minimize the damage their eating habits are doing to their bodies. Anorexia can be life-threatening, which makes it paramount to seek treatment.
There are two types of anorexia nervosa: restrictive and binge-purge. Restrictive anorexia is characterized by extreme calorie intake reduction for the sake of weight loss, which often leads to extreme fatigue, dizziness and fainting. Binge-purge anorexia is similar; there is often caloric restriction, but also fits of binge-eating followed by purging (intentional vomiting/laxative usage) to maintain weight loss. Both types of anorexia can be treated using therapy and medication.
Anosmia
Anosmia is the clinical term for a complete or partial loss of the ability to smell. Usually, it is caused by any blockage of the nasal passageways, like tumors or nasal polyps. Other conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, can affect the signals sent between the nose and the brain. Anosmia can be temporary; illnesses like common colds or sinus infections can temporarily impact one’s ability to smell and taste. Very rarely, people can be born with permanent or congenital anosmia, which causes them to never have the ability to smell. Currently, only around 1,000 people in the U.S. have congenital anosmia.
Anosmia has consequences outside of just being unable to smell. Lacking the ability to smell often impacts appetite and leads to malnutrition, as smell directly impacts the potency of taste. This also means that it is more difficult to tell if something tastes off or expired, which increases the risk of food poisoning. Not being able to smell can even pose a risk to one’s fire safety, as the smell of smoke is one of the first indications of an impending fire.
Antisocial Personality Disorders
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a mental disorder characterized by a tendency to disregard societal norms and take advantage of others’ kindness. The disorder can cause deceitful or manipulative behavior, and those with it may be convincing or charming enough to instill trust in others. People with ASPD often lack remorse for their negative actions, and may not change their patterns of behavior unless threatened with consequences. Due to this, their actions have a tendency of turning criminal, as implicit social norms are not enough of a deterrent to prevent them from engaging in reckless behavior.
It is still unknown why some people develop antisocial personality disorder. Research suggests that the disorder can arise as a result of traumatic experiences from childhood and/or genetic factors, and that those with neglectful or abusive families are more likely to develop ASPD. For example, alcoholism/substance abuse from one or more parents is a key factor in many cases of the disorder. ASPD is also more likely to emerge in men than women.
Asexual
Asexual is an umbrella term used to describe anyone who experiences little to no sexual desires or attraction towards others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and therefore will not look the same for everyone. Given its status as a sexual identity, there are no behaviors or tendencies that “qualify” someone for asexuality; to be asexual is a matter of deciding whether or not the label works for you.
The term asexual is distinct from aromantic, which is used to describe someone who feels little to no romantic feelings towards others. Sexual attraction and romantic attraction can exist separate from one another, so asexuality and aromanticism do not imply each other. Someone can be both asexual and aromantic, neither, or both. It depends on how they wish to self-identify.
Asperger Syndrome
Asperger syndrome, or Asperger’s, is a previously used diagnosis on the autism spectrum. The term is now controversial due to its namesake, Hans Asperger, having ties to the Nazi party. The diagnosis of Asperger’s was initially given to autistic people who were not also diagnosed with a learning disability. Those diagnosed before the term was discontinued in 2013 may still refer to themselves as diagnosed with Asperger’s.
While the diagnosis was still in use, symptoms of Asperger’s included difficulty understanding nonverbal social cues, trouble maintaining conversations, and restricted/repetitive/stereotyped interests or behaviors (stimming). Most, if not all, of the symptoms of Asperger’s are shared with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as Asperger’s was previously defined by its lack of certain symptoms associated with ASD.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects someone’s ability to communicate and interact socially with others. While it can be diagnosed at any point in life, signs of ASD normally appear within the first two years of life, thus giving it the “developmental disorder” title. While there have been multiple genes that have strong ties to ASD, research has yet to find conclusive evidence of a single cause for the disorder. It is much more likely that ASD arises from a web of genetic and environmental factors that cannot be distilled down to a single cause.
Some symptoms of ASD include difficulty understanding nonverbal social cues, trouble maintaining conversations, and restricted/repetitive/stereotyped interests or behaviors (stimming). People with ASD may also experience delayed cognitive and learning skills. Symptoms of ASD are very similar to those of Asperger’s syndrome, and not without reason. Autism spectrum disorder previously had Asperger’s syndrome under its umbrella. Asperger’s was discontinued as a diagnosis in 2013 due to overlap in symptoms.
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) is a mental disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of poor self esteem and fear of rejection. People with avoidant personality disorder are likely to avoid social situations due to extreme fear, possibly damaging relationships and shirking responsibilities in the process. AVPD is classified as a Cluster C personality disorder, a category of disorders that relates to anxiety or fear. Telltale signs of AVPD in children include extreme shyness around others and expressions of low self-esteem.
Avoidant personality disorder is similar to social anxiety disorder in many ways. People with social anxiety disorder tend to avoid social situations out of fear of being judged, while those with AVPD will be avoidant out of low self-esteem. The difference between the two disorders is anxiety; it is required for social anxiety disorder but not a necessary component of AVPD.