You may have heard these words in passing or seen
them as you scroll.
Social media tell me your ex is a narcissist without
telling me your ex is a narcissist.
These are signs that your friendship is toxic.
From narcissist to toxic to gaslighting,
you name it, clinical psychology terms or therapy speak are
increasingly being used in conversation,
especially on social media. So what's wrong with that?
Well, experts say these words aren't just being overused,
but often completely misused. People are willing to
go to therapy and then talk about it,
which is in one way wonderful and another way really
problematic because we have not figured out how to navigate
bringing what you learn in therapy,
including different clinical terms into your day-to-day life.
And it's it's not been a transition that's been made.
Well, Doctor Isabel Morley is a licensed clinical psychologist in
Massachusetts specializing in couples therapy.
She says the use of therapy speak has left folks
making assumptions about the mental health of themselves and others.
I have to tell you,
I have never seen so much self diagnosis in my
life.
All from TikTok, not even Instagram.
Everyone has self diagnosed through TikTok.
There's a reason why we don't self diagnose,
even why professionals can't and don't self diagnose and why
you can't do it based on a video,
Morley says. This is especially problematic considering how hard reaching
A diagnosis can be.
I've seen a lot of self diagnosis of autism and
ADHD
and how it plays out because people are having a
hard time at school or at work or in their
relationships.
Those are both heavy diagnosis in part because they have
really specific treatment plans,
so you really have to get psychological testing to be
sure that that's the right thing for you so that
you pursue the right treatment plan.
She adds that the use of a word shouldn't be
used to justify your actions.
I think the biggest concern is that it is,
for some and not everybody,
a get out of jail free card,
right? It's either an exemption from doing the work themselves
of navigating a difficult time in a relationship with someone
important because that person has OCD,
or that person is a narcissist,
or it can be an explanation for themselves that then
excuses behavior that perhaps they could work and address.
And it's not just folks on social media that are
using this kind of language.
I see it a lot with my younger clients,
but I really see it with with all generations.
Katie Gillis is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist.
She says she often finds folks are using these words
in an attempt to express themselves.
You're bringing in this word like narcissist or bipolar disorder
or borderline personality disorder or or toxic,
like, what is, you know,
what are you coming from?
Like, what are you coming in with?
And what I mean by that is there's something that's
happening and a lot of times it's maybe lack of
having another word or lack of having an explanation.
And so the word like toxic or the word trauma
really defines what it is that they've gone through for
them.
Gillis warns that when these words are overused or incorrectly
used,
it can add to the stigma that already surrounds mental
health.
If it's used in the wrong way it
it can really minimize and demean people who really have
either have these diagnosis
or have really suffered at at at the hands of
of someone who
either had them or displayed behaviors and things like that.
So should we be using these terms?
This might be controversial, but I think the biggest thing
for people to consider is these terms aren't necessarily supposed
to be taken out of therapy.
I talked to people about boundaries,
but I'm not intending them for them to go say
these are my boundaries.
I've never said that to my husband.
These are my boundaries. Don't cross them.
What you do with that information is then how you
behave with the people in your life,
right? So remember, choose your words wisely.
Just because you hear it doesn't mean you should use
it.
Meg Helling, Scripps News.